Message from Megin Hemmerling, North Shore Regional President

May 12, 2023

Dear Residents and Families,

As we approach Memorial Day, it seems timely to pay tribute to our staff, family members and residents who have served our country. Your dedication, loyalty and passion preserve our freedom.

We had a lot of rain at the end of April! it is proving to be true that “April showers bring May flowers.” Take a look at the beautiful flowers that are blooming all over the grounds. It’s a colorful time of year.

Construction started May 1 as planned and we are excited to see the end result. The renovations will include the addition of four memory care apartments at Kaplan Estates as well as our campus staff store. Both will be a welcome addition to our expanding campus.

In May, we pay tribute to our amazing nurses during National Nurses Week and to all of our dedicated staff during National Skilled Nursing Care Week. Thank you to our wonderful group of employees who are the heart and soul of our organization. We are incredibly grateful for you.

I’d like to wish a very Happy Mother’s Day to all of our mothers. Enjoy this special day in your honor. You deserve it!

Warmly,

Megin

Megin L. Hemmerling
Regional President, Peabody
Chelsea Jewish Lifecare

National Nurses Month Honors Our Remarkable Nurses

May 8, 2023

With over 4 million registered nurses in the US, nursing is the largest segment of the nation’s workforce. It is also one of the most rewarding, albeit challenging, professions. The impact nurses make on healthcare is unparalleled. Chelsea Jewish Lifecare employs 180+ nurses. They show us, firsthand, that they go above and beyond the call of duty—every single day.

As the American Nurses Association kicks off its annual month-long celebration in May, it seems appropriate to highlight a few members of our nursing staff. Take a look at why they went into nursing and their experiences at Chelsea Jewish.

We’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the amazing nurses in our organization. You are the very essence of Chelsea Jewish Lifecare.

 

Ron Anglo
Chief Clinical Officer

“Having moved from the Philippines, I initially became a nurse for practical reasons. Nursing was, and still is, a stable profession. I soon realized that being a nurse is an opportunity to make a difference in someone’s life—at one of the most vulnerable stages of their lives. In the end, whatever we do for others, especially those who are not related to us, is what defines one’s existence.” 

“The covid pandemic taught us so many things. It showed how vulnerable our residents are and how many of them are totally dependent on us as health care workers. The pandemic also showed the goodness of our staff and how selfless they were/are. They put their own lives on the line to help care for residents during such difficult times. For that, we will forever be grateful to them.”

 

Karen Petruccelli, MSN, RN 
Vice President of Clinical Services

“After graduating high school, I was uncertain of my career path and decided to explore nursing. Best decision ever! My very first job was with the American Red Cross, working on disaster relief and emergency blood collections. From there, I moved to acute care focusing on maternal child health. I was able to work different shifts to accommodate my growing family. When I was offered a position at a SNF, I took it and never looked back!”

“I quickly learned that the nurse is always the conduit in healthcare. This was never more evident than during the height of the pandemic—in many ways a nurse’s proudest moment. I personally witnessed the heroic and selfless acts of so many of our nurses. Their work was not just traditional nursing such as transporting, cleaning, and cooking. Rather they fielded countless calls from family members, learned how to Zoom on the fly and were united as a team to do the very best for our residents. They were strong; they brave; they were truly remarkable.”

 

Ansu Kinteh, RN
Director of Resident Care
Cohen Florence Levine Estates
Florence and Chafetz Home for Specialized Care

“When I arrived in the United States, my first Job was working as a CNA in the nursing and rehab facility. Having haled from a country where nursing is widely seen as female oriented, my first job helped not only widen my horizon, but change my perspective towards nursing.”

“The trust that CJL bestowed in me from the very beginning made a tremendous impact on me. I was only a per diem floor nurse at Kaplan Estates when I was hired for my current position. The organization believed in my potential and continues to support me to this day. This degree of trust inspires me to work even harder on behalf of my esteemed residents and patients.”

“The teamwork, encouragement and camaraderie between staff members is so unique in our organization. Equally as important is the continuous support by upper management which I indeed rare in a healthcare organization. I consider myself fortunate to be part of Chelsea Jewish Lifecare.”

 

Amalia Almeida
Amalia RN Staff Development Coordinator
Leonard Florence Center for Living

“I wanted to become a nurse after having surgery in the hospital. I remember how scared and uncomfortable I felt, but I had the nicest nurses who took the time to calm me down, and care for me. I will always remember the kindness and patience of the nursing staff.”

“Being a nurse means that trust you with their health and medical decisions. I feel honored to get to know my residents and be a part of their team. For me, taking care of my residents as well as their families and forming relationships and trust is what being a nurse is all about.”

“I will always remember when we took one of our vented residents sailing in Cape Cod. We were able transfer him from the wheelchair on the dock to the sailboat by using a hoyer. Since his young son loved sailing, the resident was able to enjoy a day on the ocean focusing on his son instead of his complex medical issues. There is no other SNF that would be able to give this opportunity to a resident. He was able to focus on being a father and enjoy as normal a day as possible. The smiles on their faces as the sun was beaming down is etched in my memory forever.”

What’s Happening on the Peabody Campus in May

May 8, 2023

Spring is in the air, with residents and staff enjoying the many activities scheduled for May. Residents are busy decorating elaborate hats to wear to the Kentucky Derby Parties throughout the campus. Refreshments, which include our very own version of Mint Juleps, are on the menu, along with our special adaptation of this annual horse race. There are many prizes to be won!

Talented caricaturist John Doherty created personal caricatures of our residents while they enjoyed ice cream sundaes and a lively sing-along. The pictures are keepsakes for the residents and also make great Mother’s Day gifts. It’s uncanny how he captured the facial characteristics.

Both Kaplan and Brudnick residents and staff are busy working on their chorus productions. Brudnick residents will be performing at a special event on campus this summer while the Kaplan chorus will visit at our assisted living residences in Chelsea.

Our talented knitting group has made another beautiful batch of hats to donate to all of the NSJCC preschool children. The hats are a thank you gift to the children. They made thoughtful Sh’lach Manot gift bags for our residents.

This month, the International Festivals focus on residents and staff members whose ancestry is from Spain (Kaplan) residents and Greece (BCL) residents. We will be learning about the colors of the country, listening to the traditional music and sampling delicious foods. Videos and booklets containing “fun facts” about the countries will also be available. For our Natalie Kaplan Speaker Series, the May speaker will be Michael Goldman, Political Consultant, who will address today’s current events. Michael never fails to lead lively and interesting discussions.

We are strengthening our collaboration with Congregation Sons of Israel through combined Shavuot services for residents and temple congregants. Seth Landau, Sons of Israel’s religious leader, will conduct the services.

Recently, residents at BCL were thrilled to receive received gorgeous blankets made by six students from the seventh grade at Masconomett Regional. The blankets were part of “The Power of One,” a special project geared to teaching the students how important it is to spread kindness. What a wonderful initiative!

Get to Know Antonio Alvarez!

May 8, 2023

Director of Community Relations at Harriett and Ralph Kaplan Estates

With a September wedding in the works, a successful marketing career and a passion for music, Antonio Alvarez is one of the busiest people on the Peabody campus. Good thing he thrives on being active! In his current position as Director of Community Relations at Kaplan Estates, Antonio has no doubt that he is in the right position. “I enjoy working with assisted living residents because of the relationships I’m able to make,” explained Antonio.

Born in Schenectady, NY, Antonio resided in Hoosick Falls, a small country town in upstate New York. He is the youngest of five siblings and grew up with four older sisters. His parents owned a restaurant in Bennington, Vermont for five years until, sadly, his dad passed away when Antonio was 14. His mom, who is a wonderful cook, continued to work in the food industry until her recent retirement.

Antonio moved to the Boston area in 2009 and now lives in Salem with his fiancé, Alissa, and their precocious eight year old cat Nala. The couple met almost six years ago while they were both working at another skilled nursing facility. Their September 9th wedding promises to be an intimate, festive celebration.

A graduate of Suffolk University, Antonio holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. While in college he spent two years studying in Madrid, Spain. Early in his career, Antonio began his affinity for nonprofit work with a position at Oasis Coalition of Boston, an organization that focused primarily on the underserved and homeless. From there, he began his journey into social services, entering the senior care arena in 2015. It was then that he realized he had found his calling.

For Antonio, the best part of his job is that he gets to work with families. As he noted, “I like to help families by making the assisted living process seem less daunting,” stated Antonio. “It’s gratifying seeing a new resident find safety, stability, and community again, especially since they doubted this was possible outside of the home. It’s very cool to watch the process from start to finish.”

When asked about the spirit of the organization, Antonio was quick to respond. “The first thing that comes to mind when I think of Chelsea Jewish Lifecare is the long tenure of the employees,” said Alvarez. “So many employes have been here for five, ten, 20 plus years, including aides, nurses, dining staff as well as top tier leadership. I don’t think most people realize just how rare this is for a healthcare organization, especially in these post-pandemic times. The longevity, dedication and loyalty across our organization speaks volumes.”

In his spare time, Antonio likes to hike, watch soccer, play games, take photographs, and travel. But his real passion is music. He’s a talented drummer, composing electronic music and soundscapes using a mixture of computer software, drum machines, and modular synthesizers. As he puts it, “Music is where I find my inner peace.”

Antonio feels fortunate to have found a position he thoroughly enjoys day after day. “I love the fact that I can build a relationship with a new resident and their family. I find there’s a major emotional component to this transition that is truly rewarding for me. Added Antonio with a smile, “I’m also very comfortable in crisis-mode!”

CJL Employee Luisa Bautista Appears on the Today Show!

May 8, 2023

Click here to watch the segment on the Today Show.

Dietary aid Luisa Bautista made an appearance on the popular Today Show with Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush, where she was awarded a $60,000 scholarship from the Sandberg Goldberg Foundation! Needless say, Luisa was both surprised and excited. “This feels like a dream,” exclaimed Luisa upon hearing the news, with her mom and best friend by her side as well as millions of viewers. “Getting accepted to Boston College has been a dream. I never thought it would have been possible to get to this point, but dreams really do come true. You just have to believe and have faith.”

Luisa and her friend Cindy Cuellar were asked to be on the show when producers heard how hard the girls worked upon coming to this country. Both got into college this past spring; Luisa was accepted at Boston College and Cindy will be attending Boston University. Luisa, who works part time in food service, likes interacting with the residents. “Working at Chelsea Jewish Lifecare has brought me much happiness,” said Luisa. “I truly enjoy helping the elderly.”

“Luisa does an amazing job here in Peabody,” remarked Sally Little, Food Service Manager on the Peabody campus. “She is so warm and kind to our residents, while inspiring her co-workers to go above and beyond every day. We are lucky to have Luisa here.”

With goals such as majoring in criminal justice and political science, attending law school, and becoming a prosecutor specializing in domestic abuse, Luisa is setting the bar very high. However, everyone who knows her has no doubt she will achieve all this –and more. Congratulations Luisa!