Better Care Begins with Connection
Rebuilding Community in Elder Care
Community building has become a more conscious effort for me these past seven years since the pandemic, when we all experienced the impact of life without normal social interactions. I have become a founding member of a group committed to supporting board and care operators. We call ourselves The Board and Care Collaborative of Sonoma County.
It is so joyful to meet in person once a month with other dedicated administrators and owners of small residential facilities like ours who are striving to learn and improve the care of our frailer elders. Now that we gather virtually for most of our continuing education programs, it is rare for us to meet face to face. We have discovered how much we value that connection and are now well into our second year of coming together to share ideas and explore best practices.
Learning From One Another
The Collaborative has grown to nearly 20 small operators and has begun supporting new operators, who are dearly needed in their neighborhoods. New operators have a tremendous number of regulations to navigate as they take on the hard work required in our field. Experienced operators may have the regulations well in hand, but they can also benefit from seeing challenges through fresh eyes.
Hearing the multiple perspectives of our members has been invaluable in helping us better understand the needs of our residents and their families, as well as the needs of the caregivers on the frontlines. Truly good practices in our field must begin with a meaningful understanding of those needs.
Supporting Family Caregivers in Our Community
The Collaborative is supporting an educational event sponsored by The Village Network of Petaluma on Saturday, September 26, 2026: a screening of the film Wine, Women, & Dementia.
The screening will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Carol L. Ellis Auditorium on the SRJC Petaluma campus, 680 Sonoma Mountain Parkway, Petaluma.
We see firsthand the family caregivers who balance careers, family responsibilities, and the emotional and physical demands of caring for a loved one living with dementia. Many feel exhausted, isolated, and unseen. After seeing this documentary last fall, Carol Appel, Executive Director of The Village Network, knew it was something her community needed to experience.
Wine, Women, & Dementia: An Honest Look at Caregiving
Wine, Women, & Dementia is not another clinical or fear-based conversation about caregiving. It is honest, heartfelt, unexpectedly funny, and deeply human.
Through storytelling, humor, and shared experience, the film reminds caregivers that they are not alone while fostering the connection and resilience that sustain people through difficult journeys.
Following the screening, filmmaker Kitty Norton and a panel of experts will participate in a community discussion.
Join Us on September 26
We hope this gathering will offer caregivers, families, professionals, and community members an opportunity not only to learn, but also to connect with others who understand the caregiving journey.
You can learn more about the film and view the trailer at the Wine, Women, & Dementia website.
For more details check out this link: