About LITA
Mission Statement
The mission of LITA is to improve the quality of life for persons living in skilled nursing facilities, residential care facilities, and retirement residences throughout Marin County by providing volunteer visitors. LITA promotes friendships that lessen isolation and loneliness, and increases public awareness of the needs of residents of long-term care facilities.
History
For 36 years LITA has been providing needed companionship for frail, isolated elderly people who live in long-term care facilities in Marin County and who have few or no visitors. LITA was founded in 1975 by Mae Wygant who had volunteered in a nursing home and began recruiting friends and fellow church members to visit with lonely residents.
For the first ten years, LITA volunteers visited only in nursing homes. In 1985 LITA hired a part-time volunteer coordinator and expanded the program to include visits to residents in assisted care and residential facilities. By 2001 LITA had expanded to serve residents in Alzheimer’s facilities and board and care homes. Currently, LITA offers its services in 48 long-term care facilities throughout Marin County. Volunteers include working and retired individuals, high school students, elementary school classes, families visiting together and volunteers’ pets.
The need for LITA services will continue to grow as the 85 and older segment of Marin’s population continues to expand.
LITA Staff
Aline Shaw, Executive Director
Gerrda Focardi, Director of Volunteers
Board of Directors
Reed B. McClintock, Chairman
William J. Strawbridge, PhD, Vice Chairman
Brian Finnegan, Treasurer
Liz Naughton, Secretary
Judy Bissey
Peter Boam
Geoff Dugmore
Mary E. Gomes
Belinda Ryland, MFT
Lowell Smith
Advisory Board
Mary Jane Burke
Jenay Cottrell
Joe Garguilo
Cheryl Jennings
Pat Lewis
Betsy Best Martini
Terry McSweeney
Liz Rottger