Staff
Valerie Draeseke
South County Transportation Coordinator
(510) 894-0370, press 2
vdraeseke@LifeElderCare.org
Andrea Escobedo
Fall Prevention Program Assistant
(510) 894-0370, press 7
aescobedo@LifeElderCare.org
Jennifer Shively
Fall Prevention Program Coordinator
(510) 894-0370, press 6
jshively@LifeElderCare.org
Bob Siller
Driver
Patricia Osage, Executive Director
Patricia Osage was named LIFE ElderCare’s Executive Director in August 2012. She brings over 20 years of experience in helping vulnerable populations in the nonprofit sector. Board President Judy Zlatnik, said, “We are delighted to welcome Patricia and look forward to working with her to strengthen and expand our services to older adults, and to more actively engage community members in fulfilling our mission.”
Osage was formerly the Director of Resident Services at Satellite Housing where she developed expansive programs around civic engagement and intergenerational opportunities that helped senior residents to not only age in place, but to also thrive in their community. “When seniors recognize that they are truly being seen and heard,” she says, “they open up and are able to collaboratively tailor their own services in ways that work.”
Prior to Satellite Housing, Osage worked in San Francisco as a director of social service programs providing case management to formerly homeless adults living in the Tenderloin district. In 2005, the agency opened its doors to a new type of housing, the Ramen Hotel on Howard Street, a residence designed solely for seniors. Her commitment to the wellbeing of this most vulnerable population quickly became a life direction.
Originally from Missouri, Osage moved to the Bay Area in 2001 and has been living in Fremont for the past eight years. “I am thrilled to be working in my hometown,” she says, “alongside the passionate staff and volunteers at LIFE who help older adults in the Tri-City area get the services they need to remain independent and healthy.”
To share her experience working with seniors who are hardest to reach, Osage created a guidebook called Connecting with Socially Isolated Seniors: A Service Providers Guide. With the help of many colleagues, and suggestions from hundreds of seniors themselves, the book is filled with concrete, real-life methods that can be used to connect with those most at risk for isolation and increased emotional, cognitive and physical health issues.
She is very excited to be collaborating with the community and welcomes all comments and suggestions on senior services in the Tri-City area. Osage can be reached at posage@lifeeldercare.org or by phone at(510) 894-0370.
