Laguna Honda joint committee hears housing plan updates; consultants recommend social day program instead of adult day health center

Commissioner Guillermo reported to the Health Commission on the Joint Conference Committee meeting for Laguna Honda, summarizing presentations and consultant recommendations for a housing project on the campus.

Health Management Associates (HMA) presented stakeholder focus‑group findings and recommended the new campus housing include a social day program — a flexible model with broader eligibility — instead of an adult day health center. HMA also recommended using a model of affordable housing with enhanced services rather than an assisted‑living model, citing funding availability and cost considerations.

Guillermo said Laguna Honda will present a fuller update to the full commission in September and noted Laguna Honda’s return to the regular cadence of certification surveys. The committee also discussed admissions, noting a typical summer dip in referrals and expectations to meet admission goals through December.

Public comment included strong statements defending the adult day health center model and the 120 Laguna Honda beds that remain closed. Geriatrician Teresa Palmer said single out that “it seems really quite unjust and unfair to me that that adult day health center model would not be given back, with this building on public land that Laguna Honda owns.” Another commenter said voters expected housing, not a community facing senior center, and asked the commission to reconsider Mercy Housing’s proposal.

Ending: The full commission will receive a detailed update in September; commissioners expressed interest in continued oversight of bed preservation and program design for the campus housing project.