Hanh Ta joined SFCJL this past March as our Licensed Nursing Home Administrator, responsible for managing day-to-day operations in our care facilities. She comes to us with an unusual background, but one that formed her strong work ethic and the determination and compassion she needed to make a difference in the lives of older adults.
Born in Vietnam, Hanh is the youngest of four children. Her father was a merchant marine and navigator for oil tankers. Following the fall of Saigon in 1975, her family was forced to flee the country via a double decker fishing boat. Along with 680 other refugees, Hanh and her family settled in a camp in Hong Kong. They lived in two other refugee camps before coming to the US after being sponsored by a relative in California. Hahn says that learning English as a 6-year-old was her introduction to the advantages of a good education. After receiving her undergrad degree in biochemistry from UC Riverside with an eye toward medical school, she chose to pivot and attended University of Southern California for a master’s degree in Gerontology. Her interest in working with and advocating for seniors led her to complete a law school degree at Trinity University and further experience in healthcare compliance and care center licensing.
Her entire career has been focused on roles that enhance the continuum of care and living experiences of seniors. Says Hanh, “I understand firsthand what it means to struggle in a place that is foreign and at first uncomfortable, like so many of our residents and patients. I want to make a difference in the lives of the seniors who reside here and the staff who work here. I am so excited to be a part of this great SFCJL team!”