The Human Element

Southern California Senior Living Communities Unite to Support Fire-Displaced Seniors

January 24, 2025

Eatonfire 0125LA VERNE, CA — There are countless stories of humanity shining through in the wake of the devastating wildfires that continue to burn in and around Los Angeles. Hillcrest, an age-qualified community in this suburb, is among those stories as it shows what it means to be a good neighbor by helping seniors displaced by the nearby Eaton Fire that has ravaged the Altadena/Pasadena area. Hillcrest offered housing to seniors and a chance to rebuild their lives with a new home. The fire destroyed The Terraces at Park Marino in Pasadena, leaving many residents, including those with significant health needs, without a place to call home.

Within 24 hours of receiving a call for assistance from The Terraces at Park Marino, Hillcrest’s Director of Sales and Marketing Shirley Turner and her team mobilized to welcome eight new residents into their community. Hillcrest staff worked tirelessly around the clock to prepare fully furnished, move-in-ready apartments for the displaced residents.

“Our team’s immediate response reflects the heart of Hillcrest’s mission: to care for others in need,” said Turner in a press release. “The collaboration with The Terraces at Park Marino underscores the power of communities coming together in times of crisis.”

Hillcrest team members purchased essential items and furnished their new residences, while staff from food service and nursing care joined the residents for meals to extend a heartfelt welcome.

Eatonfire 2 0125As part of their disaster response plan, Hillcrest made special accommodations by conducting personalized assessments to address each resident’s unique care needs. Hillcrest’s Resident Association is also working to provide each newly welcomed resident with a gift card so they may purchase their personal essential items.

Former Terrace resident Oliver Meeker recalls seeing the fire “out my window coming down the hill and then coming across the fields, but I didn’t imagine it would be allowed to get to us. But with the wind, they just couldn’t handle it.”

Jennie Frederick, another ex-Terrace resident, remembers the warm welcome they received when arriving at Hillcrest.

“When we got out, everybody — all the employees — even the ones that weren’t on duty, just came flying in and helped,” Frederick said. “It was really organized.”

The fire-displaced seniors from The Terraces at Park Marino had spent about three days at the convention center in downtown Los Angeles before being taken to a different holding location on the other side of town.

“We just had what was on our backs and a lot of us didn’t have our phones,” said one former Terrace resident. “And we thought, ‘We’re not in the fire, so we’re good to go. I was amazed at how organized the fire department, police department, and everything was, working together to get us to safety.”

Stories of the evacuation include heroic acts during the fire, such as team members carrying residents out of the burning building and a bus driver who stayed with evacuees overnight to ensure their safety.

“These acts of bravery and kindness remind us of the strength and humanity in our communities,” said Turner. “We are honored to be part of their journey toward recovery.”

The new Hillcrest residents, now located about 25 miles east of Pasadena, are finding comfort in their new environment.

Hillcrest is an upscale 501(c)(3) non-profit CCRC, less than 30 minutes from Los Angeles, Anaheim, Pasadena and San Bernardino. It offers independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing with an emphasis on wellness and health.

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