The James L West Center for Dementia Care announced that its CEO, Cheryl Harding, was recently elected as Board Chair of LeadingAge Texas.
LeadingAge Texas (formerly the Texas Association of Homes and Services for the Aging – TAHSA) provides leadership, advocacy, and education for not-for-profit retirement housing and nursing home communities that serve the needs of Texas retirees.
As a trade association representing the full continuum of mission-driven, not-for-profit aging services providers, LeadingAge Texas is committed to assisting its members in providing the highest quality of services possible to the residents they serve. To accomplish its purpose, the association provides up-to-date information, education, representation, group services, and networking as well as prompt, efficient service to the professional staff of its member communities. The association is comprised of more than 350 members, including approximately 200 of Texas’ finest retirement housing communities, assisted living facilities, continuing care retirement communities, nursing homes, and home and community based services providers. Over 30,000 older Texans reside in LeadingAge Texas-member communities. Thousands more are served through home health services, adult day care centers, and other community out-reach services.
Cheryl Harding began her position as President/CEO of James L. West Center for Dementia Care in February, 2018. In addition to overseeing operations of the residential care, senior day program, community education program and fund development for this 30-year-old not-for-profit, Cheryl is charged with strategic planning and business development to assure a healthy and sustainable future. As a result of her leadership, the James L. West Senior Day Program expanded its reach into Southwest Fort Worth through the acquisition of building that triples the number of persons served.
Cheryl has served in the senior housing and services business for over 35 years. She has also taught full-time at the University of North Texas in Denton and as an adjunct professor at Texas Woman’s University, Hardin Simmons University, Abilene Christian University and currently at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth.
Cheryl graduated from Texas Woman’s University in Denton with a Ph.D. in Family Studies with an emphasis in Gerontology in 1991. She grew up in Louisiana and received her undergraduate and master’s degrees at The University of Louisiana at Monroe. She is also a licensed Nursing Facility Administrator.
