To the Clearwater Newport Beach Care Team and Culinary Services Team,
There are moments in life when words seem inadequate to properly express gratitude.
This is one of those moments.
On behalf of the residents and families whose lives you touch every single day, I want to
extend heartfelt appreciation and admiration for the extraordinary work performed by
the entire staff of Clearwater Newport Beach Assisted Living.
With approximately 90 employees serving more than 100 resident apartments at nearly
full occupancy, the scope of your responsibility is enormous. Yet what makes Clearwater
truly exceptional is not simply the services provided — it is the spirit in which those
services are delivered.
Many residents affectionately refer to you as “our angels.” Speaking from personal
experience, even that description feels insufficient.
The care giving team, under the outstanding leadership of Alex Valle, performs work
that is physically demanding, emotionally taxing, and profoundly important. Every day
you assist residents with medications, bathing, dressing, mobility, transportation to
meals, exercise, social activities, and countless personal needs that require patience,
dignity, compassion, and skill.
Many residents face serious ambulatory challenges and depend upon walkers or
wheelchairs, requirng assistance with daily bodily movement and functions. Yet
regardless of the difficulty or repetition of the tasks, the caregivers continue to serve
with kindness, professionalism, and humanity.
Particularly remarkable is the Memory Care Department, which serves approximately
28% of the resident population requiring continuous 24-hour supervision and
specialized care. Under the beloved leadership of Asuka Smith, Clearwater has created
an environment where residents suffering from memory impairment are treated not
merely as patients, but as valued human beings deserving safety, dignity, affection, and
respect. The love residents and families feel for Asuka and her team speaks volumes
about the quality of leadership and care being provided.
The Culinary and Food Services Department, led by Amy Lebrun, also deserves
extraordinary recognition.
Clearwater’s culinary staff faces an even greater challenge: serving residents from a wide
variety of cultural and ethnic backgrounds, each carrying lifelong memories and
preferences connected to the foods they grew up with and loved throughout their lives.
Attempting to satisfy such a broad range of tastes and expectations is, at times, nearly
impossible. And yet Amy and her team continue to work tirelessly with grace,
professionalism, and cheerful determination. Even when occasional complaints arise —
often from residents who understandably may not fully appreciate the complexity of the
task — the staff continues to smile, serve, and care.
That quiet professionalism deserves recognition.
What many people never see are the sacrifices made behind the scenes: the long hours,
the emotional exhaustion, the physical demands, the missed family time, and the
constant commitment required to maintain excellence day after day, year after year.
These men and women are the unsung heroes of Clearwater Newport Beach.
They do not seek applause or public recognition. Yet they consistently provide comfort,
dignity, companionship, nourishment, safety, and hope to residents during some of the
most vulnerable years of their lives.
The true measure of a community is found in how it treats those who depend upon
others for care. By that measure, Clearwater Newport Beach stands as an example of
compassion, professionalism, and humanity at its finest.
To every caregiver, housekeeper, dining room server, culinary staff member,
maintenance worker, laundry attendant, receptionist, med-tech, administrator, and
support employee:
And most of all, thank you for treating residents not merely as customers, but as people
deserving dignity, respect, and kindness.
Thank you.
Bill & Margaret Avery
Clearwater Newport Beach
Our mom has been living at Clearwater memory support for over a year, and while the community itself is beautiful, it's the people who work there that truly make it special. The care partners, med techs, and all the staff are compassionate and committed to creating a safe and dignified environment for every resident.
We want to give recognition to Asuka, who leads the community with extraordinary dedication. She is available, reliable and cares about the well-being of each resident. When our mom has concerns, Asuka takes time to sit with her and listens making sure she feels heard & supported. Asuka's presence brings comfort not only to the residents, but to the families who trust her with their loved ones.
We want to also highlight care partner Adriana- she is an exceptional member of the team! She is kind, attentive and goes beyond to brighten mom's days. Her positive energy, calming & caring nature makes a meaningful difference in our mom's daily life.
Empower Me is the PT/OT partner at Clearwater, and they are wonderful. Haley, who leads the department is especially outstanding. Her communication is detailed and thoughtful, and she always keeps focus on what each client genuinely needs. Mom adores Adriana & Haley!
Knowing our mom is surrounded by a team of people who genuinely care about her means everything to us. We are grateful to have found Clearwater.
Our mom lived at Clearwater Newport Beach, and we are very grateful for the care she received there. Every staff member—from the front desk and dining staff to the activity director, caregivers, med techs, Director, administrative and maintenance team—was professional, thoughtful, cheerful, and kind. We were impressed with how thoughtfully the team supported our mom’s transition from an independent lifestyle. They provided activities and outings that helped her stay engaged, connected, and active.
The Clearwater setting is beautiful and welcoming, which helped make it feel like home. There were also many cozy and comfortable communal spaces where our family could gather with her—enjoying snacks on the lovely patio, watching a movie in the theater, getting a coffee in the cafe, or spending time in the game room. The entire building and grounds are immaculate. And the location is ideal—close to the familiar shops and restaurants which our mom loved, with easy access to a walking trail that brought her so much joy.
Above all, what stood out most was the loving care our mom received. The caregivers were exceptionally attentive and compassionate, and they made a meaningful difference in her daily life. We are especially grateful to Asuka for her expertise, compassion, practical care, and her reassuring and clear communications with us. She and her incredible team went above and beyond to make our mom – and us – feel cared for.
When our mom passed, the care team provided such loving support to our family. They truly felt like family themselves and were genuinely caring during this challenging time. We will always be grateful for the care, dignity, warmth, and compassion they showed throughout her time there.
This community is beautiful, to say the least, very bright, full of life, and full of positive energy throughout. The best part, though, is the team.
I’ve known the Executive Director, Kathleen, for quite some time, and she is truly one of the best. Alex, the HSD, and Asuka, the MC Director, are the perfect combination, with great personalities and knowledge, and they help create the heart of the community. Their leadership, teamwork, and dedication are reflected in the warm, inviting atmosphere and strong team engagement you feel the moment you walk in. Love this team and this community!
Clearwater will always have a dear spot in my heart. My mother was forced to go into assisted living after a fall in April 2024, after living totally independently for 89 years. We chose Clearwater because of several reasons; the facilities were immaculate, the staff professional and friendly, and the proximity to her doctors and friends. It was a big adjustment, but the staff at Clearwater made it comfortable and painless. Unfortunately, my mother fell again after only six months at Clearwater and was not able to recover this time. I know my mother's last months and days were happy ones and for that I will always be thankful to the staff at Clearwater. Thank you to all that made my mother feel comfortable, safe and welcome. May God bless you all.
