Hebrew SeniorLife

Many people have a hard time fitting exercise into their lives. If you’re living with a physical limitation or chronic health condition, it can feel even more challenging to get moving. One possible solution is tai chi. Tai chi is a gentle and meditative form of exercise that offers several health benefits for seniors. It is low-impact, puts minimal stress on your joints, and can be modified to meet you where you’re at, meaning it may work for you even if other forms of exercise don’t. Learn more, including the research-based benefits of tai chi in our blog post, “Finding Balance: The Benefits of Tai Chi for Seniors and How to Start.” https://bit.ly/3K3S2SQ

Thank you UMass Boston for hosting our Greater Boston Listening Session today. And thank you to everyone who attended. Your feedback is critical to the creation of our five-year strategic statewide housing plan. If you haven't been to a listening session yet, we have 9 more to go! Join us next week on 5/15 in Pittsfield or 5/16 in Greenfield.  

Are you looking for a nursing career that works for you? Join the team at Hebrew SeniorLife! If you’ve been thinking about making a move, now is the time - nurses hired for full-time positions of 32+ hours between now and May 31 will receive a $5,000 sign-on bonus! Whether you’re just starting out or looking to move to the next level, Hebrew SeniorLife offers a broad range of opportunities across various care settings, plus predictable schedules, cross-team support, access to leadership, and continuous growth. Find it all at the only senior care organization affiliated with Harvard Medical School, and a five-time Boston Globe Top Place to Work. Learn more and apply today: https://bit.ly/3QryMT1

At our recent service awards dinner at the House of Blues in Boston, we recognized all Hebrew SeniorLife employees celebrating a five-year milestone in their career while giving special recognition to our 45-year award recipients. One recipient, Contrina Glynn, a charge nurse at Hebrew Rehabilitation Center - Roslindale, practically grew up at Hebrew SeniorLife. Contrina’s mom worked here before Contrina began her career in 1977. She began as a certified nursing assistant before becoming a secretary, then returning as a senior certified nursing assistant. She then went back to school while still working to become a licensed practical nurse. She has held the charge nurse role ever since. Contrina believes “the people here at Hebrew SeniorLife are like family,” a sentiment echoed by all of our 45-year service award recipients. We are proud to have a team full of people like Contrina who are dedicated not only to the Hebrew SeniorLife mission and the older adults in their care, but also to each other. Thank you, Contrina, for your years of service to the Hebrew SeniorLife community!

🌸 Happy Mother’s Day! 🌸 Hebrew SeniorLife wishes all of the incredible mothers and everyone who has ever mothered — aunts, grandmothers, mentors, and cherished friends who’ve stepped into this role with grace and love — a joyous day! #MothersDay

Every May, the U.S. Administration for Community Living leads the national observance of Older Americans Month. This year’s theme is “Powered by Connection,” which highlights the importance of meaningful relationships and social connections on health and well-being. At Hebrew SeniorLife, we understand the impact that meaningful relationships have on health and well-being. We foster social connection among our residents, staff, patients, families, and community members year-round! We do this through a variety of programs across our campuses. Seniors and students come together as part of the Adam and Matan Adelson Multigenerational Program. Through meaningful interactions, our patients and residents find companionship and a sense of purpose, while children and young adults learn the value of service and develop an appreciation for the rich life experiences of seniors. Elementary and middle school students from the neighboring Rashi School visit one-on-one with NewBridge on the Charles residents. Preschool students visit Hebrew Rehabilitation Center to participate in music, reading, and art with older adults. High school students shop for and visit with seniors in Center Communities of Brookline. College nursing students visit the Simon C. Fireman Community to learn about geriatric nursing firsthand from older adults. At all our senior living communities, we provide programming that allows residents to build bonds with each other, including things like book clubs, nature walks, social gatherings, discussions on spirituality, trips to nearby restaurants and museums, and more. Learn more about the benefits of social connection in our blog post, “Seven Science-Backed Health Benefits of Friendship for Older Adults.” https://bit.ly/44Gk68n

If you or someone you love has been exhibiting memory problems, you may be feeling overwhelmed. What can you expect next? Where can you turn to for a diagnosis and treatment? What assistance will you need in the future? You’ll likely realize that you need guidance when it comes to identifying appropriate support and services and accessing resources. In our blog post, “Planning and Finding Support After a Dementia Diagnosis,” Patricia Eichinger, LICSW, who provides support to families at the Deanna and Sidney Wolk Center for Memory Health, outlines some of the options and considerations to keep in mind when developing a dementia care plan. https://bit.ly/3QA5j9B

Today is Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day. Hebrew SeniorLife is grateful to participate in projects that work to keep narratives alive so lessons from the past can inform our future. Scott Pressler, creative director of ONE80visual, recently interviewed five of the Holocaust survivors who live at Orchard Cove. These included Trudy Schwarz and Jim Penzias, who are pictured here, as well as Elsie Cohen, Esther Adler, and Rudy Salinger. There are Holocaust survivors residing in many of our living communities. They, along with other residents and staff, will attend Yom HaShoah observances taking place across our campuses today.

Recently, Hebrew SeniorLife held a service awards event honoring employees who reached a five-year milestone in their Hebrew SeniorLife career. One of our recipients of the 45-year service award, Roslindale Central Stores Manager Dennis Lynch, owes a lot of his career longevity to simply being willing to take on unfamiliar tasks. In his words: “The keys to staying at a job for 40 years are making yourself useful, adding to your skillset, and never being afraid to take on a project.” For your 45 years of diving into any project thrown your way and for your invaluable impact on the Hebrew SeniorLife community, we thank you, Dennis! Dennis is pictured with his manager, Tony Galvin.

After leading Hebrew SeniorLife for nearly a year, President and CEO Steven H. Landers, MD, MPH, is stepping down for personal reasons. It became evident that a relocation to Boston from New Jersey was not the best option for his family at this time. His last day will be May 17, 2024. Former President and CEO Lou Woolf, who led Hebrew SeniorLife for 14 years, will serve as interim president and CEO and support the senior leadership team while the Board conducts a search for Landers’ successor. Learn more: https://bit.ly/4djWVVj