Dr. Harmesh Kumar is pooling in resources to start a Residential Care Facility for Seniors of South Asian population within Bay Area. To understand the roadmap for such a plan and facility, A Splash of India contacted Dr. Kumar. Please read to learn and to extend your support in any way or form feasible.

Dr. Kumar is a licensed clinical psychologist, with 26 years of experience in mental health Industry. Currently, he owns and operates Assisted Living and Skilled Nursing Home facilities in the Bay Area, Sacramento and Fresno areas. He is a founder of Therapeutic Residential Services, an agency providing independent, assisted living and skilled nursing home facilities to seniors, developmentally and mentally disabled populations in the Bay Area, Sacramento and Central Valley. He is also the founder and president of a non-profit mental health agency called South Asian Behavioral Health and Training Foundation (SABH CENTER) Inc. The SABH Center provides mental health and residential services to South Asian communities. He is also a co-founder of , The Hume Center. The Hume Center did become one of the largest (accredited by CAPIC & APPIC) training centers in the Bay Area. It is providing well needed services to the community in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Why and what made you feel that there was a need for a South Asian Senior’s home in Bay Area?

As we look around we see lot of suffering of our seniors. We all know they exist, we feel very concerned too, we feel the need to change, we feel we need to give them a better living situation, but nobody is doing anything due to time pressures and to keep up with the race to survive in this fast-paced culture and economy. We are trying to put our thoughts and ideas into efforts, to create a safe sanctuary for our seniors. Being a human and mental health professional, I feel the suffering of families and their elders in my daily practice. My parents live with me and initially my wife and I could not give my parents sufficient time they needed, which created a lot of tension in the house; I could see why. Gradually being a psychologist I started to feel their pain and needs as I realized, they were coming from a different cultural background. My father got hospitalized for couple of months and he refused to have the hospital food. As a doctor, I could explain his doctors the situation, and with special permission they allowed him to have home cooked meals; which is not the case with other individuals. Every household has the same problems, some could deal with it and some could not. Some end up doing very mistakes which can cost them dearly emotionally and financially. Within my means, I want to shelter each and every individual’s problem no matter how big or small it is. We need to integrate economic, emotional, social, political, physical, or psychological aspects and need to take care of all of human aspects. I just want to give people a better living place where they can experience their best potential.

What is your plan regarding the structural facility and the services to be provided specifically on Rehabilitative, Sub acute, and Long Term Care Services?
Initially, we wanted to start with 100 bed residential care which would be further divided in various service levels. We would like to have 25 bed assisted living, 25 bed skilled nursing care, 25 bed sub-acute care, and 25 – bed independent living facilities.

Any venture,  especially as big as yours, would need funds and you certainly have  started fund raising efforts towards it. Could you tell us about the Apirl 3rd, 2010  fundraiser that you are planning ?

We have named this  fundraiser as KHUSHBOO PUNJAB DI which means the fragrance of Punjab, and show is named MEHFIL-A-SARTAJ which is named after the artist, Satinder Sartaaj. It is being held on SATURDAY, APRIL 3, 2010 at 6:30PM in San Jose Performing Arts Center. The young artist, Sufi maestro Satinder Sartaj, has been bestowed with a gold medal in Persian (diploma) and doctorate in Sufiana music. Gifted with a mellifluous voice and a remarkable range in all octaves, Satinder revels in the glory of the mysticism of Sufi saints. He writes his own poetry which is inspired by his own daily, day to day life and context. His authentic and organic Punjabi cultural and linguistic style filled with spiritual scent was the reason for me to introduce him to South Asians and the mainstream population living in San Francisco Bay Area.

Do you plan to have series of fund raisers? Do you have a time limit on starting the project?

Yes, we are planning a series of fund raisers in the future. We are also applying for grants to different State, Federal agencies and private Foundations. If anyone wants to contribute or help in these efforts we would appreciate. Hopefully as soon as they get approved we will start our project. Our goal is to start at least 100 beds residential care facility for South Asian Seniors as mentioned. The cost per bed in the Bay Area is approximately $100,000. To start with our project we need at least $2.5millon.  If anybody is interested to give us a loan, which will be against the real estate, we would be glad to give them up to 7% interest, or they can donate the money and become part of the history. We are also working on identifying at least 25 families who can afford to put in $250,000 as initial down payment to get their own studio in the facility. They will receive the first class facilities with meal (from the menu), laundry and transportation for their religious and medical appointments.

Do you have the location planned out?

No, we have not selected a location as for now. We will prefer to buy an existing facility to avoid delays in getting the requisite City, State and Federal Governments permits.

How can the community help you in your noble endeavor?

The idea or the thought is being initiated by one man but it not one man show. Any kind of endeavor is successful if you have proper resources, time; you are ready to do the efforts and also the blessings of many pure hearts. I would request the community to help us in every possible way they can, we have our skilled doctors, nurses and managers available but they are not enough. If the community could give their bit of time, money, resources, services, good wishes, words of encouragement, believe me every bit of it helps us getting closer our dream. Without the community`s help it would be like one person trying to paint the whole city pink which might be possible but would take hundreds of years but if the community chips in it would be possible in no time.

Contact information :

HARMESH KUMAR, Ph.D.

2249 Pacheco Street, Concord, CA 94520

Licensed Psychologist (PSY 16738)

510-610-0750