Board of Directors

Dom Calvano’s nine years as a service and community relations consultant for Custom Care Solutions has caused him to become a passionate advocate for families dealing with Alzheimer’s/dementia.

“Working at Custom Care Solutions and witnessing, first-hand, how families and patients are affected by dementia prompted me to find a way to help,” said Dom. “I also saw a need for very specific services that were not available to the Coachella Valley, and knew I had to try to bring these services to our community.”

Dom’s vision for ACV is to provide care to all Coachella valley residents struggling with AD — care in the form of social programs, education, financially when possible, and real solutions for the many challenges that AD presents.

“The Coachella Valley has opened their hearts to ACV – they have supported our efforts from day one,” he said. “ACV is all about providing programs specific to our community and our community has responded by supporting our programs.”

Dom said that by listening to those struggling with AD, ACV is able to provide innovative and positive ways to face dementia and to replace isolation and despair with hope, friendship and love.

Apart from helping families with AD, Dom’s other passions include all kinds of music, playing drums, and the outdoors where he enjoys target shooting, camping and traveling. He is a 10-year resident of Palm Desert.

Co-founder and board member Pat Kaplan is an Alzheimer’s/dementia consultant with Vista Cove Senior
Living.

Pat is inspired to be an ACV board member because of the need for a community based group to work
with families living with Alzheimer’s/dementia, and for local control over funds, decision making and programs. She believes that listening to families and being able to respond quickly to their needs and opportunities is critical.

Pat’s vision for ACV’s future is to provide ongoing and expanded programs and services to our families so they have socialization and a better quality of life.

Pat and her husband Dave have lived in Palm Desert since 1986. Her interests and hobbies include golf and reading mysteries.

Joining the board is Patricia Riley, MBA, Office Manager, Custom Care Solutions

Pat Riley’s 20-plus years as a strategic planner brings her expertise in multi-media communications vehicles, market research and analysis, special event planning, community relations, website launches and content management, media relations, and collateral development and production to ACV.

“As a marketing professional in senior care and as a person whose family has been impacted by Alzheimer’s, I wanted to volunteer for an organization that is making a difference in this field,” she said.

“I’ve learned that even though there is no cure for Alzheimer’s, there are steps that can be taken to ensure that the individual with this diagnosis and his/her family get the help they need. ACV is fulfilling this essential role with its programs and services.”

Pat and her husband, Ricardo, have lived in the Coachella Valley since 2014.

When Judy Rhodes retired in 2013 after a 44-year career as Registered Nurse in a variety of clinical, educational and administrative positions, she and her husband, Mike, moved to Palm Desert.

She soon discovered that the “quiet retirement life” was not for her and began volunteering with the Hospitality Committee at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, as a Chaplain’s Assistant at Eisenhower Medical Center, and the Read with Me ministry at Mecca Elementary School. Still looking for something more, a mutual friend introduced Rhodes to Pat Kaplan and Alzheimers Coachella Valley.

“I had written my Master’s Thesis on Caregiver Burden and knew of the difficulties that chronic diseases place on families, so I thought I might be able to make a difference for the Alzheimer’s families. Little did I know that my husband, Mike, would be diagnosed with Vascular Dementia a few months after I began my role with ACV,” said Rhodes.

Rhodes has taken her valuable experience as an RN and Club Journey volunteer to develop an important new education program, “Meaningful Conversations with a Cognitively Impaired Person,” a two-part course. The course is state-approved for Continuing Education Units. Rhodes will also be working with College of the Desert third semester nursing students during rotations at Club Journey to earn college credits in dementia care and management.

“I enjoy seeing the person with the diagnosis, the amazing strength of the caregiver, and traveling the journey with my own husband,” continued Rhodes.

Dee Wieringa, a native South African, relocated with her family in 1996 to the San Diego area and a career opportunity moved her to Palm Desert in 2009.

Dee brings more than a decade of leadership experience in senior living, serving as Administrator and Executive Director for numerous senior living communities, including Caleo Bay Alzheimer’s Care Center, Bella Villaggio and Revel Palm Desert.

Dee volunteers her time facilitating the Coachella Valley Parkinson’s Support Group and monthly Dementia Café, now celebrating 7 years of fun and friendships.

“I believe the key to success is working together with pride and satisfaction to provide superior services and fulfilling experiences.  I aspire to end the working day knowing I have made a meaningful difference and created an extraordinary Community where people thrive”.

Jack Newby is a skilled non-profit professional with a wide range of experience in developing grant funded programming and services for older adults, organizational management, program development, and government affairs. Previously he established the Public Policy Department at Desert AIDS Project and served as Director of Development at Mizell Center. He served as Executive Director of The Joslyn Center in Palm Desert for over seven years. At The Joslyn Center, Jack fostered the development of new and innovative programming including the establishment of the Nationally recognized Joslyn Wellness Center utilizing a holistic approach to senior wellness. Jack can share his expertise in grant writing, donor development, event management, and responsibilities of an Executive Director.

Maritza De La Peña, MD, is a Coachella valley physician who enjoys practicing internal medicine and geriatrics. She holds a Board Certification in Internal Medicine and Geriatric Medicine as well as a Lifestyle Medicine diplomate by the American College of Lifestyle Medicine.
Dr. De La Peña is especially passionate about brain health and the management of cognitive disorders like Alzheimer’s dementia (AD). She takes a holistic approach combining traditional medicine, education and a preventative care approach. A few years ago, she founded Optimal Wellness Living, a wellness coaching initiative to promote education and corporate wellness events.
“Joining ACV is a great opportunity and I am looking forward to continuing my efforts to educate and support the Coachella valley residents dealing with AD. My ultimate desire is to empower their families and caregivers to be active participants. The same way it takes a village to raise a child it takes a village to care for our seniors dealing with Alzheimer’s dementia”.
She spends her free time traveling and enjoying the outdoors with her family. Every year she challenges herself to learn something completely new. Last year was playing the drums and this year is learning to speak Italian.

Gerry Neighbors is honored to not only serve on our ACV Board and Gala Committee, but she also happily walks beside families in their journey with their loved ones as they join Vista Cove Memory Care community. Gerry is certified as a Residential Care for the Elderly (RCFE) Administrator. She received her bachelor’s degree in Marketing with a Minor in Art from California State University, Fullerton and joined Vista Cove in May 2021. Gerry loves to volunteer in our community, cook and most of all, spend time with her family. Caring for people is one of Gerry’s innate personality traits.