Steven Matzie to Lead Elderday’s Next Chapter of Compassionate Adult Day Health Care

WATSONVILLE — Community Bridges is proud to announce the appointment of Steven Matzie as the new Program Director of Elderday Adult Day Health Care, a trusted community-based program that helps older adults and people with disabilities remain healthy, connected, and supported while continuing to live at home.

As Central Coast families and the state face growing demand for aging and disability support, Steven will step in to lead Elderday into its next chapter of compassionate, community-based care — bringing deep experience in care management, inclusive senior programming, and local resource coordination.

Steven most recently served as a Social Work Care Manager with the Health Projects Center Multipurpose Senior Services Program, where he provided person-centered care planning, assessments, referrals, and ongoing support to help older adults in Santa Cruz County maintain independence and connect with local resources.

Over the past 12 years, Steven has focused on helping Santa Cruz County’s older adults navigate complex systems, protecting the rights of people in long-term care, and creating inclusive spaces where seniors are seen, heard, and supported. His background includes direct care coordination, program leadership, advocacy, community outreach, and partnerships with local agencies serving older adults, caregivers, and people with disabilities.

“Elderday is rooted in the belief that every person deserves dignity, connection, and compassionate care at every stage of life,” said Raymon Cancino, CEO of Community Bridges. “Steven brings the right combination of professional experience, community knowledge, advocacy, and heart to lead this essential program. His background in aging services and care coordination will help Elderday continue meeting the needs of participants, families, and caregivers across our region.”

Santa Cruz County’s need for programs like Elderday is growing quickly. By 2030, one in four county residents is projected to be over age 65, and the county’s 65–84 population has grown faster per capita than anywhere else in California since 2010. At the same time, thousands of local older adults depend on government insurance for access to care, making community-based programs an essential part of the region’s health and human services safety net.

That need is rising during a period of significant uncertainty for health care and social service providers. Federal H.R. 1 and state budget shifts are expected to create new pressures on Medi-Cal, Medicare, and other adjacent services, including programs that support older adults, people with disabilities, caregivers, and low-income families.

For Community Bridges, those pressures underscore the importance of strong, experienced leadership at Elderday and sustained investment in the community-based care that helps vulnerable residents remain safe, supported, and connected.

“I’m energized by the opportunity to lead Elderday at such an important moment for older adults, people with disabilities, and the families who care for them,” Steven said. “There are real challenges ahead for community-based care, but Elderday has an extraordinary team, a strong foundation, and a mission that matters. I’m excited to help this program continue to grow, adapt, and succeed.”

Elderday provides adult day health care, therapeutic activities, nursing support, social connection, nutritious meals, transportation, care coordination, and caregiver respite for older adults and people with disabilities. For many families, Elderday makes it possible for a loved one to remain safely at home while receiving skilled support, meaningful daily engagement, and the dignity of connection in a welcoming community setting.

The program is part of Community Bridges’ broader older adult and access safety net. In FY 2024–25, Community Bridges’ older adult and access programs provided 207,021 senior meals, 178,815 home-delivered meals, 14,419 days of elder care, and 109,489 door-to-door rides, helping seniors and people with disabilities stay nourished, connected, and independent.

Steven succeeds longtime Elderday Program Director Lois Sones, whose leadership helped guide Elderday through a major facility transition and strengthened its role as a lifeline for older adults, people with disabilities, and family caregivers. Community Bridges extends deep gratitude to Sones for her decades of service, advocacy, and commitment to dignified, community-based care.

“Leading Elderday has been one of the great honors of my life because this program changes what is possible for older adults, people with disabilities, and the families who love them,” Sones said. “I am deeply grateful to the staff, donors, doctors, nurses, community partners, and everyone who has made Elderday such an extraordinary place to work and such a vital place of care. Steven brings a deep understanding of aging services, advocacy, and person-centered care, and I am grateful to see Elderday’s next chapter entrusted to someone who shares that commitment.”

Before joining Community Bridges, Steven held leadership roles across aging services, long-term care advocacy, caregiver support, and inclusive senior programming. He served as Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program Coordinator at Advocacy, Inc., where he helped protect residents’ rights, supported staff and volunteers, managed community partnerships, and handled complex advocacy cases in long-term care settings. He also held care management and outreach roles with Senior Network Services, Lifespan, Inc., and led the 60Plus Senior Program at The Diversity Center of Santa Cruz County, providing social, educational, and advocacy programming for LGBTQ+ older adults.

“I’ve spent my career working alongside older adults, caregivers, and community partners to help people remain connected, respected, and supported,” Steven said. “Elderday brings all of that together. It is health care, social connection, respite, dignity, and community in one place. I am honored to join Community Bridges and to help build on Elderday’s strong foundation.”

Steven holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from Humboldt State University, where he graduated summa cum laude with a focus on LGBTQ+ aging, and an Associate Degree in Human Services Management from the University of Phoenix, where he graduated magna cum laude. He has also served on the Board of Directors for The Seniors Council of Santa Cruz and San Benito Counties, including as a member of its finance committee.

Families, caregivers, health care providers, and community partners interested in learning more about Elderday, scheduling a tour, or making a referral can visit communitybridges.org/elderday or call 831-458-3481.