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October 7, 2024
Dear Residents and Families,
I hope you are enjoying the beauty and bounty of the fall season. To coincide with the change of seasons, our fall menu is debuting with fresh, seasonal specialties as well as traditional favorites. There is always something new to try!
Cold and flu season are upon us, so please remember to get your seasonal immunizations, which include flu shots. For our visitors and families, we ask that you refrain from visiting if you are not feeling well. Masks are also widely available in all our entities for added protection. These preventive measures really help ensure our residents stay healthy. Thank you all for your cooperation.
The 16th Annual ALS & MS Walk for Living on October 6th in Chelsea was a huge success. One hundred per cent of the funds raised directly impact the lives of the residents of the Leonard Florence Center for Living. Take a look at the story and photos elsewhere in this issue.
Rosh Hashanah was a joyous occasion on our campuses with delicious food, traditional holiday songs meaningful services and the opportunity to celebrate the high holidays with family and friends. Yom Kippur will be a time for reflection, prayers and the sounds of the Shofar. Wishing each of you a very happy and healthy New Year!
All the best,
Megin
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October 7, 2024
On a perfect fall morning, hundreds of walkers and many dogs turned out for the 16th Annual ALS & MS Walk for Living. The two-mile walk on October 6 enabled attendees to participate in wheelchairs, ventilators or on foot. Every single dollar raised from the Walk goes directly back to patient care and programs for the ALS and MS residents. This year’s campaign met the $100,000 goal!
Walk for Living honoree Jeffrey Siegal, President & CEO of Geriatric Medical & Surgical Supply, gave a heartfelt speech about his company’s long connection with Chelsea Jewish Lifecare over the years. His employees were out in full force to show their support for the nonprofit organization.
“We are thrilled to recognize Jeffrey Siegal and the wonderful employees in his company,” said Barry Berman, CEO of Chelsea Jewish Lifecare. “Everyone at Geriatric Medical has been extremely supportive of our organization. Their passion, dedication and generosity are truly remarkable.”
Betsy Mullen, COO of Chelsea Jewish Lifecare and Legacy Lifecare, did a terrific job of welcoming the crowd and introducing the speakers. Also on hand was Chelsea City Manager Felix Maltez who spoke on behalf of the city. Felix, accompanied by his family, praised Chelsa Jewish Lifecare for its care and commitment to the residents.
Walk ambassador and emcee Maria Stephanos, who anchors the nightly newscast on WCVB Channel 5, noted that the Leonard Florence Center for Living is quite unique. Maria reflected on the word “living” in the center’s name. “That word means everything to the residents who call the center home,” explained Stephanos. “Walking into the Leonard Florence Center and you immediately see and feel that this is a very special place.” Maria mentioned how much she enjoyed emceeing the Walk on the 7pm newscast. You can view the segment here.
Immediately following the walk, there was an amazing performance by Phantom Phenomenon, a non-traditional dance studio based in Everett that works with children. The school specializes in urban dance moves and the students showed their interpretations of hip-hop music. Attendees also enjoyed face painting, petting zoo and a BBQ sponsored by Chili’s.
Maura Graham, Director of the ALS & MS Walk for Living, was thrilled with the turn-out. “It means so much to see all of our residents, families, staff and community members come together to support the Leonard Florence Center. I think this year’s walk was the best ever!”
Geriatric Medical was the Platinum level sponsor; A.H.O. A. was the Gold level and Independent Newspaper Group was the media sponsor. Donations are still welcome and much appreciated. Please visit www.walkforliving.org or contact Walk Director Maura Graham at mgraham@chelseajewish.org or 617-409-8973. All donations are tax deductible.
Take a look at the photos from the 2024 Walk for Living. The smiles on everyone’s faces say it all!
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October 11, 2024
It’s been a busy few months with trips, outings, celebrations and outdoor activities. To mark the end of summer, Armando Alarcon and Anyi Guerva were named the employees of the month. They both go beyond every single day. Congratulations Armando and Anyi!
Our Employee International Food Day was a huge hit. Employees brought in a variety of foods native to their countries. They also dressed in the attire of their culture. What a wonderful event, with colorful outfits and delicious food. It was the perfect way to honor the diversity of cultures.
Rosh Hashana was a joyous time with beautifully set tables, traditional food and the opportunity to get together with family and friends. Residents helped the staff make the centerpieces using seasonal fresh flowers. They were stunning! Wishing our Jewish residents a sweet New Year full of peace and good health.
Over at Florence & Chafetz, residents are having a ball with Cathie’s carnival games activities. She has created a number of interactive games that the residents love to play. On the food front, residents enjoyed the made-to-order omelets by Richard, our beloved kitchen director. Coming up: the much anticipated Thanksgiving Dance Party. Featuring a live DJ and autumn snacks, the event promises to be festive and fun.
In honor of Assisted Living Week we had an Elvis impersonator, staff “guessing games,” Ice Cream Day, Cake Day, and a movie themed lunch showcasing the “Memoirs of a Geisha” movie. Appropriately, the kitchen served orange chicken, teriyaki chicken and lo mein. National Assisted Living Week is an annual observance that recognizes the role of assisted living in caring for seniors and people with disabilities. We applaud all our residents and staff. You are what makes our residences such a special place to live!
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October 10, 2024
The 16th Annual Walk for Living on October 6 was a highlight for residents, families and staff. The weather was perfect and WCVB-TV Channel 5 emcee Maria Stephanos did a terrific job capturing the spirit of our building. What a wonderful day! Please read all about the event in this newsletter. The photos speak volumes!
In addition to fall, residents enjoyed a myriad of events and activities in late summer. For example, we hosted a barbecue for the Chelsea Police and Fire Departments, with many officers in attendance. It was exciting to have the staff visit our campus and share food, stories and laughter on the outside patio.
New activities assistant Elhouari Haddar is now holding “Activity Cart with Haddar” on Tuesdays and Thursdays in our Chafetz house. Many of the residents have been enjoying the different games, puzzles and arts and crafts. We also have everything you need to knit as well as a wide selection of books for the readers. We hope you’ll stop by!
One our most popular activities included the recent “Animal Craze” visit. The traveling petting zoo delighted our specialty house residents with adorable animals. We have good news for dessert-lovers: Betsy’s Bakery Café has recently re-opened with a new baker! Residents and staff are savoring freshly baked goods, especially seasonal favorites such as pumpkin muffins and apple pastries. Resident Meghan B. explains it best: “I love being woken up by the aroma of freshly baked treats. I am so happy LFCL has re-opened the bakery!”
Birthday wishes are in order for Patrick O’Brien, who is a 16-year resident of Leonard Florence Center for Living. Patrick recently celebrated his 50th birthday in style at Encore casino. Many staff members and friends accompanied him on the outing. Take a look at the photo of Patrick with Cindy and Barry Berman. It’s obvious they all enjoyed the outing. Happy birthday Patrick!
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October 8, 2024
Summer flew by with many outdoor activities that promoted health and well-being. We took full advantage of the warm weather with weekly BBQ’s and musical concerts, programs in our landscaped courtyard, weekly trips, restaurants outings to the coastal beaches of Maine and a tour along the Charles River. These activities were the perfect way to celebrate summer. And what makes summertime so special? Ice cream! Sundaes, in particular, were a favorite treat among residents.
Our Specialized Dementia program, led by Dementia Specialist Susan LeClaire, consisted of residents participating in gardening, planting and overseeing the vegetable garden. We grew a beautiful array of garden tomatoes, cucumbers, fresh basil, oregano and cilantro. On the spa side, residents enjoyed Specialized Aroma Therapy and Personalized Art Therapy. Soothing hand massages were quite popular. Additionally, the group held its 2nd Annual Creative Hat and T-Shirt Parade. Family members escorted their loved ones with pride while residents proudly displayed their works of art for all to admire
As we embrace fall, there are many seasonal activities that are keeping us just as busy! Massachusetts is known the world over for being one of the states that offer the best fall foliage in the country. Residents and staff embarked upon scenic trips to observe the leaves on the trees changing colors. The bright colors were beautiful!
In October we celebrate Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot and Simchat Torah. Services are performed by Cantor Sidney Zimmerman while Rabbi Baron is on hand to educate and explains he practices and meanings of the holiday’s to staff and residents.
The majority of our Catholic residents welcomed Father Hilario from St. Rose Church to our campus. He performed communion and the blessing over rosary beads, which our Catholic residents created during our Beading Craft Program.
Katzman’s 2nd Annual Staff International Food Day was held with great success. Staff members brought dishes popular in their country so residents and staff could try a variety of foods. Countries represented included Napal, Vietnam, Haiti, Ghana, Central America and Croatia, to name a few. Thirteen countries and continents were represented in all. What a delicious feast!
Chelsea’s Jewish Lifecare’s 16th Annual Walk for Living took place on October 6. The Leonard Florence Center for Living is the first urban GreenHouse state-if-the art facility designed for individuals living with ALS and MS. With the help of Activity Assistant Carmen Vargas, Chairmen of the Board Gilda Richman and family donations, the Katzman Family Center was able to raise $2,500 for the event. Thank you to all!
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September 30, 2024
As Community Relations Concierge, Krista Burke is constantly meeting and talking to new people. It is a role she loves, but one that she never envisioned in her younger days. As Krista explains, “When I was growing up, I was rather shy and had a lot of anxiety when I met people for the first time. Now, I can honestly say that meeting new residents is the best part of my job!”
Born and raised in Lynn, Krista and her husband Patrick moved to Swampscott 22 years ago. The couple have four beautiful children, ranging in age from 17 to 28, and two adorable Bedlington Terriers.
Making the move-in experience as seamless as possible for new residents is important to Krista. It takes a lot of teamwork to make it happen. “Every department has a role to play, and I enjoy being the point person for families to answer questions and get through any hurdles that may come up. Moving to an assisted living community is a major life change, and some families may be struggling with feelings of sadness or loss. The Kaplan teams are here to support them. Residents and families take a huge leap of faith when they choose Kaplan Estates, so it’s important to recognize when they are overwhelmed, and work to build relationships and foster connections.”
Krista is constantly searching for ways to improve the move-in experience. “Based upon feedback from residents and their families, one thing we can do is to make sure we are all communicating clearly with residents and families and be sure that we are meeting their needs. Often, a new resident will be hesitant about asking for help for fear of coming across as too demanding. Sometimes they will opt to stay in their rooms because they simply don’t know what to expect or how to get around. To address this, Krista makes sure to stop in frequently to talk with new residents, taking the time to really get to know them. She makes sure to introduce them to other staff members and residents and can often be found strolling around campus with them, as they learn to navigate their new surroundings.
“As they begin to settle in, we will continue to encourage residents to take advantage of all of the wonderful activities that are offered, come to the cafe or simply sit outside and enjoy our community spaces. One of the most rewarding things about my role is watching new friendships grow as connections are made with others. When I bring a new resident to an activity and introduce them to the Residence Life staff, I know that they are on their way to finding happiness here. With time, hopefully they will begin to feel more at home.” Added Krista, “Sometimes it can take a week, or even a month or two, but we will keep showing up for them. I know we are making a difference.”
When asked about her most memorable resident, Krista was quick to respond. “Roberta was a very special person. She was a dance instructor when she was younger. She was only here for about six months but she made a huge impact on me. What a beautiful dancer, and she loved music. Whenever I had the closing shift before dinner, I would put on her favorite songs, turn up the volume and Roberta would dance up a storm. She even taught me a few moves!
In her spare time, Krista enjoys spending time with her family and exploring with her dogs. She recently joined the YMCA; the aqua trampoline and aqua spin classes in the pool are among her favorite activities.
It is obvious that Krista likes being active, which is fortunate because her role at the assisted living keeps her busy all day long. Krista points out that her job at Kaplan doesn’t seem like work to her. “I truly enjoy being here every single day. Additionally, the encouragement and mentoring I have received from the team is remarkable. I don’t think this is typical of most work environments. Kaplan Estates is a very special place!”
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September 17, 2024
Shapiro-Rudolph was recently awarded the Adult Day Health Programs Community Inclusion Transportation Grant. The grant, administered by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services, enabled our Adult Day Health Center to purchase a brand new minivan equipped with a wheelchair lift.
“We are all thrilled to have the van on our campus,” said Shapiro-Rudolph Executive Director Eleanor Langstaff. “We have already used it for many community outings. As many of our participants no longer drive and do not have reliable access to transportation, the outings allow them to safely explore the community with our staff’s support.”
The Adult Day Health Programs Community Inclusion Transportation Grant was established to increase ADHC clients’ access to community events and increase opportunities to socialize for improved physical and mental health by expanding their transportation capacity. The goal of the program is to make Adult Day Health programs more accessible for people receiving day services. To date, the Shapiro-Rudolph van has transported participants and staff to various activities such as scenic drives, trips for ice cream, and a visit to clients.
Future outings will include lunches at local restaurants, bowling, shopping, mini-golf, apple picking and fall foliage excursions. Added Langstaff, “There are so many new places we want to take our participants. The list keeps growing!”
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September 11, 2024
It’s time for our annual Resident Satisfaction Survey and we are hoping all of our residents and families will participate this year. The survey is a means for our organization to obtain valuable feedback, which in turn helps us provide the highest quality of care. Once again, we have partnered with Activated Insights to implement the survey.
“Feedback from our families is vital to the care and support of our residents,” stated Melissa Kershaw, MPT,
Director of Development for Chelsea Jewish Lifecare. “Your input allows us to celebrate the things we are doing well and also make adjustments in the areas where we can do better.”
The survey is completely confidential and will take place from October 17 through October 31. At that time, residents and families will receive an email or text invitation from Activated Insights providing you with 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.
Our Executive Directors, now known as “Survey Champions,” will guide residents who need assistance in taking the survey. They will be available to provide tablets, answer questions, assist with the survey code and offer assistance with reading the questions, if needed.
Kershaw stressed the importance of the survey. “We continuously strive to support and care for our residents in the best ways possible. Comments from both our residents and family are a tremendous help. We truly appreciate the feedback and will listen to every word!”
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August 22, 2024
When TaleGate founder Jack York asked Elissa Sherman, President of LeadingAge Massachusetts, to suggest a senior living organization for his new interview series, she immediately thought of Chelsea Jewish Lifecare. York agreed that the nonprofit was the perfect choice, especially given his longtime connection to Chelsea Jewish Lifecare Chief Operating Officer Betsy Mullen.
Jack York created TaleGate to change the perception of senior living and aging by celebrating the remarkable lives of older adults. He is traveling across the country and speaking to centenarians in every state. Driving a 42-foot trailer, Jack conducted interviews with Chelsea Jewish Lifecare residents, who sat up front in the passenger seat. Family members, staff, and local media were present as well.
Residents included Kay Morrocco (104) and Jenny Ruggerio (100) of Harriett & Ralph Kaplan Estates, Charlie Kanter (99), who lives at Cohen Florence Levine Estates, and Rose Quarato (103), who is a Katzman Family Center for Living resident. Jack was able to capture some incredible interviews on film while driving around town with each resident one-on-one. TaleGate will soon release the videos for all to enjoy.
Jack is a master storyteller who wants to capture the lives of the country’s oldest generation by sharing their greatest experiences, triumphs, regrets, loves, hardships, comebacks, and more. He noted that something “very special” happens when seniors are “driving and talking” one-on-one.
“For me, the most rewarding thing, by far, is the look on people’s faces when you just ask them questions—when somebody cares,” York said. “They are a group of people who are humble. They’ve lived incredible lives.”
Jill Hemeon, Area Director of Community Relations at Chelsea Jewish Lifecare, organized the event and accompanied the residents in the van. “It was an amazing experience to listen to each and every story,” said Jill. “I could tell that the residents truly enjoyed the experience and had fun while doing so.”
Jack feels strongly that seniors have interesting and relevant stories to tell. “My cultural take is that there’s kind of a subtle perception that once you hit your 80s, it’s time to kind of check out,” he said. “But that couldn’t be further from the truth. This is why we’re focusing on 100-year-olds. We want to let people know that there are still reasons to stay in the game.”
To date, Jack has interviewed nearly 50 centenarians in 14 states. Yet he never fails to be captivated by the seniors, their stories, and the senior living communities. “I was blown away,” exclaimed Jack at the end of the day. “I can’t even begin to describe what the day was like for me. Chelsea Jewish Lifecare is taking great care of some incredible seniors!”
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