Message from Megin Hemmerling, Regional President

August 14, 2023

Dear Residents and Families,

I hope everyone is enjoying the beautiful weather that August has ushered in. After the rainy, muggy July it feels glorious to be outside!

On August 1 had the pleasure of attending the 2023 MA Assisted Living Association Excellence Awards Dinner, along with 15 of my colleagues from Chelsea Jewish Lifecare. The highlight of the evening came when two of our treasured employees were nominated for awards: Ansu Kinteh for the Care and Wellness Award and Freddy Sanchez for the Environmental Services Award. We were delighted that Ansu won the award in his category! We are so lucky to have him as the Resident Care Director at Estates on Admirals Hill.

Jackie MacMullan, an award-winning journalist and broadcaster for the Boston Globe and ESPN, was this year’s emcee. Jackie was ahead of her time as is relates to women in sports reporting. It was an honor to be in her presence. She spoke about her own journey with her parents through the end of their lives and praised the long term care communities that enabled them to live with dignity and grace when things got tough at the end. Jackie also reflected upon her longtime friendship with Celtics coach Red Auerbach. She knew that Red was lonely at the end of his life and Jackie expressed her wish that Red had lived in an assisted living.

Her sentiments prompted me to reflect on what we do and the gift of comfort and companionship our facilities and staff members provide to those we serve. As I drove home that evening, I was very grateful to have spent a night with some of my closest colleagues. Too often we take our roles for granted and it was good to be reminded of the importance of what we do each and every day.

Enjoy the rest of the summer!

All the best,

Megin

Look What’s Happening at Leonard Florence Center for Living!

August 14, 2023

August is chock full of games, singing, dancing and interesting conversations at the Leonard Florence Center. Residents thoroughly enjoyed The Lost 45’s with Barry Scott event. Activities Director Jimi Angular noted that all song requests were fulfilled. “Residents had their own personal DJ’s,” said Jimi. “Residents were able to ask for tunes from the 30’s all the way up to the 90’s as well as from their favorite TV shows and even from vintage TV commercials. The day sparked many happy memories.

Other activities include live music concerts, Happy Hour Karaoke, Trivia & Tunes, restaurant outings and our popular Playbill Summer Concert Series. Both residents and staff enjoy the spirit of camaraderie that is always present. It’s a very closeknit group.

Wishing the following residents a very Happy Birthday!

• Richard P: August 1
• Jerome O: August 3
• Annmarie G: August 3
• Thomas B: August 23

Behind the Scenes Cohen at Florence Levine Estates and Florence & Chafetz

August 14, 2023

August ushered in beautiful summer weather and, with it, a myriad of outdoor activities. Our annual Revere Beach Trip was a huge success. The Boston Globe, Boston Herald and the Chelsea Record sent photographers to capture the day. There were smiles and laughter all around. Take a look at the photos to see how the trip unfolded.

Our recent Talent Show with employees and their family members was clearly a cause for celebration. Who knew we had so many stars amongst us? On the restaurant front, residents and staff are looking forward to dining at The Longhorn Steakhouse and the Ninety Nine. Both are popular destinations.

Baker extraordinaire Oretha Simmons was chosen as our Employee of the Month! Oretha’s mouth-watering homemade baked goods are legendary. Her cakes, cookies, cupcakes, tarts, cinnabuns, muffins and other concoctions get rave reviews every single day. Oretha also makes special treats in the afternoon such as milkshakes, ice cream sundaes and her infamous root beer floats. She is always thinking of ways to give the residents delicious yet nutritious treats. For example, she cuts up fresh fruit daily and puts it out in the café. Thank you, Oretha, for taking such good care of us. Congratulations!

Behind the Scenes at Katzman Family Center for Living

August 14, 2023

Along with the warm sunny weather, August is a time for many fun summer activities such as delicious BBQ’s, spending time by the water, socializing on the patio with family and friends. It’s a special time of the year.

Each floor at Katzman has a designated day to enjoy a BBQ with traditional food favorites. Hamburgers, hot dogs, grilled chicken and kosher sausages top the list. Musical concerts follow the cook-out; families are always welcome. Our musical programs have a great impact on our resident. Rona Margolis, for example, is now taking up the tambourin.

Residents recently spent the entire day at  Kittery Maine, with a tour of the coastline  of Nubble Beach, showcasing beautiful views of the historic lighthouse. Lunch at Warren’s Lobster House completed a perfect day.

Coming up: our 1st annual Beauty Pageant in our Specialized Memory Unit. Residents will stroll the runway in our courtyard. We can’t wait to see them all decked out. This month we are also starting a KCL Knitting Club! Residents and staff who are experienced knitters will teach the craft to others. Undoubtedly there will be sone beautiful pieces made by the members.

At 102 years young, Bernice Berman recently won the coverall at bingo and proudly displayed her winnings. Bernice, we want to know your secret!

At Katzman, our motto is “Get Busy Living” and it has never been truer than the summer of ’23. We are living life to the fullest!

Chelsea Jewish Lifecare VNA and Hospice Renamed Legacy Lifecare

August 2, 2023

The Chelsea Jewish Home Care/Visiting Nurse Agency (VNA), a highly respected entity on Boston’s North Shore, will now be known as Legacy Lifecare VNA & Hospice. Maddy Presz RN BSN, CHPN and Senior Director of Home and Community Based Services for Legacy Lifecare, noted that the rebranding reflects the expansion of Legacy Lifecare, the network of charitable, nonprofit senior care organizations of which Chelsea Jewish Lifecare is a founding member.

“We are so pleased to expand the services and reach of our hospice/VNA division,” said Presz. “The rebranding of Cheslea Jewish VNA and Hospice to Legacy Lifecare VNA and Hospice and the expansion of our hospice services will allow our team to help more residents with care needs. It is very exciting to be able to provide much needed support to the residents and staff of our facilities!”

The rebranding will allow the organization to align with the mission of Legacy Lifecare. Staff members will wear vests/shirts with the new logos to help facility staff identify the team and view them as an accessible resource. The Department of Public Health will also be notified of the name change.

Name change components include a major marketing program which will provide information about the organization. As the division expands, staffing levels will change to accommodate the growing census. The program will encompass such geographic areas as Boston, West Roxbury, Newton, Wellesley, Jamaica Plain and the entire North Shore, including Chelsea and Peabody.

Maddy, who has been with Legacy Lifecare for seven years, is looking forward to the hospice/VNA division’s growth and expansion. “In essence, we want to be a valuable resource to local communities throughout Boston and beyond,” explained Presz.

Cohen Florence Levine Estates Residents and Staff Frolic at Revere Beach

July 28, 2023

On a perfect summer day in July, Cohen Florence Levine Estate residents and staff embarked upon a long awaited trip to Revere Beach. Residents, aged 67 to 104, enjoyed feeling the sand beneath their feet and the ocean water on their faces. Many of the residents are originally from Revere and Chelsea and have fond memories of spending time at Revere Beach.

The trip came into being when residents mentioned how much they missed swimming in the ocean. “Some of the residents were talking at dinner one evening about how much they loved Revere Beach and we decided, then and there, to schedule a trip in the summer,” said Kristen Donnelly, Executive Director of Cohen, Florence, Levine, Estates. “Planning the myriad of details was a huge undertaking, but seeing the huge smiles on the residents’ faces and hearing their laughter throughout the day made it all worthwhile.”

The Revere Department of Conservation & Recreation (DCR) provided beach accessible wheelchairs as well as a floating wheelchair, which enabled residents to actually “swim” in the ocean. Remarkably, the water was the warmest of the season at a balmy 65 degrees. “The DCR, in particular Charlie Collins, has been instrumental in the planning of this trip,” said Jimmy Honohan, Recreational Director at Chelsea Jewish Lifecare, the organization that operates the assisted living. In addition to the wheelchairs, the DCR also provided parking for the van, ramps for beach access and a walkway for the wheelchairs. “Charlie has been incredible to our organization,” said Honohan. “I can’t thank him enough.”

Resident Rita Singer, who was the first woman city counselor in Revere, was thrilled to be back on her old stomping grounds. “I grew up in Chelsea and have wonderful memories of summers on this beach,” recalled Rita. “It’s really special for me to be here today.” Rita was one of the first residents to go into the water, got wet from head to toe, and “loved every minute of it.”

Donnelly noted that engaging the residents in activities of their choice is a priority. “We have a strong connection between our staff and our residents,” said Kristen. “For us, there is nothing better than making their dreams come true.”

In addition to water activities, Kristen Donnelly Jimmy Honohan, Shellie Honohan and Cathie Messina oversaw beach games, sing-alongs, and dancing and pizza from Bianci’s, sponsored by long-time volunteer Judy Weiss of Judy’s Jewels. The smiles on everyone’s faces were a good indication that the outing was a success. Virginia Fiske, 104, summed up the trip. “It is the best day ever,” exclaimed Virginia. “I am having a ball!”