Silverado Newport Mesa
Memory Care Community

For the past ten years, Heather has made her mark in senior care working a wide variety of roles including an administrator, executive chef, sous-chef and care provider. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from Sacramento City College and her Associate Degree in Culinary Arts from Le Cordon Bleu.

As Newport-Mesa’s Administrator, Heather strives to get to know her associate team on a personal level and build a familial relationship. She recognizes how important it is to become a family to ensure residents and their loved ones are receiving the best care and support. Heather hopes to change the stigma around senior living and help others see communities as an extension of a resident’s home. “Senior living has evolved and isn’t a nursing home anymore,” she shares.

Heather moved to Southern California from Davis, CA and currently resides with her wife, three-year old son named Shai and two dogs. Heather enjoys the outdoors, hiking, going to the beach, hockey and is a fan of the San Jose Sharks.

Jason Abney, DO developed his compassion for working with the elderly much earlier than most doctors. It sprung from his loving relationship with his grandparents, and shaped his philosophy of care centers providing the most compassionate and dignified experience to residents and their families. Silverado is fortunate to have Dr. Abney on the team. He is board certified in family medicine, is an associate medical director for his medical group and shares his passion for elderly care through teaching. He received the 2013 Senior Care Hero Award for Outstanding Physician.

Ashley Guerra, RN is the Director of Health Services at Silverado Tustin Hacienda. Ashley started with Silverado as an intern nursing student while studying to become a registered nurse. She stayed on as an intern during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and led the charge with the full time nursing staff, providing amazing care during very uncertain times.

She received her degree and became a charge nurse at another Silverado community, where she provided excellent care and established herself as a strong leader. Based on her skills as a nurse and compassion for residents and their families, Ashley was offered the Director position in Tustin. Ashley oversees all the nurses and care teams at the community.

Ashley has incredible clinical experience and intuition, along with a passion to serve others. We are happy to have her on our leadership team.

Michelle graduated from Magnolia High School with honors; her extracurricular activities included soccer, cross country and track and field. Her volunteer work in nursing homes as an activity and culinary assistant helped her discover a passion of assisting and engaging residents to their full potential. Michelle’s early experience working as a care manager inspired her to accomplish her goal of becoming an activity director. Her greatest achievements have been completing the Alzheimer’s Association program “Memories in the Making,” facilitating Girl Scouts of America volunteer groups, organizing the Senior Olympics in her community and developing and designed the engagement program from beginning to end.

Michelle enjoys gardening, car shows, and spending time with her family and her dog, Coca.