Lau chosen as veterans home administrator

BARSTOW • Raymond Lau, a hospital administrator, is preparing to take over the top job at the Veterans Home of California, Barstow.

Gov. Jerry Brown appointed Lau as administrator of the Veterans Home on Monday.

Lau, who lives in Banning, previously worked as administrator of Century Skilled Nursing Care in Inglewood since 2009. Before that, he served as administrator at Plymouth Tower in Riverside, Beverly Manor of Bakersfield and at Golden Cross Healthcare of Fresno.

Lau was a real estate agent for 22 years before entering the health care industry.

He received a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Phoenix and a Master of Healthcare Administration degree from the University of LaVerne.

Lau grew up in Hawaii and while he never served in the military, he said he had friends who did and that taught him to be thankful for America’s soldiers.

“I basically feel I owe my freedom to these guys that go and sacrifice themselves over there,” Lau said.

He said he will be a hands-on administrator who will listen to feedback from residents and employees. He said he wants to look into adding assisted living care for veterans at the home — a service for veterans who desired less hands-on care than skilled nursing, but more than independent living. Lau acknowledged, though, that the state budget cuts will limit his ability to improve the facility.

The veterans home’s recent zero-deficiency rating from the federal government showed him that Barstow was a location that excelled at caring for veterans, he said.

Lau will start working in Barstow around June 18, but must first travel to Sacramento to be formally sworn in by the governor. He said he expects to begin work a day or two after that.

“I’m just a plain, old family man that loves family,” Lau said. “That and the good Lord.”

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