News & Events
LOS ANGELES JEWISH HEALTH NEWS CENTER
News & Events
Here, you have access to the latest news, upcoming events, blog posts, and other information about Los Angeles Jewish Health.News Spotlight
Nov
15
Los Angeles Jewish Health Celebrates Opening of Brandman Centers for Senior Care PACE Program, Offering Care to Seniors on Los Angeles’ Westside
BCSC PACE West Los Angeles Location Opens
Program enables seniors to live independently in their homes while receiving vital health and social services in their local community
(November 15, 2023, Los Angeles) Brandman Centers for Senior Care (BCSC) PACE (Program of All Inclusive Care for the Elderly), a program of Los Angeles Jewish Health (LAJH), held an opening celebration for its new facility located at 9800 Pico Boulevard in West L.A. The day included well wishes from dignitaries, a ribbon cutting, and an open house offering tours of the new facility to more than 150 guests in attendance.
Formerly the site of a Chase Bank branch, the building has undergone a comprehensive transformation and is now a state-of-the-art social center for older adults. The facility includes medical and dental clinics, and inviting activities rooms. Poised to enroll its first participants on December 1, 2023, the new BCSC location will provide adult day health care services to hundreds of local seniors, 55 and older, who can take advantage of door-to-door shuttle service to and from the center. This is the second Brandman Centers for Senior Care facility; the first is located on the Grancell Village campus of Los Angeles Jewish Health in Reseda.
PACE is a vital program of Los Angeles Jewish Health, a non-profit health system that cares for 4,000 seniors each year. Program participants receive medical care onsite from doctors, dentists, nurses, and therapists whose specialties include primary and specialty care; medications; nutritional counseling, state-of-the-art medical equipment and supplies; optometry; hearing aids; podiatry; and mental health counseling.
Brandman Centers are a safe and enjoyable place to come and participate in stimulating activities, enjoy delicious and nutritious meals, and receive medical care. Brandman Centers for Senior Care Vice President Susie Fishenfeld said that opening the latest BCSC facility “has been a dream, a long time in the making as we worked to find the perfect location that will benefit the most seniors from the local community. We understand that today more seniors want to stay in their own homes, but they may be frail and need extra help and support to do so. Our PACE centers empower seniors to continue living independently at home while receiving vital services at thriving activity centers located near them. We even provide comfortable, sterilized shuttle transportation to and from the centers.”
Joining in the celebration was Los Angeles Jewish Health Chief Executive Officer and President Dale Surowitz, who shared that, “Today is a very special day for all of us at Los Angeles Jewish Health. We are immensely grateful to Joyce Brandman and the Saul and Joyce Brandman Foundation for funding this second Brandman Centers for Senior Care PACE location. Joyce’s unwavering support of our work over the past decades has ensured the health of the older adults in our care, while enhancing the quality of life for each and every participant and their families. Support from donors like Joyce is what makes days like today possible.”
The PACE Program accepts Medicare, Medi-Cal, and private pay. To find out more, call (855) 774-8444, or visit brandmanseniorcare.org.
You can see event photos at our photo gallery
Mar
22
Eisenhower Health Working with Los Angeles Jewish Health to Offer Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) for Coachella Valley Seniors
Rancho Mirage, CA (March 22, 2024) — Made possible through
generous philanthropic support, Eisenhower Health has purchased the Neuro
Vitality Center (formerly the Stroke Recovery Center). In partnership with Los
Angeles Jewish Health (LAJHealth), Eisenhower will provide a Program of All-Inclusive
Care for the Elderly (PACE) at the former Neuro Vitality Center
location. After a renovation, the site is expected to open with a new name and
focus in the next 12 to 18 months.
“Eisenhower Health is committed to addressing the long-term
health care needs for low-income seniors through this new Center and PACE
program,” says Martin Massiello, President and Chief Executive Officer,
Eisenhower Health. “We are incredibly grateful for the support of our generous
donors which will aid in serving the area’s most vulnerable residents.”
“Having served neurologically challenged and chronically
ill members of the community for over 46 years, the Neuro Vitality Center
(Stroke Recovery Center) is pleased to turn the reins over to Eisenhower to
expand treatment to this vulnerable population in need,” says Beverly Greer,
Chief Executive Officer, Neuro Vitality Center. “Increased access and more
services will only serve to enhance the quality of life and health for patients
well into the future.”
“Los Angeles Jewish Health is delighted to partner with
Eisenhower Health in bringing our world-class PACE program, entitled the
Brandman Centers for Senior Care, to residents of the Coachella Valley,”
remarks Dale Surowitz, President and Chief Executive Officer, Los Angeles
Jewish Health. “We look forward to working with the organization to meet the
needs of the community’s high-risk seniors, while helping to improve the health
of the broader community.”
PACE provides not only medical care and nutritious meals
but also fun activities, exercise, parties, and the opportunity to socialize
and make friends, erasing the isolation so common among many of today’s
seniors.
LAJHealth’s PACE receives approval and oversight from
both the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the California
Department of Health Care Services’ (CDHCS) Integrated Systems of Care
Division. Los Angeles Jewish Health’s PACE is a member of the National PACE
Association and CalPACE.
Founded in 1912, Los Angeles Jewish Health is the largest
non-profit, single-source provider of comprehensive senior healthcare services
in the Los Angeles area, serving nearly 4,000 people each year. At Los Angeles
Jewish Health, thousands of seniors benefit from community-based and
in-residence care and services. Programs include independent living; assisted
living; senior behavioral health; short-term rehabilitation; skilled nursing;
PACE; hospice and palliative care; and geriatric health and memory care. Los
Angeles Jewish Health is also home to the Annenberg School of Nursing.
Eisenhower Health is a not-for-profit, comprehensive health
care institution that includes the 437-bed Eisenhower Hospital, the Barbara
Sinatra Children’s Center at Eisenhower and the Annenberg Center for Health
Sciences at Eisenhower. Eisenhower is renowned for its Centers of Excellence in
Orthopedics, Cardiovascular, Neuroscience and Oncology. Situated on 106 acres
in Rancho Mirage, and with outpatient clinics across the valley, Eisenhower
Health has provided a full range of quality medical and educational services
for more than 50 years for residents and visitors to the greater Coachella
Valley. Eisenhower has twice earned ANCC Magnet Recognition® for
professionalism in nursing and excellence in patient care. The first accredited
teaching hospital in the valley, Eisenhower trains physician residents in
Internal Medicine, Family Medicine and Emergency Medicine and offers several
fellowships. For more information, visit EisenhowerHealth.org or follow
Eisenhower Health on social media.
Mar
20
Los Angeles Jewish Health Wins Prestigious AJAS Award
New program at Los Angeles Jewish Health helps seniors achieve their dreams
(RESEDA, CA – March 20, 2024) Los Angeles Jewish Health has been honored by the Association of Jewish Aging Services (AJAS) with its coveted Programming Award. The award recognizes LAJHealth’s innovative Achieve a Dream program, which gives seniors in assisted living an opportunity to find happiness and fulfillment.
Through Achieve a Dream, Los Angeles Jewish Health staff help residents look forward to a future-oriented goal, inspiring a sense of growth and enabling them to reach for something beautiful. Staffers identify a specific desire of the resident—something they are longing for—and help them make it happen.
The program, envisioned by Chief Mission Officer Rabbi Karen Bender and Ilana Springer, Los Angeles Jewish Health’s CEO/administrator, was piloted in the Joyce Eisenberg Keefer (JEK) Medical Center, LAJHealth’s 239-bed skilled nursing facility, where the average resident age is 91.
“When we created the program, we asked ourselves, ‘What would we want for our residents if they were our own mothers and fathers?’” Springer recalled. “The idea was to create experiences that would bring them joy.”
The first resident to benefit from Achieve a Dream was Elaine. When Rabbi Bender visited her room and asked whether there was anything she dreamed of doing, Elaine pointed to the photographs of horses hanging on her bedroom wall.
“She said, ‘Every single day of my life I was with horses, until 10 years ago. I haven’t even seen a horse since. I know I can’t ride, but I just want to spend quiet time with a horse.’” Rabbi Bender said. “So, we arranged to have a horse brought to one of the beautiful courtyards at Los Angeles Jewish Health, and Elaine enjoyed 90 minutes of one-on-one time. For an hour and a half, this was her horse; she had space to have a beautiful moment with an animal that meant the world to her.”
Andy, a stroke survivor, was another Achieve a Dream participant. During his younger years, he had been in a rock band, and he was eager to jam on a bass guitar once again, but his medical condition made that seem impossible. Working with the Los Angeles Jewish Health care team, Rabbi Bender and Springer arranged for a college student who was a music major to bring several electric instruments and help Andy experience “playing” them. Andy’s wife, who witnessed the jam session, said it was one of the most meaningful experiences of their marriage.
The Programming Award was handed out at AJAS’ national conference, which took place in late February in San Diego. Rabbi Bender and Springer were on-hand to accept the award in person.
“We are proud of this award but even prouder that Los Angeles Jewish Health is empowering seniors to come here and live with as much – if not more – fullness and purpose as they had before,” Rabbi Bender says. “This is a place where dreams really can come true.”Los Angeles Jewish Health Wins Prestigious AJAS Award
Mar
19
Tree of Life Luncheon Presented by The Associates
Please join The Associates as we honor Mrs. Robin Greenberg with the Tree of Life Award.
We look forward to gathering together in beautiful surroundings to celebrate our deserving honoree.
Register to attend this amazing event by clicking here
Details:
Friday, April 5, 202410:00 AM Boutique Opens11:45 AM Doors to Ballroom Open for Lunch
Registration and more info
Four Seasons Hotels Beverly Hills – 300 S Doheny Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90048
Mar
5
Turning Dreams Into Reality at Los Angeles Jewish Health Leads to Prestigious AJAS Award
Seniors move to Los Angeles Jewish Health for a wide variety of reasons. Many have specific medical needs; some are isolated and seeking community; others require skilled nursing care. Whatever the reason, members of the compassionate Los Angeles Jewish Health team are dedicated to fostering an environment where older adults don’t simply survive – they thrive.
“Someone might arrive at Los Angeles Jewish Health thinking, ‘I have come here to die,’ but we believe just the opposite: They have come here to live!” says Chief Mission Officer Rabbi Karen Bender. “We challenge residents to think that it’s entirely possible that the most meaningful moment of their life has not yet happened, and, that it’s going to happen here at LAJH. They might also touch someone else’s life, get to know them, and build the closest friendships and relationships they’ve ever had. Los Angeles Jewish Health is a place to find fulfillment and make new memories.”
To that end, last year Rabbi Bender and Ilana Springer, CEO/administrator at Los Angeles Jewish Health’s Joyce Eisenberg Keefer (JEK) Medical Center, launched Achieve a Dream, a pilot program focused on helping residents look forward to a future-oriented goal, inspiring a sense of growth, and enabling them to reach for something beautiful.
“We asked ourselves, ‘What would we want for our residents if they were our own mothers and fathers?’” Ilana says. “The idea was to create experiences that would bring them joy.”
In partnership with an with interdisciplinary staff including Susan Leitch, Claudia Crespo, Katie Abelson, Stacy Orbach, and Julie Lockman-Gold, the two piloted the program in the Joyce Eisenberg Keefer Medical Center, Los Angeles Jewish Health’s 239-bed skilled nursing facility, where the average resident age is 91.
“We felt the greatest need was with residents who require the highest level of care because they may be the least able to make dreams come true for themselves,” Ilana says.
First on the list was Elaine. One morning, Rabbi Bender visited her room and asked whether there was anything she dreamed about doing. Elaine immediately pointed to the photographs of horses hanging on her bedroom wall.
“She said, ‘Every single day of my life I was with horses, until 10 years ago. I haven’t even seen a horse since. I know I can’t ride, but I just want to spend quiet time with a horse.’” Rabbi Bender recalls. “So, we arranged to have a horse brought to one of the beautiful courtyards at Los Angeles Jewish Health, and Elaine enjoyed 90 minutes of one-on-one time. For an hour and a half, this was her horse; she had space to have a beautiful moment with an animal that meant the world to her.”
Since then, many more dreams have come to fruition:
Efraim, a rabbi living in the JEK Medical Center, had a dream of leading one last service. He was able to do so while also providing amazing musical accompaniment. Toward the end of the service, he poignantly said to his congregation of peers, “Look, I’m just like you. I can no longer walk or sing or do many important things I was once able to do, but we make do! And I couldn’t have done it without the encouragement of my best friends Joe and Richard” – friends he made at Los Angeles Jewish Health.
Andy had been in a rock band back when he attended an Ivy League college. He wanted nothing more than to jam on a bass guitar like he once did, though as a stroke survivor he couldn’t fully play anymore. Working with the care team, Rabbi Bender and Ilana found a college student who was a music major. The young man brought several electric instruments and electronic equipment and enabled Andy to experience “playing” the bass while his wife looked on adoringly. She later said it was one of the most meaningful experiences of their marriage.
Harriet, who had a love for chocolate, requested a chocolate tasting for the campus community. The Office of Volunteers went above and beyond arranging for a personal visit by three renowned chocolatiers, including a former White House chef, followed by a demonstration and tasting where the rest of the skilled nursing community was invited to enjoy the sweet treats.
In recognition of the program’s success, the Association of Jewish Aging Services (AJAS) announced Achieve a Dream as this year’s recipient of its prestigious Programming Award. Rabbi Bender and Ilana accepted the honor in person at AJAS’ national conference, which took place in late February in San Diego. Los Angeles Jewish Health Chief Executive Officer and President, Dale Surowitz, Board Member, Judy Friedman-Rudzki and Board Chair, Andrew Berman joined in the celebration.
“We are proud of this award but even more proud that Los Angeles Jewish Health is empowering seniors to come here and live with as much – if not more – fullness and purpose as they had before,” Rabbi Bender says. “This is a place where dreams really can come true.”
The Association of Jewish Aging Services (AJAS) awards Los Angeles Jewish Health's Achieve a Dream initiative as this year’s recipient of its prestigious Programming Award.
Mar
5
Vibrant Lifestyles Meet Quality Care at Los Angeles Jewish Health
For more than a century, Los Angeles Jewish Health (formerly Los Angeles Jewish Home) has cared for older adults with compassion, respect, and high-quality programs, services, and senior living options.
At Los Angeles Jewish Health, the art and science of caring for older adults has been cultivated over 100 years of service, earning the organization a second-to-none reputation in the region.
“One of the many things that stands out about our organization is our collaborative approach,” says Noah Marco, M.D., chief medical officer. “Throughout our history, we have emphasized the importance of bringing various professionals and specialists together to collaborate, communicate, and cooperate on behalf of each patient. We also maintain excellent relationships with the area’s leading hospitals and medical centers.”
Founded in 1912, Los Angeles Jewish Health has grown from a group of caring neighbors to a leading nonprofit organization, open to all, built on the Jewish values of charity, quality, dignity, and fiscal responsibility.
Compassion is at the core of every interaction, and a family approach permeates the culture.
“We treat residents like family, and we also consider our staff one big family. Together, we work for the safety, health, and well-being of the individuals in our care,” says Dr. Marco. “Every member of our team—from medical providers, pharmacists, and social workers to drivers, housekeepers, and maintenance staff—is enthusiastically dedicated to living our organization’s mission of serving and honoring older adults.”
With multiple locations and several levels of care within the Los Angeles Jewish Health network, head-to-toe services are provided—from primary care to physical therapy, dental, ophthalmology, optometry, dermatology, podiatry, and more.
Working as coordinated care teams ensures the best care is provided to the whole patient—mind, body, and spirit. This patient-centered model also mitigates the challenges of visiting several providers at multiple locations over weeks—a mental and logistical burden that often falls to a patient’s children or grandchildren.
The Grancell Village Campus of Los Angeles Jewish Health includes assisted living, PACE program, short term rehab, skilled nursing, senior behavioral health, a school of nursing and more
Levels of Care
To support seniors in maintaining healthy outcomes throughout their aging journey, Los Angeles Jewish Health offers a broad array of programs and services, including independent living, assisted living, senior behavioral health, short-term rehabilitation, skilled nursing, memory services, and hospice and palliative care.
The Brandman Centers for Senior Care offers comprehensive adult day services through their PACE program (Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly). This award-winning program allows more frail seniors to remain independent in their homes while receiving vital care and social services at their neighborhood location and offers transportation, home care, engaging activities, and medical care.
“PACE is designed to care for historically underserved populations who have complex medical and psychosocial conditions,” says Dr. Marco. “Our participant feedback shows high scores of satisfaction, particularly in the clinical services and the delicious meals we provide. Recognized as a top performer in this space, we are continually focused on expanding these services to more seniors in need.”
Caring Choices in Independent and Assisted Living
For active older adults interested in a continuing care retirement community, Los Angeles Jewish Health offers independent living accommodations.
For residents in the San Fernando Valley, Fountainview at Eisenberg Village in Reseda, California, features resort-style living with gourmet dining, an on-site movie theater, a bar/lounge, a state-of-the-art fitness facility, and a creative arts studio. A full-service staff provides expert care and attention to 108 independent living options, with optional nursing and care available.
Patient-Centered Telemedicine
With support from a grant from the Federal Communications Commission and generous donors, Los Angeles Jewish Health has invested heavily in state-of-the-art technology, including telemedicine, to expand its mission of patient-centered care.
Dr. Marco explains that standard healthcare has predominately been a physician-centered model, wherein patients must travel to the physician at the physician’s convenience. But in a patient-centered telemedicine approach, patients are seen in the comfort of their own home.
“When done correctly, telemedicine has incredibly high satisfaction rates. Providers can instantly look at and listen to a patient, and if a nurse is present with the patient, even use a stethoscope to listen to the heart and lungs. The data clearly shows that physicians are able to make diagnoses quickly and more accurately,” Dr. Marco says.
Effective telemedicine also reduces instances of unnecessary ambulance calls, which are costly and disruptive for patients, families, and caretakers alike.
Personalized Approach
With the benefit of expert gerontologists at the helm, Los Angeles Jewish Health focuses on the five M’s of geriatric care: mind, mobility, medications, multiple complexities, and what matters most to you.
“These five M’s are the difference between our tailored geriatric practice and a standard, fractionated approach to care,” says Dr. Marco. “We hyperfocus on learning each patient’s goals and needs so that their care can be as personal and effective as possible.
This article first appeared in Good Housekeeping and Woman's Day magazines in their January/February 2024 issue.
Dr. Noah S. Marco - Chief Medical Officer at Los Angeles Jewish Health
Feb
6
At Los Angeles Jewish Health Love Knows No Bounds
When 94-year-old Jack Schlaifer agreed to officiate at the wedding of his grandniece, Alison, and her fiancé, Daniel, he was building on a family tradition: months earlier, he had performed the marriage ceremony for Alison’s father (his nephew Charles) in the backyard of his Westlake Village home. Jack was honored when Alison asked him to do the honors for her wedding as well. They laid out plans for a similar ceremony, in the same venue, on New Year’s Day—until life got in the way.
“In November, I had a fall, and I fractured my L5 [a region between the lumbar and sacral spine in the lower back],” Jack says. “Suddenly, I was living in a rehabilitation facility, and all bets were off. I called Alison and told her, ‘You can’t count on me for the wedding.’ I was sad about it, but what could I do?”
Alison knew exactly what he should do: proceed full steam ahead. "She said, “Uncle Jack, I don’t care where you are; I want you to marry us. We’ll come to wherever you are!’” he recalls. “I was incredibly moved.”
All that was left was to coordinate with the staff at Los Angeles Jewish Health. LAJH is a place that Jack, a native Angeleno who had raised his family in the Valley, had long known and loved. “I joined The Guardians (a support group of LAJH) in 1980, and when they formed The Executives, I was a founding member and, later, president,” he said. “I served on The Executives’ board for 30 years.”
Jack reached out to Los Angeles Jewish Health staff, and everyone enthusiastically leaned in to ensure all details were arranged. On January 1, 2024, in a cozy family room on the Grancell Village campus, Jack gathered together with Alison, Daniel, and an intimate group of family to give the couple his blessing and pronounce them “man and wife.”
“It was an amazing wedding, and it brought me a lot of naches [joy],” Jack says, smiling. “After it was over, the family went for sandwiches to Brent’s Deli, which is Alison and Daniel’s favorite place. It was perfect.”
Once the ceremony was complete, it was back to the hard work of rehab. Every day Jack has both physical and occupational therapy, and every day he gets a little bit stronger. While the road to recovery is long, he is grateful to be walking it at Los Angeles Jewish Health.
“I’m lucky to be here,” he says. “The care is wonderful, and the people are great.”
Nov
15
Grand Opening of Brandman Centers for Senior Care PACE Program West Los Angeles Location
Nov 15, 2023
Wed • 4pm – 6pm
Mar
22
Eisenhower Health Working with Los Angeles Jewish Health to Offer Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) for Coachella Valley Seniors
Rancho Mirage, CA (March 22, 2024) — Made possible through
generous philanthropic support, Eisenhower Health has purchased the Neuro
Vitality Center (formerly the Stroke Recovery Center). In partnership with Los
Angeles Jewish Health (LAJHealth), Eisenhower will provide a Program of All-Inclusive
Care for the Elderly (PACE) at the former Neuro Vitality Center
location. After a renovation, the site is expected to open with a new name and
focus in the next 12 to 18 months.
“Eisenhower Health is committed to addressing the long-term
health care needs for low-income seniors through this new Center and PACE
program,” says Martin Massiello, President and Chief Executive Officer,
Eisenhower Health. “We are incredibly grateful for the support of our generous
donors which will aid in serving the area’s most vulnerable residents.”
“Having served neurologically challenged and chronically
ill members of the community for over 46 years, the Neuro Vitality Center
(Stroke Recovery Center) is pleased to turn the reins over to Eisenhower to
expand treatment to this vulnerable population in need,” says Beverly Greer,
Chief Executive Officer, Neuro Vitality Center. “Increased access and more
services will only serve to enhance the quality of life and health for patients
well into the future.”
“Los Angeles Jewish Health is delighted to partner with
Eisenhower Health in bringing our world-class PACE program, entitled the
Brandman Centers for Senior Care, to residents of the Coachella Valley,”
remarks Dale Surowitz, President and Chief Executive Officer, Los Angeles
Jewish Health. “We look forward to working with the organization to meet the
needs of the community’s high-risk seniors, while helping to improve the health
of the broader community.”
PACE provides not only medical care and nutritious meals
but also fun activities, exercise, parties, and the opportunity to socialize
and make friends, erasing the isolation so common among many of today’s
seniors.
LAJHealth’s PACE receives approval and oversight from
both the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the California
Department of Health Care Services’ (CDHCS) Integrated Systems of Care
Division. Los Angeles Jewish Health’s PACE is a member of the National PACE
Association and CalPACE.
Founded in 1912, Los Angeles Jewish Health is the largest
non-profit, single-source provider of comprehensive senior healthcare services
in the Los Angeles area, serving nearly 4,000 people each year. At Los Angeles
Jewish Health, thousands of seniors benefit from community-based and
in-residence care and services. Programs include independent living; assisted
living; senior behavioral health; short-term rehabilitation; skilled nursing;
PACE; hospice and palliative care; and geriatric health and memory care. Los
Angeles Jewish Health is also home to the Annenberg School of Nursing.
Eisenhower Health is a not-for-profit, comprehensive health
care institution that includes the 437-bed Eisenhower Hospital, the Barbara
Sinatra Children’s Center at Eisenhower and the Annenberg Center for Health
Sciences at Eisenhower. Eisenhower is renowned for its Centers of Excellence in
Orthopedics, Cardiovascular, Neuroscience and Oncology. Situated on 106 acres
in Rancho Mirage, and with outpatient clinics across the valley, Eisenhower
Health has provided a full range of quality medical and educational services
for more than 50 years for residents and visitors to the greater Coachella
Valley. Eisenhower has twice earned ANCC Magnet Recognition® for
professionalism in nursing and excellence in patient care. The first accredited
teaching hospital in the valley, Eisenhower trains physician residents in
Internal Medicine, Family Medicine and Emergency Medicine and offers several
fellowships. For more information, visit EisenhowerHealth.org or follow
Eisenhower Health on social media.
Mar
20
Los Angeles Jewish Health Wins Prestigious AJAS Award
New program at Los Angeles Jewish Health helps seniors achieve their dreams
(RESEDA, CA – March 20, 2024) Los Angeles Jewish Health has been honored by the Association of Jewish Aging Services (AJAS) with its coveted Programming Award. The award recognizes LAJHealth’s innovative Achieve a Dream program, which gives seniors in assisted living an opportunity to find happiness and fulfillment.
Through Achieve a Dream, Los Angeles Jewish Health staff help residents look forward to a future-oriented goal, inspiring a sense of growth and enabling them to reach for something beautiful. Staffers identify a specific desire of the resident—something they are longing for—and help them make it happen.
The program, envisioned by Chief Mission Officer Rabbi Karen Bender and Ilana Springer, Los Angeles Jewish Health’s CEO/administrator, was piloted in the Joyce Eisenberg Keefer (JEK) Medical Center, LAJHealth’s 239-bed skilled nursing facility, where the average resident age is 91.
“When we created the program, we asked ourselves, ‘What would we want for our residents if they were our own mothers and fathers?’” Springer recalled. “The idea was to create experiences that would bring them joy.”
The first resident to benefit from Achieve a Dream was Elaine. When Rabbi Bender visited her room and asked whether there was anything she dreamed of doing, Elaine pointed to the photographs of horses hanging on her bedroom wall.
“She said, ‘Every single day of my life I was with horses, until 10 years ago. I haven’t even seen a horse since. I know I can’t ride, but I just want to spend quiet time with a horse.’” Rabbi Bender said. “So, we arranged to have a horse brought to one of the beautiful courtyards at Los Angeles Jewish Health, and Elaine enjoyed 90 minutes of one-on-one time. For an hour and a half, this was her horse; she had space to have a beautiful moment with an animal that meant the world to her.”
Andy, a stroke survivor, was another Achieve a Dream participant. During his younger years, he had been in a rock band, and he was eager to jam on a bass guitar once again, but his medical condition made that seem impossible. Working with the Los Angeles Jewish Health care team, Rabbi Bender and Springer arranged for a college student who was a music major to bring several electric instruments and help Andy experience “playing” them. Andy’s wife, who witnessed the jam session, said it was one of the most meaningful experiences of their marriage.
The Programming Award was handed out at AJAS’ national conference, which took place in late February in San Diego. Rabbi Bender and Springer were on-hand to accept the award in person.
“We are proud of this award but even prouder that Los Angeles Jewish Health is empowering seniors to come here and live with as much – if not more – fullness and purpose as they had before,” Rabbi Bender says. “This is a place where dreams really can come true.”Los Angeles Jewish Health Wins Prestigious AJAS Award
Mar
19
Tree of Life Luncheon Presented by The Associates
Please join The Associates as we honor Mrs. Robin Greenberg with the Tree of Life Award.
We look forward to gathering together in beautiful surroundings to celebrate our deserving honoree.
Register to attend this amazing event by clicking here
Details:
Friday, April 5, 202410:00 AM Boutique Opens11:45 AM Doors to Ballroom Open for Lunch
Registration and more info
Four Seasons Hotels Beverly Hills – 300 S Doheny Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90048
Mar
5
Turning Dreams Into Reality at Los Angeles Jewish Health Leads to Prestigious AJAS Award
Seniors move to Los Angeles Jewish Health for a wide variety of reasons. Many have specific medical needs; some are isolated and seeking community; others require skilled nursing care. Whatever the reason, members of the compassionate Los Angeles Jewish Health team are dedicated to fostering an environment where older adults don’t simply survive – they thrive.
“Someone might arrive at Los Angeles Jewish Health thinking, ‘I have come here to die,’ but we believe just the opposite: They have come here to live!” says Chief Mission Officer Rabbi Karen Bender. “We challenge residents to think that it’s entirely possible that the most meaningful moment of their life has not yet happened, and, that it’s going to happen here at LAJH. They might also touch someone else’s life, get to know them, and build the closest friendships and relationships they’ve ever had. Los Angeles Jewish Health is a place to find fulfillment and make new memories.”
To that end, last year Rabbi Bender and Ilana Springer, CEO/administrator at Los Angeles Jewish Health’s Joyce Eisenberg Keefer (JEK) Medical Center, launched Achieve a Dream, a pilot program focused on helping residents look forward to a future-oriented goal, inspiring a sense of growth, and enabling them to reach for something beautiful.
“We asked ourselves, ‘What would we want for our residents if they were our own mothers and fathers?’” Ilana says. “The idea was to create experiences that would bring them joy.”
In partnership with an with interdisciplinary staff including Susan Leitch, Claudia Crespo, Katie Abelson, Stacy Orbach, and Julie Lockman-Gold, the two piloted the program in the Joyce Eisenberg Keefer Medical Center, Los Angeles Jewish Health’s 239-bed skilled nursing facility, where the average resident age is 91.
“We felt the greatest need was with residents who require the highest level of care because they may be the least able to make dreams come true for themselves,” Ilana says.
First on the list was Elaine. One morning, Rabbi Bender visited her room and asked whether there was anything she dreamed about doing. Elaine immediately pointed to the photographs of horses hanging on her bedroom wall.
“She said, ‘Every single day of my life I was with horses, until 10 years ago. I haven’t even seen a horse since. I know I can’t ride, but I just want to spend quiet time with a horse.’” Rabbi Bender recalls. “So, we arranged to have a horse brought to one of the beautiful courtyards at Los Angeles Jewish Health, and Elaine enjoyed 90 minutes of one-on-one time. For an hour and a half, this was her horse; she had space to have a beautiful moment with an animal that meant the world to her.”
Since then, many more dreams have come to fruition:
Efraim, a rabbi living in the JEK Medical Center, had a dream of leading one last service. He was able to do so while also providing amazing musical accompaniment. Toward the end of the service, he poignantly said to his congregation of peers, “Look, I’m just like you. I can no longer walk or sing or do many important things I was once able to do, but we make do! And I couldn’t have done it without the encouragement of my best friends Joe and Richard” – friends he made at Los Angeles Jewish Health.
Andy had been in a rock band back when he attended an Ivy League college. He wanted nothing more than to jam on a bass guitar like he once did, though as a stroke survivor he couldn’t fully play anymore. Working with the care team, Rabbi Bender and Ilana found a college student who was a music major. The young man brought several electric instruments and electronic equipment and enabled Andy to experience “playing” the bass while his wife looked on adoringly. She later said it was one of the most meaningful experiences of their marriage.
Harriet, who had a love for chocolate, requested a chocolate tasting for the campus community. The Office of Volunteers went above and beyond arranging for a personal visit by three renowned chocolatiers, including a former White House chef, followed by a demonstration and tasting where the rest of the skilled nursing community was invited to enjoy the sweet treats.
In recognition of the program’s success, the Association of Jewish Aging Services (AJAS) announced Achieve a Dream as this year’s recipient of its prestigious Programming Award. Rabbi Bender and Ilana accepted the honor in person at AJAS’ national conference, which took place in late February in San Diego. Los Angeles Jewish Health Chief Executive Officer and President, Dale Surowitz, Board Member, Judy Friedman-Rudzki and Board Chair, Andrew Berman joined in the celebration.
“We are proud of this award but even more proud that Los Angeles Jewish Health is empowering seniors to come here and live with as much – if not more – fullness and purpose as they had before,” Rabbi Bender says. “This is a place where dreams really can come true.”
The Association of Jewish Aging Services (AJAS) awards Los Angeles Jewish Health's Achieve a Dream initiative as this year’s recipient of its prestigious Programming Award.
Mar
5
Vibrant Lifestyles Meet Quality Care at Los Angeles Jewish Health
For more than a century, Los Angeles Jewish Health (formerly Los Angeles Jewish Home) has cared for older adults with compassion, respect, and high-quality programs, services, and senior living options.
At Los Angeles Jewish Health, the art and science of caring for older adults has been cultivated over 100 years of service, earning the organization a second-to-none reputation in the region.
“One of the many things that stands out about our organization is our collaborative approach,” says Noah Marco, M.D., chief medical officer. “Throughout our history, we have emphasized the importance of bringing various professionals and specialists together to collaborate, communicate, and cooperate on behalf of each patient. We also maintain excellent relationships with the area’s leading hospitals and medical centers.”
Founded in 1912, Los Angeles Jewish Health has grown from a group of caring neighbors to a leading nonprofit organization, open to all, built on the Jewish values of charity, quality, dignity, and fiscal responsibility.
Compassion is at the core of every interaction, and a family approach permeates the culture.
“We treat residents like family, and we also consider our staff one big family. Together, we work for the safety, health, and well-being of the individuals in our care,” says Dr. Marco. “Every member of our team—from medical providers, pharmacists, and social workers to drivers, housekeepers, and maintenance staff—is enthusiastically dedicated to living our organization’s mission of serving and honoring older adults.”
With multiple locations and several levels of care within the Los Angeles Jewish Health network, head-to-toe services are provided—from primary care to physical therapy, dental, ophthalmology, optometry, dermatology, podiatry, and more.
Working as coordinated care teams ensures the best care is provided to the whole patient—mind, body, and spirit. This patient-centered model also mitigates the challenges of visiting several providers at multiple locations over weeks—a mental and logistical burden that often falls to a patient’s children or grandchildren.
The Grancell Village Campus of Los Angeles Jewish Health includes assisted living, PACE program, short term rehab, skilled nursing, senior behavioral health, a school of nursing and more
Levels of Care
To support seniors in maintaining healthy outcomes throughout their aging journey, Los Angeles Jewish Health offers a broad array of programs and services, including independent living, assisted living, senior behavioral health, short-term rehabilitation, skilled nursing, memory services, and hospice and palliative care.
The Brandman Centers for Senior Care offers comprehensive adult day services through their PACE program (Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly). This award-winning program allows more frail seniors to remain independent in their homes while receiving vital care and social services at their neighborhood location and offers transportation, home care, engaging activities, and medical care.
“PACE is designed to care for historically underserved populations who have complex medical and psychosocial conditions,” says Dr. Marco. “Our participant feedback shows high scores of satisfaction, particularly in the clinical services and the delicious meals we provide. Recognized as a top performer in this space, we are continually focused on expanding these services to more seniors in need.”
Caring Choices in Independent and Assisted Living
For active older adults interested in a continuing care retirement community, Los Angeles Jewish Health offers independent living accommodations.
For residents in the San Fernando Valley, Fountainview at Eisenberg Village in Reseda, California, features resort-style living with gourmet dining, an on-site movie theater, a bar/lounge, a state-of-the-art fitness facility, and a creative arts studio. A full-service staff provides expert care and attention to 108 independent living options, with optional nursing and care available.
Patient-Centered Telemedicine
With support from a grant from the Federal Communications Commission and generous donors, Los Angeles Jewish Health has invested heavily in state-of-the-art technology, including telemedicine, to expand its mission of patient-centered care.
Dr. Marco explains that standard healthcare has predominately been a physician-centered model, wherein patients must travel to the physician at the physician’s convenience. But in a patient-centered telemedicine approach, patients are seen in the comfort of their own home.
“When done correctly, telemedicine has incredibly high satisfaction rates. Providers can instantly look at and listen to a patient, and if a nurse is present with the patient, even use a stethoscope to listen to the heart and lungs. The data clearly shows that physicians are able to make diagnoses quickly and more accurately,” Dr. Marco says.
Effective telemedicine also reduces instances of unnecessary ambulance calls, which are costly and disruptive for patients, families, and caretakers alike.
Personalized Approach
With the benefit of expert gerontologists at the helm, Los Angeles Jewish Health focuses on the five M’s of geriatric care: mind, mobility, medications, multiple complexities, and what matters most to you.
“These five M’s are the difference between our tailored geriatric practice and a standard, fractionated approach to care,” says Dr. Marco. “We hyperfocus on learning each patient’s goals and needs so that their care can be as personal and effective as possible.
This article first appeared in Good Housekeeping and Woman's Day magazines in their January/February 2024 issue.
Dr. Noah S. Marco - Chief Medical Officer at Los Angeles Jewish Health
Feb
6
At Los Angeles Jewish Health Love Knows No Bounds
When 94-year-old Jack Schlaifer agreed to officiate at the wedding of his grandniece, Alison, and her fiancé, Daniel, he was building on a family tradition: months earlier, he had performed the marriage ceremony for Alison’s father (his nephew Charles) in the backyard of his Westlake Village home. Jack was honored when Alison asked him to do the honors for her wedding as well. They laid out plans for a similar ceremony, in the same venue, on New Year’s Day—until life got in the way.
“In November, I had a fall, and I fractured my L5 [a region between the lumbar and sacral spine in the lower back],” Jack says. “Suddenly, I was living in a rehabilitation facility, and all bets were off. I called Alison and told her, ‘You can’t count on me for the wedding.’ I was sad about it, but what could I do?”
Alison knew exactly what he should do: proceed full steam ahead. "She said, “Uncle Jack, I don’t care where you are; I want you to marry us. We’ll come to wherever you are!’” he recalls. “I was incredibly moved.”
All that was left was to coordinate with the staff at Los Angeles Jewish Health. LAJH is a place that Jack, a native Angeleno who had raised his family in the Valley, had long known and loved. “I joined The Guardians (a support group of LAJH) in 1980, and when they formed The Executives, I was a founding member and, later, president,” he said. “I served on The Executives’ board for 30 years.”
Jack reached out to Los Angeles Jewish Health staff, and everyone enthusiastically leaned in to ensure all details were arranged. On January 1, 2024, in a cozy family room on the Grancell Village campus, Jack gathered together with Alison, Daniel, and an intimate group of family to give the couple his blessing and pronounce them “man and wife.”
“It was an amazing wedding, and it brought me a lot of naches [joy],” Jack says, smiling. “After it was over, the family went for sandwiches to Brent’s Deli, which is Alison and Daniel’s favorite place. It was perfect.”
Once the ceremony was complete, it was back to the hard work of rehab. Every day Jack has both physical and occupational therapy, and every day he gets a little bit stronger. While the road to recovery is long, he is grateful to be walking it at Los Angeles Jewish Health.
“I’m lucky to be here,” he says. “The care is wonderful, and the people are great.”
Feb
6
Special Intergenerational Program Honors Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Spirit of Coming Together for the Greater Good
Members of the Jewish and African-American communities have long found solidarity in common purpose, with a history of teaming up toward the pursuit of equal rights. As the New Year began, two diverse community groups gathered at Los Angeles Jewish Health to remember the legacy of the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. while continuing to build toward a unified future. They literally came together to break bread.
In collaboration with Challah and Soul, a program that seeks to educate and unite the Jewish and Black communities, high school students from Adat Ari El congregation traveled to Los Angeles Jewish Health for an adventure in baking and storytelling. During the fascinating intergenerational event, LA Jewish Health residents shared memories of Dr. King as they worked side-by-side with the students to braid loaves of challah. The result: a wonderful afternoon of raising awareness, passing along a beloved Jewish tradition, and fostering strong intergenerational bonds.
“The students arrived with smiles and great energy,” says Susan Leitch, community manager and safety officer at Los Angeles Jewish Health and a key organizer of the event. “It was wonderful to see them interact with our seniors.”
Created by Shonda Isom Walkowitz, the founder of Bucks Happy Farm in the Lucerne Valley, and Judi Leib, a chef and veteran of the food services industry, Challah and Soul was built on a mutual interest in helping Blacks and Jews rediscover the things that make them natural allies. As challah dough was passed to the assembled residents and students, Judi spoke about the importance of food in uniting diverse people, and Shonda offered her thoughts about the similarities between the Black and Jewish experiences.
“This event showcased how much wisdom and perspective LA Jewish Health seniors can offer to the broader community,” Julie Lockman-Gold, special projects coordinator at Los Angeles Jewish Health, says. “Especially during a time of rising anti-Semitism, our residents have a lot to say about inequality, injustice, and racism. Giving them an opportunity to be heard – and for students to learn from their experiences – was truly meaningful.”
The event drew a large turnout of residents from Grancell Village’s Mark Taper Building and Joyce Eisenberg-Keefer Medical Center, as well as 20 Adat Eri El students and some of their family members.
“Watching them partner to make the challah, you could see the joy on everyone’s faces,” Julie recalls. “When the bread was done baking, the smell was amazing, and people were so excited to dig in!”
By the end of the afternoon, the happiness and contentment that filled the room were clear indications of the event’s success. It was a feeling shared by all participants. Julie added, “As the students were leaving, Adat Ari El’s program director, Sara Markus, told me she’s already thinking about doing it again next year!”