John H. Benedict, the founding administrator of Rosewood Gardens, had served for almost eight years when he resigned and became the administrator of the Canyon Meadows conference grounds near Lake Hughes. His successor at Rosewood Gardens, Jo Ann Walters, became administrator in July 1981. For six years she had been on the staff of Judson Park/Caldwll Health Center in Seattle, Washington, serving during the last four years as the assistant administrator. A licensed nursing home administrator, she had prime responsibility for the 120-bed Caldwell Health Center and assisted in the management of the Judson Park retirement home.
With the arrival of Jo Ann Walters came a new emphasis on the improvement of the quality of life and services for the residents at Rosewood Gardens. In keeping with the broader mission of Rosewood Gardens, the institution was renamed Rosewood Retirement Community. Since the community had experienced occupancy problems, greater emphasis was placed on marketing. Many of the studio units were converted into one-bedroom apartments, an arrangement most in demand. In March 1982, the rental program was phased out, and additional beds were added to The Health Center.
The increasing activities at the Rosewood Retirement Community led to the hiring of an assistant administrator, Ted Ahlem, in December 1983. His primary responsibility was with The Health Center. Marketing responsibilities fell to H. Ted Burgess, the retirement counselor, who joined the staff in September 1984. The strategic planning efforts under Jo Ann Walters led to accreditation by the Continuing Care Accreditation Commission in July 1988. Other accreditations followed.
An expansion program at Rosewood was launched in October 1983, when site preparation began for 18 luxury garden Apartments, with several others in the planning stage. They were designed by architect Martin Temple and built by contractor Hollis Sons, Fresno firms. The apartments, with two bedrooms and two bathrooms, were advertised as ideal for "those who wish to retire with security, independence, and dignity." Eighteen apartments were ready for inspection in May 1984, and a ribbon-cutting ceremony was arranged, with Rosewood administrators and public officials participating.
Some Rosewood residents no longer drove automobiles. In April 1974 a Ford minibus and the first several part-time drivers were employed to take residents on shopping trips and to medical appointments. A decade later the minibus was replaced with a Chevrolet station wagon. William Dold was employed as the full-time director of transportation in October 1987.
The expansion of Rosewood in the 1980s and an increase in the number of residents made apparent the need for more adequate transportation. Late in the 1980s, the residents launched a fund drive to purchase a well-equipped bus, costing $52,500. The residents raised 90 percent of the cost and 10 percent was contributed by ABHOW. A 26-passenger Ford bus, equipped with a wheelchair lift, was purchased in October 1989. Dold, the well-respected transportation director, assumed responsibility for the driving and care of the Rosewood bus.
Due to her husband’s career change, Jo Ann Walters resigned and moved from Bakersfield to Las Vegas, Nevada, and Ted Ahlem, who had served as the a assistant administrator for nearly six years, became the administrator in September 1989. Earlier he had served an internship at Covenant Village at Turlock, California, and as the interim administrator of the American Association of Retired Persons nursing home at Ojai, California. In October H. Ted Burgess, formerly the retirement counselor, was appointed assistant administrator. Steven M. Garner, ABHOW’s senior vice president, characterized Ahlem and Burgess as a "strong administrative team."
