Board Chair
About Us
How We Got Here
The Long-Term Care Foundation of Washington State (LTCF) will be working to operationalize an Adult Family Home Training Network (AFHTN) as prescribed in Second Substitute Senate Bill 5672, enacted during the 2019 Legislative Session.
This bill was passed thanks to the tremendous efforts of the Adult Family Home Council, who work to improve the lives and well-being of vulnerable adults through the support of adult family homes.
Training Network
The Long-Term Care Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization committed to improving and developing access to high-quality, long-term care services.
This is accomplished through:
The Adult Family Home Training Network will provide training, workforce development and other services to adult family home operators and staff. Funding for the training network comes from a specific negotiated training benefit outlined in the collective bargaining agreement between the Adult Family Home Council and the State of Washington. Funding began in 2020 and will be ongoing to support the maintenance and enhancement of the network.
In advancing the work of the LTCF, input from adult family home operators and staff will be solicited, welcomed and appreciated. We are hosting stakeholder engagement sessions online via webinar and survey to all bargaining members. We are also reaching out to certified trainers and training companies to gather their perspectives on the development, availability, cost and delivery of the necessary training.
Our Board of Directors
John Ficker
Executive Director of the Adult Family Home Council
Board Chair
John Ficker is the Executive Director of the Adult Family Home Council. In his role he supports Washington’s more than 3,200 adult family homes through programs of advocacy, education, marketing and support. John has more than 20 years of experience in long-term care including working as the deputy director for Senior Services for South Sound and as the community residential program manager for DSHS’s Aging and Long-Term Services & Supports Administration. Currently John also serves as a member of Washington’s Dementia Action Collaborative, on the executive board of Senior Services for South Sound, as board chair for the Long-Term Care Foundation and as a commissioner to Washington’s Long-Term Services and Supports Trust Commission. In his free time, he wishes he had more free time.
Anderson Jolly
B.S. Pharmacy, Ready Meds Pharmacy Chief Executive Officer
Board Member
Anderson Jolly has over 20 years of experience as a specialty geriatric care pharmacist, DSHS Community Instructor and preceptor for pharmacy students. He owns and manages Ready Meds Pharmacy, RX Courier delivery services and DreamWorks Printing Solutions. Ready Meds Pharmacy is located in Renton, Lacey, Everett and Spokane and currently serves over 1700 Adult Family Homes and Assisted Living Facilities all throughout Washington state.
Dorothy Schlimme
Board Member
Dorothy Schlimme is a multiple adult family home provider in Auburn. She was elected Vice Chair of the Board of AFH Council she also served five years as President of the South King County Chapter of AFH Council. AFH Council and its Chapters advocate for the needs and care for vulnerable adults through the support of Adult Family Homes. Dorothy is a popular and effective spokesperson, representing the AFH Council in various settings and with the Washington State Legislature.
Dorothy chairs the Long-Term Care Ombud's Program (LTCOP) Advisory Council due to her expertise in the care of seniors, the LTCOP and DSHS Licensing Department recommended Dorothy to co-present and author a curricula and training others how to run a successful adult family home business. This Adult Family Home Administrative Training is a 5-credit course at Highline Community College. Dorothy has been the Washington State Master Trainer for the Administrator Course.
Dorothy and her husband operate two adult family homes in Auburn and has received numerous awards in Residential care on professional excellence. They both have three wonderful girls.
Gene Nassen
Board Member
Geno Nassen and his wife Kim currently own and operate 3 Adult Family Homes in Washington; Genteel in Ellensburg, Lola Kay in Yakima, and Dolphin Cove in Tokeland. They also operate a non-profit Supported Living Agency (Kittitas Interactive Management) in Yakima and Kittitas Counties servicing 35 Clients with medical, mental, behavioral, and Community Protection supports. Geno is also a contracted Independent Provider with DSHS. He also services in-home Behavioral Supports contracts.
In his spare time he serves as the President of the Adult Family Home Council. Geno would like to thank the Long Term Care Foundation for my “seat at the table” as a Board Member. He likes to think that if you are not at the table, you could be on the menu!!
Laura Vaillancourt
Board Member
Laura Vaillancourt is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Geriatric Mental Health Specialist. She owns Eldercare Counseling and Guidance Services in Olympia, WA, where she and her team offer care management, consulting and counseling services.
Laura is a passionate speaker and educator about many aging related topics. She has been a contracted provider with the South Sound Alzheimer’s Council, Washington State Home and Community Services, Area Agency on Aging’s Family Caregiver Support Program, and WA State Dept of Labor and Industries. She has participated as a clinician in NYU’s Family Caregiver Study, and educates physicians in residency at Providence St Peter's Hospital for their geriatric rotation. Laura is co-founder of the annual online summit: "Get in the Lifeboat", an educational summit featuring dementia experts across the country for families caring for someone with dementia.
Laura was the 2019 recipient of the Thurston County Senior Action Network's Dennis Mahar Memorial Community Caregiver Award, an award that exemplifies community service and outstanding leadership in the South Sound community. Laura continues to participate in creative endeavors that better the lives of older adults and their families.
Madonna Maxaner
Board Member
Public service is Madonna’s passion. After serving in the Army, Madonna graduated from University of Washington and served as a Governor’s Executive Fellow working in WA Department of Health and the WA Insurance Commissioner. Later receiving a master’s degree in business administration / health care management from Harvard, she served 20 years as a business consultant in the federal government focusing on regulatory compliance, collective bargaining, legislative policy development, cost management, and process improvement. Madonna owns two high acuity adult family homes; these homes are among the highest staffed in Washington state.