WHO WE ARE

 

OUR HISTORY

 

The Maldonado family has resided in Santa Barbara since January 2000. Mark and Valerie, married for over 30 years, have raised three adult children, Bryan, Brittany and Candice. Recently they celebrated the arrival of their first grandchild, Sophia.

 

Mark Maldonado attended Pepperdine University for his Bachelor's degree, later earning an MBA from Golden Gate University. He spent over 30 years in the Silicon Valley high technology sector, working for companies such as Intel, Altos, Oracle, Dun and Bradstreet, and Portal Software. He later went on to build custom family homes as a general contractor, and operated a security fencing company in Camarillo.

 

Valerie Maldonado raised the family's three children, while volunteering at The Los Gatos Convalescent Home for Seniors and other non-profit ventures. She is also a licensed real estate agent and played an integral part in the family's later construction projects, and in their fencing company. Valerie is a licensed RCFE Administrator certified by the State of California.

 

Both Mark and Valerie have significant experience with family members suffering from age-related memory and cognitive decline. Recognizing how rewarding, yet often difficult it was to provide both secure and engaging custodial care for elders, the Maldonados' began researching a new opportunity where they could combine quality residential care, love of family, and their years of entrepreneurial business experience into a vision they could share with others. They also wanted to find a new career opportunity that would allow them to continue to work as a family partnership in Santa Barbara, an environment with preferences and needs they felt comfortable and experienced responding to.

 

After identifying a prime residential site located in the heart of downtown Santa Barbara, they spent the next three years developing what will soon be The Oak Cottage of Santa Barbara. Envisioned as a welcoming, cottage style home separated into three neighborhoods, the Maldonados' focused on developing a program that would respond to where the residential and care need for seniors was greatest - those beset by cognitive loss or in need of hospice care. Oak Cottage will incorporate the Maldonados' personal affinity with local culture, excellent food, and engaging activities. Programming will also embrace the larger family unit, understanding that honoring and provision of quality care for elders, also includes the opportunity by which much can be shared and passed on from generation to generation.