Jim Stueck has served on the Board of Directors for 8 years, formerly as board chair – three terms - and currently as the agency’s community education representative. Jim, a native Californian, received his Bachelor of Science Degree from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. For the past 30 years Jim has worked as a Financial Service Representative.

His community involvement includes Board Member and Founding Member of Moorpark Boys and Girls Club; President of the Moorpark Chamber of Commerce; Member and currently President of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors – San Fernando Valley.

He is active in his church and currently serves as President of the Board of Trustees of Presbytery of Santa Barbara. Jim and his wife Mickey have lived in Moorpark for the past 28 years and have an adult son, great daughter in law and two amazing grandchildren.

Jim says, “Being part of the Ombudsman Program has brought me great satisfaction in knowing I am supporting a work that is vitally important for the care and well being of our elderly in long term care. The program has been an incredible repository of knowledge and information for me and what I have learned has made me much more capable and confident in how to help my own aging parents”.

Becky Duarte began her real estate career in Dallas, Texas in the late 70's. Marrying a
California native led to her relocation to California where soon afterward she started her own real estate company - Premier Options in Camarillo.

Becky's love and passion for the elderly culminated from the experience of needing to advocate for her own mother as she dealt with the health conditions that impacted her final years.

Becky says that being on the Board of Directors the Long Term Care Services Ombudsman Program allows her to continue her advocacy for seniors and give back to them for all they have given to us and our world. Becky has served on the board since 2007.

Jackie has served on the Board of Directors since January, 2008. A native of Michigan, Jackie has lived in Old Agoura for the last 25 years.

She attended Moorpark College and CSU Channel Islands as a Psychology Major with an emphasis in Gerontology and is employed by Amgen. Jackie has long been an advocate of the elderly, serving as a volunteer for Westlake Village Meals on Wheels for 15 years.

Dana Kearney Treasurer has served on the Board of Directors for 9 years, formerly as board chair – two terms - and currently as treasurer. A CPA for 29 years, Dana brings a wealth of expertise in her role. She is a partner in the CPA firm of Bratton, McMorrow, and Kearney, and is Chief Financial Officer in an oil and gas venture. She is actively involved in the financial stewardship of the agency, and over the years has provided hundreds of hours of professional pro bono services. She and her husband, Pat, live in Ventura and have 5 children.

Dana says, “Being able to help create a better life for our seniors in long term care through the work of the Ombudsman Program brings me great personal satisfaction and joy. This work is a gift to me.”

Erbie has served on our Board of Directors for 8 years. He has lived in Ventura County for over 40 years and is owner of Damar Construction in Ventura.

He and his wife Nancy have two married sons, and three grandchildren.

When Erbie isn’t working or helping out with agency events, he loves to travel and drive around in his new corvette.

Lucas Johnston is a Ventura County native who has been with Affinity Bank for 5 years. He began work at the Bank as the Manager of Training and Development, and after 2 years transitioned to manage the Camarillo Branch location.

Lucas currently works at the Affinity Bank corporate office where he manages the Downtown Branch.

In addition to his activities with the Bank, he is also heavily involved in service throughout the county. He and his wife Rhonda are active with various service organizations and Lucas currently is a board member for the Downtown Ventura Organization.

Lucas has served in the Board of Directors for 2 years. Lucas is a graduate of California Lutheran University as well as America’s Community Banker’s National School of Banking.

Roberto has served on the Board of Directors since 2004. Roberto was born and raised in San Francisco, and moved to Simi Valley in 1997. He has been married to Victoria for 8 years. Roberto’s background ranges from the welding trades to sales training to now, where he is happiest, as a successful Realtor in Westlake Village.

His areas of interest include fishing, hiking, dirt biking, archery and spending time with his family.

• CANHR - California Advocates For Nursing Home Reform
"Popular Dementia Care symposia Coming to NorCal"
August 26, 2011

REGISTER NOW FOR Dementia Care Without Drugs – A Better Approach for Long-term Care Facilities
Read the full news article

• VENTURA COUNTY STAR
"Let them eat chocolate, says advocate of change in senior care"
By — Tom Kisken
Tuesday, August 11, 2011

At Tena Alonzo's nursing home, residents sleep as late as they want. Care schedules revolve around their convenience, not the staff's. If they're used to a small cocktail at night, they have one.
Read the full news article

• VENTURA COUNTY STAR
"Ombudsman program serves as watchdog in nursing facilities"
By — Martha Maciel
Tuesday, July 28, 2011



Photo by karen Quincy Loberg/VCStar - Sylvia Taylor-Stein, executive director of
Long Term Care Services of Ventura County Inc., leads a volunteer training session
for the Ventura County Ombudsman Program recently in Ventura. The volunteers
help the elderly residents of nursing homes and long-term-care homes.

The Ventura County Ombudsman program currently is training volunteers to help the elderly in sursing and long-term-care homes.
Read the full news article

• VENTURA COUNTY STAR
"Use of chemical restraints in nursing homes called an epidemic"
By — Tom Kisken
March 24, 2011



Photo byStephen Osman/VCStar - Sister Cristina Bocanegra of Mary Health of the Sick
skilled nursing facility in Newbury Park listens as long-term care advocates
held a toxic medicine symposium in Oxnard. Healthcare professionals, attorneys,
state regulatory agencies and Ventura County officials attended.

Nearly 25 percent of the residents in California's nursing homes are placed on antipsychotic drugs, often used as sort of a chemical leash to control behavior in a trend a watchdog called an epidemic Thursday at a symposium.
Read the full news article

• VENTURA COUNTY STAR
"Taylor-Stein: make 'least drugging' a nursing-home norm"
By — Sylvia Taylor-Stein
Tuesday, July 28, 2011

Frail and vulnerable residents of nursing homes throughout California are being dosed with powerful anti-psychotic drugs, leading to painful spasms, tremors, lethargy, a higher risk of harmful falls, infections and even death. Making matters worse, the drugs often cause behavioral problems, leading to even more drugs.
Read the full news article

• VENTURA COUNTY STAR
"Reform sought for state homes' monitor"
By —Tom Kisken
Tuesday, April 7, 2011



Photo by Stephen osman/VCStar -

Jim Bauer, a state-certified ombudsman, checks in on patient Salvacion "Sally" Iglesia, who said "Jim is so understanding." Bauer and other volunteer ombudsmen serve as advocates who monitor long-term care facilities

• GREY MATTERS
"Creating a Culture of Comfort: Alternative Method for Treating patients With Dementia"
By —Cheri
Tuesday,August 14, 2011


This is an article written by Mary C. Shea, Senior Deputy Public Defender. For the past 11 years, Mary’s assignment at the Public Defender’s Office is representing members of our society requiring a conservatorship placed over them due to their inability to care for themselves personally and/or financially. Mary is one of Ventura County’s most valuable members and the seniors of our community are very fortunate to have her “in their court.” Mary attended the August 11th workshop.
Read the full news article

Sylvia Taylor-Stein Executive Director was introduced to the Ombudsman Program in August of 1999 and became actively involved in September of the same year. Sylvia, and her husband Marc, a native Californian, have five adult children and live in Ventura County. Sylvia’s greatest inspiration in her life was her grandmother who died at 92 years of age after suffering with Alzheimer’s disease for 10 years. It was this love and deep respect for her grandmother that influenced her desire to become involved with the elderly, and the exceptional advocacy work of the Ombudsman Program.

Sylvia received her higher education at Ambassador University in Hertfordshire England and the University of Northern Kentucky. Her work experience is extensive in the areas of publishing, marketing, management (including non-profit management) and public relations. She was executive vice president of an international publishing company for 12 years where she also served as director of its private foundation.

Sylvia says, “My grandmother was blessed to live and die at home with loving people around her. This is not the case for most of our elderly in long term care. My goal is to help build a strong ombudsman program here in Ventura County that can provide the effective advocacy, care and support they need and deserve.”

Kathy Terry, Field Services Coordinator, was introduced to the Ombudsman program during her tenure in the eldercare industry where she had worked for 8 years. Although she felt a kinship and knew she helped those she served, she also realized there were limitations that prevented her from fully advocating for those in need, and she had a deep yearning to do so. This had been birthed years earlier by the powerful influence of her paternal grandmother, who was a perfect example of taking stewardship over those seniors in her neighborhood who were vulnerable and alone. As she became familiar with the advocacy work of the Ombudsman, she knew, if ever given the opportunity, she would want to be an Ombudsman. In 2007 she was invited to come on staff.

Kathy is currently completing her Graduate program in Gerontology at California State University at Northridge. She and John, her wonderful husband of 32 years live in Ventura County and have four adult children.

“It is a joy to come to work everyday, knowing that this program is making a real difference in the lives of deserving individuals, who have earned the right to be treated with dignity and respect in the golden years of their lives. You can judge a society by how it treats its elders.”

Cassandra Sproule, Complaint Resolution Coordinator is the newest member of the Ombudsman staff. Cassandra and her husband, Rob, along with their three children recently relocated back home to California after serving many years with the Salvation Army. While serving in the Salvation Army, Cassandra held many positions including: Pastor/CEO/Day Care Director/Program Developer for Youth and the Elderly.

During her program work with elderly women with disabilities, Cassandra created projects that allowed them to feel value and enjoy the fulfillment that comes with giving back to their families and communities through something they loved – sewing. She assisted them in learning new methods, and tools to enable them to rediscover their sewing talents and stay active.

Cassandra says, “When I was invited to become a member of the Ombudsman Program, I was very excited to be part of a program that brings so much benefit to our seniors in long term care facilities and the community as a whole.

Vicky Odle, Volunteer Support & Administrative Assistant, is a California native, residing in Ventura with Alan, her wonderful husband of 25 years. After raising their two children, and working along side her husband in the family business, Vicky felt her needs grow, both professionally and spiritually. In 2001, Vicky went to work as an Accounts Receivable Specialist. After eight years of office work, Vicky received an opportunity to facilitate in the private rehabilitation field. It soon became evident to Vicky that her passions would always reside in an environment where giving back was prominent.

Later, when she found herself in the position of having to advocate for her mother and father during their time of illness she came to see the vital need for strong advocacy voices in our health care facilities. When offered a staff position at Long Term Care Services, Vicky felt no hesitation, and knew she had found her calling.

Vicky says, “Working for the Ombudsman Program has been a gift. I feel complete, and see only positive things in my future. I wake up every day feeling incredibly blessed, and grateful God has given me the opportunity to serve our seniors and their families.”