Rona Barrett Foundation

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I’m often asked about why someone might want to donate to my foundation directly.  My answer is simple.  I care.  I have no hidden agenda and feel a tremendous responsibility to give back.  Additionally, I spend a great deal of my time meeting with leaders in the field of senior care, researching and discovering organizations who are on the cutting-edge of senior care and housing across the country.  Since most people don’t have the time to research organizations that spend their money wisely and on the most critical things, they can look to me to do that work on their behalf.   My fans and charitable donors trust me  to do this important work and I am humbled by their confidence.

Learning By Necessity

I learned this lesson the best way; I had to care for my own fabulous father as he aged—a man whose dignity I would not let diminish under any condition, despite his years and failing health. I was suddenly confronted by choices and obstacles I never knew existed; health insurance, prescriptions, pills for this, doctors for that, in-home health, adult day care, surgery options, end of life decision making, hospice care, etc. It occurred to me that if I, with all of my resources, was struggling with my state of affairs, that there must be millions of families across the country that were faced with even more difficult circumstances as they tried to care for their elderly loved ones. It also dawned on me that, as we are all living longer and the largest growing population is baby boomers, this was a disaster in the making for our Country.

One ugly truth that is little discussed is that with all of the miracles that come with our modern medicine which prolongs our lives, we are ill-equipped to deal with the repercussions of a growing elderly population. We can “prop them up” to live longer, but not necessarily better. I really feel that, in my generation, while our elderly loved ones died at an earlier age, they died with more personal care and dignity. A longer life and good care should not be mutually exclusive. We need to embrace the fact that we live longer but make sure that we provide the quality of life that all of us deserve that comes with it.

Moving to Action

Two ideas coalesced for me in the late ‘90s when I was caring for my father. I had moved to the beautiful Santa Ynez Valley, in Santa Barbara County, and had a strong desire to grow fields of lavender; which I did. I had always been aware of lavender’s calming nature and healing effects and a seed germinated in my brain (perhaps a lavender seed) that I could create lavender-based products and raise money and, through the sale of these products, help support seniors in need. Thus, the Rona Barrett Foundation was born.

The Rona Barrett Foundation provides recognition to nonprofit organizations which address the most critical challenges faced by low-income seniors. Focus areas include Assisted Living, Day Care centers and other basic needs of our seniors. Over the years, the Foundation has been able to help non-profits raise funds to provide housing, basic and medical needs, food and other services for the elderly people in need who helped make this Country what it is today.

In recent years, I’ve moved away from the business of lavender production—a lot of work!—and focused my efforts and energy more specifically on raising money and attention for causes related to senior charities, through the Rona Barrett Foundation.

A Voice for Seniors in Need

As importantly, I believe, is my opportunity to use my “voice” as a recognizable public figure to advocate and speak on behalf of senior issues. I’ve done this through events I’ve been asked to host and a series of Rona Barrett Foundation events I’ve personally held. I have also invited the national news media back into my life in a new and meaningful way; as an advocate on behalf of our elderly. I strongly hope that my personal involvement provides opportunities for recognition and awareness for critical programs, issues and policy at a national level and in the communities where our seniors are served.

The Next Chapter

I’m also excited to announce a new, and somewhat unexpected, twist in my senior advocacy and support care adventure and the Rona Barrett Foundation. I am now heading up an effort to create a senior care facility in Santa Barbara County. The Rona Barrett Foundation is focused on the development of an innovative combined housing, adult day care, short term caregiver respite and community center model called “The Golden Inn”—a pilot program is in progress on California’s Central Coast with the goal to create a replicable model to serve low-income seniors in communities throughout the United States. I think that I have landed on a way to make my journey to provide the best care possible for our seniors the most beneficial.

Stay tuned and, as always, thank you for your support.
…and keep thinking the good thoughts!