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September 11, 2023
Dear Residents and Families,
Warm summerlike weather continues as we usher in the fall season. We’re enjoying new activities, holiday celebrations and social get-togethers.
The 15th Annual ALS & MS Walk for Living will take place on October 15 on Admiral’s Hill. This is the largest and most important fundraiser of the year for our organization. Our residents, families and community members honor the amazing individuals living at the Leonard Florence Center. After the two-mile walk, there will be many family activities, including a petting zoo, face-painting, BBQ and more. I hope you will join me on this special day. Please read more about the 2023 ALS/MS Walk for Living elsewhere in this newsletter.
The Jewish holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are upon us. I want to take this opportunity to wish you a very happy and healthy New Year. May you have an easy fast on this most meaningful holiday.
All the best,
Megin
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August 21, 2023
At the first joint Green House Project-Pioneer Network conference in Pittsburgh, COO Betsy Mullen reflected on creating and opening Leonard Florence Center for Living, the first urban model Green House® skilled nursing facility in the country, over thirteen years ago. This year’s conference theme, Ready to Impact, brought together members from both the Green House Project and Pioneer Network under the new Center for Innovation banner. The four-day event consisted of networking opportunities, informational sessions, inspiring speakers, and special events, including a powerful musical about living with dementia.
Betsy was one of five distinguished key visionaries on a panel who discussed the past 20 years of Green House Homes. Other members included Steve McAlilly, president and CEO of Methodist Senior Services who started the first Green House 20 year ago; John Ponthie, founding Member of Southern Administrative Services, the first for-profit and largest operator of Green House homes; Jeff Shireman, CEO of Londonderry Village, the only PA provider of Green House Homes and Jill Wilson, president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Otterbein Senior Life.
The COO explained why Chelsea Jewish Lifecare is different from other nonprofits. “We provide a real home and real family for seniors and individuals living with neurodegenerative and other debilitating conditions,” stated Mullen. “In essence, we overcome challenges by giving our residents and our employees experiences that they would not have otherwise.”
Susan Ryan, now CEO of The Center for Innovation, summed up the significance of the conference which included international attendees, many of whom had visited Leonard Florence Center for Living. “The overarching goal of this general session was to feature Green House leaders who have pushed through the challenges to seize the moment and the model that has impacted the world,” stated Ryan. “We are at a pivotal moment where demographics are shifting and the status quo can no longer be maintained or accepted.”
Betsy also addressed the fact that Chelsea Jewish Lifecare was able to retain its workforce throughout the COVID-19 pandemic without utilizing outside staffing agencies through its commitment to enhancing the lives of their employees. The company grocery store, started more than fifteen years ago on the Chelsea campus and now on three campuses, provides free groceries to employees each and every week. Family trips are an integral part of the workplace culture, with destinations now such as Great Wolf Water Park, Encore, and past trips to Disney World and Las Vegas. The organizational culture has always been to appreciate staff and their families; this is more important than ever in the post-COVID world.
The conference was extremely meaningful to Mullen. “This was an amazing opportunity to collaborate with eldercare thought leaders throughout the world,” said Betsy. “It’s exciting to envision and be part of the growth and innovations in aging care services and in workforce development. The possibilities are endless!”
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September 13, 2023
Activities are in full swing as we usher in a busy season full of holiday celebrations, fun activities, and special events. For example, residents were totally engaged during a visit from artist Betsy Sears. She taught the ins and outs of shading and color changes while working with watercolors. From the beautiful pictures, it’s obvious we have a very talented team!
Residents and staff at Kaplan Estates enjoyed a week of activities in honor of Assisted Living Week. There were a variety of live musicians, a special ice cream sundae party, and a trip to the Village.
One of the month’s highlights included a very special outing to Cohen Florence Levine Estates—our sister assisted living in Chelsea. Residents went on a “mystery ride” and had no idea where they were going. As it turned out, Chelsea’s Recreational Director Jimmy Honohan brought the residents to our Peabody campus! We hosted an end-of-summer tiki bar party for all the residents and staff, complete with island music, skewers of fresh fruit, cookies, pina coladas, margaritas, and lots of laughter. The party group included over 60 seniors. What a special and memorable day!
Our collaboration with Congregation Son’s of Israel (CSI) takes place the first Friday of every month with a live 7pm Shabbat service and Oneg. Refreshments will follow the service. The first one, held on September 1, was a great success. Our residents made up more than 1/3 of the congregation. We are also combining the congregations on the second Saturday of every month.
Additionally, joint live services in the Tanzer Chapel/Great Room on Rosh Hashana Day, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot will be held. This year we will celebrate our new Sukkah, not only with CSI, but also with the children of the North Suburban JCC. This collaboration is a wonderful way to socialize and establish bonds with all generations.
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September 7, 2023
Former Governor Charlie Baker and Lauren Baker Join Walk as Special Ambassadors
Steve Saling and Patrick O’Brien were given 2-5 years to live after each was diagnosed with ALS. Defying all odds, they have been living at the Leonard Florence Center for Living for the past 13 years since the Center opened its doors. Both are living full, productive lives; Steve has traveled throughout the country speaking about ALS and Patrick produced Transfatty Lives, a documentary about ALS which won the Tribecca Film Festival Audience Award.
In support of our inspiring residents, former Governor Charlie Baker and his wife Lauren Baker will act as walk ambassadors at the 15th Annual ALS & MS Walk for Living on Sunday, October 15. The short two-mile walk enables the ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) and MS (multiple sclerosis) residents as well as other attendees to participate in wheelchairs, ventilators or by foot. The Leonard Florence Center for Living takes care of more individuals living with ALS than any place else in the world.
“We are thrilled to have Governor Baker and Mrs. Baker on board as our ambassadors for this year’s Walk for Living,” said Barry Berman, CEO of Chelsea Jewish Lifecare, the nonprofit that operates the award-winning Center. “Mrs. Baker visited the Center and met the residents. It was obvious how moved she was by the experience. We are grateful for the Baker’s support and participation in our major fundraising initiative of the year.”
“I am in awe of the spirit, determination, and passion of these residents,” said Lauren Baker. “Charlie and I are proud to act as the ambassadors for the ALS & MS Walk for Living. The residents are truly an inspiration to us all.”
As the country’s first urban model Green House® skilled nursing facility, the Leonard Florence Center provides a level of independence not typically found in other skilled nursing facilities. Residents, many who are completely immobilized, control lights, turn on the TV, call for the elevator, and open doors with help of a computer and sensor that tracks head and eye movements. The Stein Family Center for Well-Being, the only Green House® ventilator program in the country, opened within the Center in 2020.
The 2023 Walk for Living will take place at 10am on Sunday, October 15 at 165 Captains Row on Admiral’s Hill in Chelsea. Every single dollar raised goes directly back to patient care and programs for ALS and MS residents. To register, go to the Walk for Living website and/or click on register. To join Governor Baker and Lauren Baker’s team, please go Team Baker and make a donation to their team.
Following the dog friendly walk, there will be a BBQ hosted by Chili’s, face painting, live dance performances, a petting zoo and more. The $20 donation fee includes a Walk for Living tee shirt as well as all food and activities.
Platinum level sponsors include M&T Banks and Wilmington Trust; Gold Level A.H.O.H.; Independent Newspaper Group is the media sponsor. For more information or to make a much-appreciated donation, please visit www.walkforliving.org or contact Walk Director Maura Graham at mgraham@chelseajewish.org or 617-409-8973. All donations are tax deductible.
Please join us on Sunday, October 15 at 10 AM. Your support means the world!
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August 30, 2023
Our annual Resident Satisfaction Survey is meaningful to our organization. It’s an important way for us to obtain valuable feedback, enabling us to provide the best quality care for our residents. To coordinate the survey, we have partnered with Activated Insights, a nationally recognized research firm.
“Resident and family feedback helps shape the organization’s priorities and path forward,” stated Melissa Kershaw, MPT, Director of Organizational Development for Chelsea Jewish Lifecare. “Such input is vital to the care of our residents as well as our communication with families. We take to heart every comment, idea and suggestion.”
Designed to cover topics such as satisfaction with specific service areas, the survey is an opportunity to share what we are doing well — or could be doing better. The survey is completely confidential and will take place from October 2 through October 16. At that time, residents and families will receive an email or text invitation from Activated Insights which provides a special link to the survey. This link will be unique to each individual. The survey can be accessed via a smart phone, computer, or tablet and is compatible with all devices and web browsers. It should take approximately ten minutes to complete the survey. Please contact your Executive Director with any questions or concerns about the survey.
Kershaw stressed the significance of the survey. “We continuously strive to support and care for our residents in the best way possible. This feedback will guide us in helping our residents live life to the fullest!”
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August 29, 2023
Ansu Kinteh, Resident Care Director at Cohen Florence Levine Estates and Florence & Chafetz Specialized Care, was recently honored at the Massachusetts Assisted Living Association (Mass-ALA) Excellence Awards Dinner. Ansu received the coveted Care and Wellness Award for his outstanding work with the residents, ensuring a high quality of life by providing compassionate, truly exceptional care. The awards are presented each year to individuals at every level of assisted living who have demonstrated their desire to make a positive difference in the lives of residents, and who, in the view of their peers, stand out as role models in the industry.
“Ansu goes above and beyond to keep residents safe and smiling,” said Kristen Donnelly, Executive Director of Cohen, Florence Levine Estates Assisted Living. “You can find him dancing with residents at concerts, showing videos on the big screen, and playing games with everyone. He is very thorough in all his evaluations and assessments, taking time to understand each resident on both a clinical and personal level.”
“I am thrilled to be recognized by Mass-ALA with this meaningful award,” stated Ansu Kinteh. “It is very much a team effort as the encouragement and camaraderie between staff members is what makes our organization so unique. Equally as important is the continuous support by upper management.” Ansu added, “I consider myself extremely fortunate to be part of Chelsea Jewish Lifecare.”
Donnelly echoed the sentiments of everyone in the Chelsea Jewish Lifecare/Legacy Lifecare organization. “Ansu is not just a Resident Care Director; he is the heart and soul of Cohen Florence Levine Estates!”
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