Expert Source

Vassar Byrd is a nationally recognized expert source on the topics of gerontology, innovative senior living and the importance of person-directed care. She has lent her expertise to stories in the L.A. Times, U.S. News & World Report, the New York Times, Parents.com, The Oregonian and more. She has also been featured in stories on KXL-FM News/Talk and NPR. 

Rose Villa is regularly featured in local and industry media. If you are a journalist, please contact Jennifer Werdel, Director of Marketing and Communications.

Articles - Page 2

Common Mistakes That Could Harm Your Staff Retention

Jan 5, 2022
Given the staffing shortage in the senior care industry, improving staff retention is more important now than ever. But staff retention has other implications for senior care settings, parti... Read More »

Post-vaccine: The future of senior living

Jul 19, 2021
With the ready availability of the COVID-19 vaccine to anyone age 12 and older, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recent announcement that people can resume activities w... Read More »

Clarity, confidence and competence: Leadership through COVID-19 chaos reveals industry’s resilience

May 28, 2021
Running a nursing home during the pandemic, especially in its frightening and exhausting early months, may have left some leaders feeling they were trying to fix the engine while flying. But a panel o... Read More »

COVID-19 good news: 1st doses of vaccine have reached almost all Oregonians in long-term care

Feb 23, 2021
Oregon quietly reached a monumental milestone last week in the fight against COVID-19. First doses of the vaccine for COVID-19 have reached almost every nursing home, assisted living and memory care ... Read More »

Some senior care staff unsure about the coronavirus vaccine as managers race to educate workers

Jan 14, 2021
John Eaglin Jr. works with some of the most vulnerable Oregonians, but when he learned he could get a shot of the vaccine against the coronavirus, he wasn’t sure if he wanted to d... Read More »

Nursing home staff COVID-19 vaccination: A work in progress

Jan 14, 2021
At nursing homes across the country, residents are stepping up for a shot of what Mary Lynn Spalding, CEO of Christian Care Communities, calls "liquid gold." But staff have been more hesitant&nbs... Read More »

A special present at Rose Villa

Dec 30, 2020
Rose Villa in Oak Grove was among Oregon‘s first long-term care facilities to receive the Pfizer vaccine on Monday, Dec. 21, when approximately 180 staff and residentsgot the first of two COVID-... Read More »

Long-term care facilities celebrate, share lessons learned from COVID-19 vaccine clinics

Dec 28, 2020
As pharmacists from CVS and Walgreens have entered long-term care facilities to vaccinate staff and residents against COVID-19, they have been resoundingly been met with cheers, leaders say. Read More »

KATU - Oregon long-term care residents start receiving vaccine

Dec 22, 2020
KATU - Oregon long-term care residents start receiving vaccine By Lashay Wesley and Associated PressMonday, December 21, 2020 Read More »

Oregon long-term care residents start receiving vaccine

Dec 22, 2020
Rose Villa in Oak Grove was among Oregon's first long-term care facilities to receive the Pfizer vaccine on Monday, Dec. 21, when approximately 180 staff and residents got the first of two COVID-19 va... Read More »

‘The end of an incredibly long road’ as first Oregon senior care home staff and residents get coronavirus vaccine

Dec 22, 2020
It was almost a mundane affair, the 20-year-old senior care worker peering into her phone as she sat, one crossed leg bouncing on top of the other, waiting to get the shot. But like most things relat... Read More »

Oregon long-term care facilities start vaccinating residents and staff

Dec 21, 2020
Oregon long-term care facilities start vaccinating residents and staffLong-term care facilities started vaccinations Monday morning. Read More »