Ana de la Cerda Elevates Senior Living Standards

Ana de la Cerda is a Latina immigrant in a leadership position at áegis Living who uses her story and her influence to open doors for others

Ana de la Cerda, VP of Regulatory Affairs, Aegis Living

BY BILLY YOST, HISPANIC EXECUTIVE

When Ana de la Cerda first interviewed with áegis Living, she believed she was the perfect fit. With marketing and executive director-level experience at several senior living communities in California, her qualifications spoke for themselves. But to her surprise, it wasn’t her impressive résumé that won her the job—it was something more.

áegis typically recruits from the hospitality world because one of the goals of the organization is to offer a radically different kind of experience than traditional eldercare.

“I can’t pretend that being an immigrant, being a Latina, in this industry has always been easy. There are misconceptions. But I want to be an example of what’s possible. I hope my story shows other Latinas that there’s a way forward—and that they can rise.”

Ana de la Cerda

While many of her peers come from luxury hotels and customer service backgrounds, her unwavering commitment to senior care is what sets her apart. As áegis’ vice president of regulatory affairs, she draws on a deep well of industry expertise to help redefine what aging with dignity, purpose, and joy can truly look like.

A Passion for Eldercare

Just as de la Cerda’s hiring at áegis Living broke the mold, so too did her journey to the United States. Years ago, as a young student from Guatemala, she accompanied her mother on a visit to a friend in San Francisco. She spoke little English, but she made the most of her school break and visitor visa, staying in the US for six months. When it came time to return to Guatemala, she made a life-changing decision.

“I told my mother I wasn’t going back,” de la Cerda recalls. “I applied for a student visa, studied English as a second language, and eventually met my husband—who I’ve now been married to for forty years. Together, we discovered our shared passion for senior care.”

That passion evolved into a lifelong mission. De la Cerda built her career from the ground up, working for both large organizations and family-run operations in the eldercare industry. Along the way, she developed expertise in navigating regulatory frameworks across numerous states. Her leadership extended beyond the workplace, with active involvement in industry-specific associations such as the California Assisted Living Association (CALA) and later, the Washington Health Care Association (WHCA), where she now serves on the board of directors.

“Organizations like these are the voice of providers, residents, and employees,” she says. “From early on in my career, I knew I had to be involved. They create spaces for collaboration, connection, and real growth in our industry.”

Joining áegis brought that growth into overdrive. The company’s model—rooted in hospitality more than healthcare—reshaped de la Cerda’s thinking around what assisted living and memory care could look like. It deepened her belief in a more dignified, enriching experience for elders, and reinforced her commitment to change.

A Servant Leader

As áegis has evolved, de la Cerda’s role as a leader did too, and she became a voice for those often overlooked in the caregiving workforce. In states like California, Hispanic people represent more than 39 percent of California’s population but are underrepresented in every workforce category and region amongst forty-seven key licensed health professionals, as referenced in the California Department of Health Care Access and Information website. She sees both a responsibility and an opportunity.

“I can’t pretend that being an immigrant, being a Latina, in this industry has always been easy,” de la Cerda says. “There are misconceptions. But I want to be an example of what’s possible. I hope my story shows other Latinas that there’s a way forward—and that they can rise.”

De la Cerda leads with a servant’s heart. She believes true leadership in eldercare means lifting others up and preparing them to lead in turn.

“My goal has always been to grow my team to the point that they’re ready to take my job,” she says. “When you put others before yourself, that’s where real success begins.”

That same spirit extends to her personal life. At home, de la Cerda cherishes quiet moments with her husband and grown children and grandchildren, especially their movie nights, even if she’s not always sold on their cinematic tastes.

“I’m not a big movie person, but it’s how my kids like to spend time with me,” she says with a smile. “I do it because I love being with them, and they’ve learned how to choose films I’ll actually enjoy.”

As the devoted daughter of her ninety-four-year-old mother—who resides in a senior community and lives with mild dementia—de la Cerda deeply understands the impact her work has on the lives of seniors and their families. She has experienced firsthand the emotional journey of finding the right community, one that ensures a loved one is treated with compassion, respect, and dignity.

“This is why I’ve dedicated my life to this beautiful industry,” de la Cerda says. “Because each of us has the power to make a meaningful difference.”

Hispanicexecutive.com