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October 17, 2022
Dear Residents and Families,
I hope this message finds you well and enjoying the fall. I love this time of year when the trees change from green to a vibrant display of red, yellow, and orange hues and you hear the crunch of the leaves under your feet. Like our residents, I hope you are able to enjoy these final weeks outside, walking and admiring the beauty of nature.
On September 18th, we held the 14th Annual ALS & MS Walk for Living. It was wonderful seeing so many residents, families and staff members attend. This year’s in-person event was full of enthusiasm, spirit, and inspiration. You can read more about the Walk for Living in this newsletter. Your support really made a difference!
Our residences continue to be busy with lots of activity. At each of our residences, we celebrated Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot in honor of our Jewish heritage. It was amazing to see the beautiful decorations placed by the staff and our residents and families enjoying seasonal treats to mark these holidays. In addition, our staff and volunteer residents participated in the MassMAP drill, a state-wide emergency preparedness exercise. Even though it is a serious topic, we found ways to make it fun for all. You can read about these events and many other happenings in this newsletter, our website, and social media posts.
I again want to remind everyone about how important it is to get the flu shot and keep up to date with COVID vaccinations this fall. The CDC strongly recommends receiving an updated, bivalent Pfizer or Moderna booster for those ages 12 and older to reduce the risk of severe disease. Being fully up to date with vaccinations is the best way you can help us keep our communities safe and healthy.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me to say hello, share your thoughts, or ask questions. I always welcome the opportunity to connect with you and hope to see you in our residences soon.
All the best,
Kae
Kae Santos
Regional President, Chelsea
Chelsea Jewish Lifecare
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October 13, 2022
Here at Katzman, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur were celebrated this month by our Jewish residents. Services were led by Sidney Zimmerman, where residents loved hearing the blowing of the shofar. Fruit and honey were served after services in commemoration of a “sweet and prosperous new year.”
The activity staff, along with our beloved Gilda Richman, helped assemble the colorful Sukkah in our courtyard to prepare for the holiday of Sukkot. Residents and visitors were encouraged to drop by whenever they wanted to pray, partake in seasonal treats such as honey cakes and fresh autumn fruits, or just enjoy the opportunity to socialize with residents and staff.
From October 2nd through October 8th we celebrated Healthcare Foodservice Workers Week. Our very special Chef Chuck Magno and his staff were treated to a festive luncheon in honor of the exceptional service the team provides, day in and day out.
Other activities this month included a restaurant outing to the popular Dockside restaurant in Wakefield. Residents and staff savored barbecue ribs, chicken, steak tips and other delicious all-American specialties. On the entertainment front, singer Lin Darcy stopped by with a rousing performance for our residents. What’s more, Mary Ciriello and Catherine McCabe had their moment in the spotlight when they grabbed the microphone and performed lively duets with Jimmy Honahan. Everyone was talking about it for days!
Our annual MassMAP Disaster Drill was performed this month in conjunction with the Chelsea Fire Department. This annual practice is a very important exercise. Going forward, everyone at Katzman Center will be well-prepared for any emergencies that may occur. The safety of our residents and staff is our number one priority!
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October 12, 2022
Each year, leaders from various industries across the United States including healthcare, manufacturing, service, retail, and finance come together to attend the Northeast Lean Conference, an event created by the non-profit GBMP to provide information and inspiration to Lean practitioners. Lean is a continuous improvement methodology used to improve quality, safety, and efficiency of an organization by empowering staff to make improvements and remove waste from the system. Aptly titled “Amplifying Lean: The Collaboration Effect,” this year’s conference theme focused upon the importance of learning from other industries and the power of teamwork.
As one of the primary speakers at this year’s Northeast Lean Conference, Kae Santos, Regional President of our Chelsea campus, shared Chelsea Jewish Lifecare’s success in using Lean and other continuous improvement strategies to overcome challenges faced during the pandemic.
“It was an honor to represent Chelsea Jewish Lifecare and share our continuous improvement journey and use of lean to tackle difficult issues like staffing, COVID management, and team and family communication,” Santos remarks. “I’ve definitely benefited from attending this conference in previous years and hope that our story inspires others to advance lean in their organization. It is greatly needed in healthcare, especially in the senior care industry.”
Take a look at the photos taken at the conference, including a group of CJL colleagues who also attended the event. Congratulations, Kae. You did a fabulous job!
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October 12, 2022
Staff and residents at Katzman Center, Leonard Florence and Brudnick Center participated in the MassMAP (Mutual Aid Plan) Drill during early October. The exercise features a state led simulation to get people thinking about what to do in an emergency. MassMAP assists healthcare partners to rapidly share information, resources and personnel when preparing for or responding to a local or regional emergency event. Over 180 facilities participated in the Massachusetts region.
“MassMAP is an extremely important program that helps protect our residents and prepare all of us for an emergency,” remarked Amalia Almeida, RN SDC at the Leonard Florence Center. “We tend to underestimate the amount of work and time it takes to execute an evacuation of the entire building. Being prepared for the unexpected gives staff and residents reassurance about their safety at a time of need!”
According to the MassMAP website, the Hospital and Long Term Care Mutual Aid Plans establish a course of action and an agreed commitment among participating hospitals, nursing homes and assisted living residences to assist each other as needed in the time of a disaster event. These exercises are invaluable in preparing for a myriad of emergencies and/or disasters. Being prepared and informed is the best way to ensure operations are run smoothly and effectively in the event of an unforeseen emergency.
This year’s scenario focused upon a storm that forced us to evacuate our residences. An incident command center was set up, which had residents participate during our mock evacuations. “Doing these drills is such an important part of keeping us safe,” explained Tammy Starion, executive director of Brudnick Center for Living. “They remind us that at any minute something can happen. Plus, getting the staff involved can be enlightening, educational and enjoyable — all at the same time.”
“The MassMAP regional disaster drill is a great opportunity to see how prepared we are to deal with real emergency situations,” commented Jill Tura, executive director of Katzman Family Center for Living. “These types of drills are crucial to ensure that our staff is prepared to deal with any unexpected situation. At the same time, we also had a bit of fun with it!”
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October 11, 2022
Members of the Chelsea Jewish Lifecare leadership team presented at the Mass General Brigham annual meeting for Skilled Nursing Facility providers on September 19th. The 2022 meeting marked the first in person meeting held since 2019 due to the pandemic.
Chief Clinical Officer Ron Anglo was introduced by Chief Business Development Officer Terry Halliday. For the meeting, selected members of the collaborative were asked to present on best practices that are used in their daily operations. It is an honor to be asked to present and both Ron and Terry were a credit to the organization.
For the presentation, Ron was joined at the podium by Tony Franchi of Franchi Healthcare. Aptly entitled “On the Road to 5-Star,” the presentation sparked an animated discussion by attendees. The two addressed the importance of the CMS designation and the changes that became effective on July 1, 2022. After the event, Industry leaders noted that the presentation was both collaborative and informative.
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October 10, 2022
On September 18th, beloved resident Rose Pugliese turned 106! After attending Mass with Linda Keller, a MDS/MMQ nurse at the Center and good friend to Rose, the two drove to Iron Town Diner, one of Rose’s favorite eating establishments. Paula, a restaurant staffer who adores Rose, showered Rose with flowers, cake, pin, and a birthday card signed by the entire staff. Rose was so touched by their kindness that she immediately sent a thank you note to the restaurant. Just one of the many things that makes Rose Pugliese such a special person!
The 14th Annual ALS & MS Walk for Living was a huge success. Thank you to our families, staff, friends, and community members who supported our amazing residents. It was a wonderful and memorable day.
Our Sukkot festivities celebrated the bounty of the season. Autumn vegetables, fruits and flowers were on display in the beautifully decorated sukkah. Residents and staff enjoyed visiting throughout the day.
This month we are offering new activities for our ALS and MS residents. On the horizon: mediation classes run by Emma K. & McDonald resident Meghan B. “Morning Mediation” at our chapel will help residents interested in achieving peace of mind as well as practicing relaxation techniques. We also are starting a podcast called “Connecting ALS,” which will take place every Thursday, and focus upon aspects relating to ALS. Also on Thursdays is our “Movie Mystery,” where we showcase a variety of movie genres.
Wishing a very “Happy Birthday” to the following residents!
- Lois F: October 2
- John R: October 5
- James D: October 5
- Patrick O: October 5
- Marie E: October 9
- Fabio L: October 10
- Daphne P: October 12
- Meghan B: October 28
- Melissa K: October 30
- Jeffrey M: October 31
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October 10, 2022
It’s been a busy month with residents enjoying the beautiful fall weather, both on our campus, and during our popular Fall Foliage Rides. Not surprisingly, the fresh apple cider and home-made donuts from Brooksby Farm are a highlight of the trip.
For our Book Club members, “Flying Angels” by Danielle Steel sparked a lively debate. The New York Times best-seller tells the story of six flight nurses during World War II. As always, residents enjoyed wine and cheese, along with laughs and a wide variety of opinions!
Other events included a fun-filled birthday party celebration with the amazing Diane Ellis; a proper tea party with Russ Varney; and a musical celebration with Elaina Jacobs. Restaurant trips to Applebee’s and Jimmy’s Steer House resulted in delicious food and much laughter.
A highlight of the month was the beautifully constructed Sukkah that is built and decorated by both staff and residents. The sukkah is erected just outside the door behind the reception desk so that each visitor, resident and staff member can view it as they enter the building. Employees from many departments help with the Sukkah, including Amando Alarcon and David O’Conner from the maintenance department; Anyi Guevara from the nursing department; and Cathie Mesina, Shellie and Jimmy Honohan from the activities department. Our favorite helper of all: resident Virginia Fiske, age 103, who did a fabulous job with the decorations. Thank you everyone!
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September 21, 2022
This year’s 14th Annual ALS & MS Walk for Living on Sunday, September 18 was held amidst blue skies and perfect temperatures. Even more importantly, it was immensely successful in raising much-needed funds for the inspiring ALS and MS residents at the Leonard Florence Center for Living. Over 700 people, including residents, families, friends, students, community members and the individuals who live on Admiral’s Hill, joined together to make this year’s Walk for Living the best ever. This annual event is the biggest fundraiser of the year for Chelsea Jewish Lifecare.
“We are so appreciative of the generosity from everyone who contributed to this year’s Walk for Living,” stated Maura Graham, Director of the 2022 ALS & MS Walk for Living. “There was a wonderful sense of camaraderie among the residents and families.” Added Graham, “Clearly, the degree of commitment, compassionate and unwavering support from our loyal supporters went above and beyond. Seeing the smiles on the residents’ faces made it a truly memorable day.”
Immediately following the two-mile Walk, attendees enjoyed a BBQ sponsored by Chili’s, facepainting, petting zoo, giant bubble blowing, dancing and more. “It was heartwarming to see so many people attend in support of our remarkable residents,” remarked Graham.
Donations are still coming in, but to date, we are close to reaching the $100,000 fundraising goal. To make a donation to the Leonard Florence Center for Living and its residents. please visit www.walkforliving.org or contact Maura Graham at mgraham@chelseajewish.org/617-409-8973. All donations are tax deductible. Every single dollar raised goes directly back to patient care and programs for the ALS and MS residents.
For additional photographs for the Chelsea Record, click here.
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