Senior Community Centers CEO and President Paul Downey Named to Prominent Positions with State and National Aging Agencies

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Paul Downey, CEO and president of Senior Community Centers, has been appointed to two prominent positions with organizations that advocate for seniors in California and throughout the United States.

“Paul has led Senior Community Centers to become a national model of wellness, building collaborative partnerships to provide comprehensive services to seniors, particularly those living in poverty”

In August 2012, Downey was appointed by California Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez to serve as a commissioner of the California Commission on Aging (CCoA). The CCoA serves as the principal advocate in the state of California on behalf of older individuals, including, but not limited to, advisory participation in the consideration of all legislation and regulations made by state and federal departments and agencies relating to programs and services that affect older individuals. It is the principal advisory body to the Governor, State Legislature, and State, Federal and local departments and agencies on issues affecting older individuals in order to ensure a quality of life for older Californians so they may live with dignity in their chosen environment.

"Paul has led Senior Community Centers to become a national model of wellness, building collaborative partnerships to provide comprehensive services to seniors, particularly those living in poverty," says California Assemblymember Toni Atkins, 76th District. "Paul's leadership and ability to bring people together make him a valuable addition to the Commission."

All CCoA Commissioners serve three year terms as volunteers. This is Downey’s first term as a commissioner, and is the first San Diego CCoA representative since 2005. For more information on the CCoA, visit www.ccoa.ca.gov.

In addition, Downey was recently re-elected as board president of the National Association of Nutrition and Aging Service Programs (NANASP), a professional organization based in Washington D.C. with more than a thousand members working or experienced in the field of aging, community-based services and nutrition. NANASP relies on Downey’s extensive expertise on senior nutrition programs, the Older Americans Act, and numerous other aging issues. Downey has testified in Washington D.C. as a national authority on these issues and works closely with the Administration on Aging (AoA). For more information NANASP, visit www.nanasp.org.

About Senior Community Centers

Senior Community Centers is a nonprofit agency dedicated to keeping San Diego seniors healthy and independent. Founded in 1970, the organization creates collaborative partnerships to support their “wellness model,” which provides nutrition, health, mental health, advocacy, transitional housing for homeless seniors and permanent supportive housing. This safety net of services keeps seniors out of emergency rooms, reduces hospital days and delays and/or eliminates the need for long-term care. Learn more www.servingseniors.org. Connect on Facebook and Twitter.