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One of the many milestones towards the development of Keiro’s board and care home is to establish strong leadership to help navigate the complexities of regulatory requirements, project management, and building a successful business plan. As Keiro continues to make steady progress on renovations and licensing, we are pleased to announce that Desiree Kitagawa has joined the team as the Executive Director of the board and care, which has been named Keiro Kikyo Home.
Desiree has extensive experience in aging services and a passion for senior living. She worked in various roles at Nikkei Senior Gardens for 15 years, such as Memory Care Supervisor, Director of Life Enrichment, and Associate Executive Director, eventually serving as the Executive Director for three years. Most recently, Desiree was the Executive Director at an assisted living facility in the South Bay.
Desiree shared, “I look forward to helping carve a new path for future board and care homes that support our seniors and the community. Keiro Kikyo Home will be a place of compassion, offering person-centered care grounded in dignity and respect where individuals can enjoy the highest quality of life. Additionally, we aim to comfort families by providing dependable, heartfelt care.”
A new Board of Directors will provide governance oversight and support for the board and care home. These board members, each serving on a voluntary basis, include Lynn Miyamoto as the Board Chair, Karl Kim, Yoshie LeSieur, Yukari Roberts, Margaret Shimada, Ron Takasugi, and Beverly Ito. These members have diverse and extensive backgrounds in the aging and senior living industries, a commitment to expanding upon Keiro’s existing support-based initiatives, and expertise across fields that blend professional experience with passion for the community.
Creating a Home
Desiree has been working with the Board of Directors on redefining what the board and care experience could be at Keiro Kikyo Home. “Senior living is always evolving. Our goal is to continue adapting to meet the changing needs of our residents and family members, while ensuring we create a culturally sensitive environment that honors Japanese traditions and values in everyday life at home,” she said.
At this stage, the board and care licensing application has been submitted to the Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing. Meanwhile, Desiree has been working with an architect and the City of Torrance to obtain building and safety clearance permits for the planned renovations.
What’s Next?
Contractor proposals have been reviewed, and once the necessary permits are obtained, renovations can begin. As the status of the licensing application and renovations are monitored, a more defined timeline for accepting applications for admission to Keiro Kikyo Home will be established. With the completion of each milestone on the journey towards the grand opening, Desiree hopes that the community feels supported, and she is looking forward to creating a warm and welcoming home to fit the unique needs and preferences of the residents.
“We have been working hard with the Keiro team to strategize what we will need moving forward and ensure that in everything we do, we are honoring Keiro’s founders and mission,” Desiree shared.
Keiro is committed to providing Our Community with updates as we achieve significant milestones in the development of Keiro Kikyo Home. Like many in Our Community, we are looking forward to announcing the grand opening and welcoming our first residents. Stay connected with Keiro to learn more about our programs and resources to promote aging with confidence and living with vitality.
Stay connected with Keiro to learn more about our programs and resources to promote aging with confidence and living with vitality. For more information, email [email protected].