Choosing the right health plan can be tricky at any age. Our reliance on the healthcare system increases as we age—and so, too, does the difficulty in finding a plan that meets our growing needs. Starting in January 2021, the Los Angeles Jewish Home will introduce the Brandman Health Plan, a new offering designed with aging seniors in mind. "Traditionally, health insurance tends to think of seniors as being between 65 and 80 years-old, but the age of the demographic is really changing. The Brandman Health Plan is based on a more expansive model of care that grows out of our more than 100 years of real-world experience with residents at the Jewish Home, where the average age is over 90," says Stephen Martinez, Ph.D., CEO of the new plan. "Our program is different because it’s been built to reflect the evolving needs presented by the interaction of geriatric care and pre-existing conditions." The plan is a Medicare Advantage Chronic Condition Special Needs Plan, also known as a C-SNP. To enroll, a senior must be a resident of Los Angeles County and be diagnosed with at least one of four qualifying chronic conditions: diabetes, chronic heart failure, cardiovascular disorders and/or dementia. "We offer two plans depending on the chronic condition, Aspire and Arise, and each plan has two options based on Medicare and Medi-Cal eligibility. All plans cover Medicare Part A and Part B, as well as Part D—the pharmacy component," Stephen notes. "But what makes us competitive is the range of additional, or supplemental, benefits we’re providing." The Brandman Health Plan’s supplemental benefits offering was created based on feedback from Jewish Home clinicians and administrative leaders. "We asked our staff for a wish list of what they would like to see a health plan offer," Stephen says. "They shared that people with dementia frequently lick their lips, which can cause their dentures to shift out of alignment. Based on this information, we made sure to include denture alignment in our dental benefits. When discussing hearing benefits, we learned that many people could not afford additional batteries. We made sure to offer a range of hearing aids, from a basic model at no copay to an optional upgrade at an additional cost, with extra batteries included. The bottom line is that the Brandman Health Plan provides comprehensive coverage at a great value." A partial list of the benefits offered by the Brandman Health Plan includes dental, hearing, vision, transportation for medical appointments, mental health services, in-home safety assessments, and a rich drug formulary that offers prescriptions, such as insulin at a $35 copay for a 30-day supply. "We are extremely enthusiastic about all of the ways the Brandman Health Plan will help support the seniors who enroll," says Jewish Home CEO-President Dale Surowitz. "Our goal is to uplift and empower them so they can stay healthy and thrive." Though the plan is open to any Los Angeles County resident who is eligible for Medicare and has one of the four chronic conditions, Stephen thinks it will have particular resonance for residents of the Jewish Home. "I think they’ll be especially pleased with what we’re offering because it speaks directly to their situations," he says. The Brandman Health Plan will go live on January 1, 2021. Enrollment is now open and will continue year-round. For more information, contact Maria Carreon, the plan’s manager of sales and broker relations, at (818) 457-7608, or visit us online at www.brandmanhealthplan.com.

This Thanksgiving, the Jewish Home has much to be grateful for, in particular the health and safety of the seniors in our care. As we continue to ensure their well-being during the holiday season, we are also working to make this a joyous time—showing residents that COVID-19 will not stand in the way of a meaningful celebration. Jewish Home staff are particularly focused on creating a safe and festive atmosphere for residents, says Annette Weinberg, lifestyle and enrichment director for residential care. "We're still unable to welcome in-person visitors, but we're not going to let that hold us back," she says. "In addition to decorating the hallways and nursing stations, we'll be providing gratitude kits to residents so they can make their own Thanksgiving cards. We have a wonderful volunteer who assembles the kits, and it's a fun and engaging activity for people who are artistically inclined." Residents will also relax in their rooms watching a movie marathon courtesy of the Jewish Home's in-house, closed-circuit TV station—and can do so while snacking on some special holiday treats that will be delivered to each room. "Even when it's not a pandemic, Thanksgiving is a great time to stay home, relax, and indulge, so I'll be buying some chocolate to distribute," Annette says. "We want to do whatever we can to get the message out to residents that, even though these are tough times, we love them and are here for them." No Thanksgiving is complete without a delicious holiday meal, and on that front as well, the Jewish Home will deliver. "We're going to be serving the same traditional Thanksgiving meal as always, including turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing, fresh mashed potatoes, green beans, and pumpkin pie," says Cindy Cordon, director of dietary services for both Eisenberg and Grancell Village campuses. "We're also working with the California Department of Public Health to strategize the logistics of a communal dining experience, with seating and timing coordinated to ensure six-foot distancing for residents involved." Staff can also look forward to partaking in the holiday goodness: All three shifts of Jewish Home employees working on Thanksgiving will receive a delicious packaged meal for their enjoyment. Our frontline workers make a tremendous difference in the lives of our seniors each and every day, especially during this challenging period, as they prioritize residents' needs and do their utmost to protect them from COVID-19. We are deeply appreciative of their dedication and care. We also offer our thanks to the many donors of the Home who continue to provide their financial support, ensuring we can continue to purchase critical resources such as surgical gowns and face masks. And, of course—immense gratitude to our residents themselves, who inspire us on Thanksgiving and every day with their positive attitudes, spirit, and good humor. We wish every member of the Jewish Home family a Happy (and Healthy) Thanksgiving!

Every year on Rosh Hashanah, Jews around the globe recite these ancient words: Hayom harat olam—Today is the day of the world's creation. It is a prayer for positivity and hope that is particularly poignant during these trying times. As we grapple with a deadly pandemic that continues to wreak havoc on our daily lives, says Rabbi Karen Bender, Skirball director of spiritual life at the Jewish Home, this is precisely the message we need. Rabbi Bender shared her optimism during a unique series of High Holy Days services—welcoming Jewish Home residents, their families and friends, and the general public to take part in virtual celebrations of the New Year and the Day of Atonement. Shared on closed-circuit TVs in residents' rooms and on YouTube, the services enabled people from across Los Angeles and beyond to come together and embrace new possibilities for the year ahead. My goal was to make the services special so that participants would feel connected to one another, Rabbi Bender says. I also wanted to infuse joy. As Jews, we often forget that the High Holy Days are not a sad or somber time. In fact, Yom Kippur is known as 'Shabbat ha-Shabbatot,' the Shabbat of all Shabbats. These are not days for mourning; they're a time for renewal, healing and repair. Rabbi Bender notes that, even during a pandemic—perhaps especially during a pandemic—it is vital to seize every opportunity to uplift and engage people. Her High Holy Days services did just that, combining ritual prayer with soaring music, fun videos and other lighthearted moments. I inserted a clip of Barbra Streisand singing Aveinu Malkeinu, which was gorgeous. During the telling of the story of Jonah, I held up an action figure—narrating the story seriously, but using props to illustrate it, she says. I also included a YouTube video of a gentleman blowing a shofar that has over one million hits. As soon as I found it, I thought to myself, 'Our residents deserve to hear the best shofar blower in the world!' A central priority of Rabbi Bender's was involving Jewish Home residents in the services to help them feel included, inspired—and less isolated. Throughout this pandemic, seniors have really suffered because they're at greater risk from COVID-19, which means we have to take even greater precautions to keep them safe. Our message at the Home is that they might be quarantining in their rooms, but they are still vital members of a community that loves and cherishes them, she says. Rabbi Bender videoed four residents—two from each Jewish Home campus—holding the Torah during the Kol Nidre prayer. On both Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur morning, while the services were being aired, she and her colleague, Eisenberg Village Rabbi Ronald Goldberg, went into as many residents' rooms as possible (outfitted in full PPE) so people could see the Torah in person and blow kisses to it if they wished. It was a 3-D surprise while they were watching on their TVs, in 2-D, she says. It was wonderful to do such a meaningful hakafa (circling around with the Torah). It usually lasts about 15 minutes, but I carried the Torah for over an hour. I think it may have been the longest hakafa in history! After the services were over, the reviews quickly poured in. I was spellbound, says Lenore Karish. I'm 98 years old, and these were the best services I've ever heard. I want to give the rabbis an Emmy for their hard work! Sally Wilk was similarly enthusiastic. Rabbi Bender and her cohorts did an incredible job, she says. It meant so much for us to be with them at such a difficult time in our lives. For her part, Rabbi Bender says the feeling was mutual. Putting these services together was such a gratifying experience, she says. It really took a village to make it happen. From the IT department's support, to the dietary department presenting holiday-appropriate food, to the nursing and activities departments preparing residents for the holidays, to the communications department getting the word out to families, everybody worked tremendously hard. It was our way of saying to our residents, who have been through so much, 'We love you, and we're here for you.'

Getting out the vote during this Presidential election season is among the many challenges being presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. Fortunately, the Jewish Home is up to the task, and seniors on its multiple campuses will be marking their ballots this November as enthusiastically, and as easily, as ever before. Anticipating the increased logistical difficulties, Jewish Home staff have been busy helping residents exercise their right to be heard on Election Day. For the past month, staff have advertised and encouraged voter registration, posting flyers with key information on how to register (safely, without leaving the Jewish Home) and how to check current registration status. They have also put voting on the agenda during the Home's weekly Town Hall conference calls, ensuring all participants are aware of the upcoming election and their ability to play a role in it. On the digital front, residents had an opportunity to log on for the League of Women Voters' recent Ballot Measures Pros and Cons online forum. In addition, the Jewish Home is posting its don't-forget-to-vote message across its social media platforms, engaging followers to support the seniors in their lives in voting safely however possible. Pundits are predicting historic levels of absentee and mail-in voting, putting increased scrutiny on whether those ballots will be filled out properly—and, if not, whether their legitimacy might be questioned. To help guarantee every ballot is counted, Jewish Home Director of Volunteer Services Stacy Orbach and Eisenberg Village Lifestyle and Enrichment Director for Residential Care Annette Weinberg are offering to consult with residents on any ballot-related questions they may have, as well as double checking ballot envelopes to make certain residents are marking them correctly before posting them. Stacy and Annette also plan to drive completed ballots to a local voting center for any residents who prefer not to send theirs by mail. Jewish Home staff are also on hand to assist residents with physical challenges, such as impaired vision, that can complicate voting. It's part of the Jewish Home's ongoing commitment to helping residents feel empowered to make a difference. Over the next few weeks, Americans of all political persuasions will be taking part in the hallowed democratic process of choosing our nation's leaders—and this includes the residents of the Jewish Home.

Every fall, the Jewish Home braces itself for flu season by urging residents and staff to get the recommended annual vaccine. This year, compliance is more vital than ever as seasonal influenza dovetails with COVID-19, creating a potential double threat of risk and susceptibility. The overlap complicates the issue in many people's minds, but the mandate for action remains abundantly clear, says Noah Marco, MD, the Jewish Home's chief medical officer. "People might think they're less likely to get influenza because they're social distancing and wearing masks, but that's really the wrong way to look at it," he says. "We're all part of a community, and we all have responsibility to that community. Even if you aren't worried about getting influenza yourself, the possibility of you contracting the virus and then giving it to someone and potentially even killing them is no different now than it was in prior flu seasons." In fact, Dr. Marco continues, now is precisely the time for an elevated level of concern. The coronavirus has disproportionately affected the elderly and those with lower socio-economic status – the same populations disproportionately affected by influenza. "The bottom line is that the likelihood of both viruses running rampant in these communities is higher, so everyone should be getting the flu vaccine in order to help an already at-risk population," he says. There are other compelling reasons to get the flu vaccine this year, as well. Many symptoms of COVID-19 are similar to what patients would experience from the flu, making it difficult to determine which illness is actually the underlying cause. "It's a serious question: How do we figure out whether someone has COVID or influenza?" Dr. Marco says. "But if the person has already had the flu vaccine, it's much less likely to be the flu. When it comes to treatment, that helps a lot in decision making." Coronavirus aside, Dr. Marco points out that there have always been myths circulating that have dampened people's enthusiasm for getting a flu shot. "I've heard it all, from ‘I've had the vaccine in the past and gotten the flu from it,' which is impossible, to ‘It's too late in the season; at this point, it doesn't matter,' which is also untrue," he says. When a vaccine for COVID-19 finally becomes available, there will be a separate set of issues to consider, Dr. Marco notes, such as which shot to get first (flu or coronavirus) and how far apart the two should be spaced out. The answers will rest, in part, on decisions made at the federal level as to how a coronavirus vaccine should be distributed. "There is a National Institutes of Health panel looking at how to set priorities in terms of who gets the COVID-19 vaccine first," he says. "The medical director of Eisenberg Village, Dr. Michael Wasserman, sits on that panel, which means the Jewish Home has a voice in making those difficult decisions." For now, people's focus should be on the flu shot, Dr. Marco says, and the good news is the Jewish Home purchases sufficient amounts of the vaccine to inoculate all residents and staff who request it. "We're coming up on an ideal time to get the flu vaccine," he says. "My general recommendation is to do it in October, so it carries you through the peak of the flu season. But, really, any time is good – the main thing is just to do it!"

I am both extremely excited and honored to join the Los Angeles Jewish Home as the new President and Chief Executive Officer. While I am just starting in this position, I am not new to the tremendous work of the Jewish Home caring for seniors and their families. My association with the Jewish Home began when I was a child and had relatives who were residents of the Jewish Home back when the campus was centered in Boyle Heights. I have also participated in various activities and events with the support groups of the Jewish Home for decades and have served on some of the Jewish Home's boards for the past 8 years. I have also been involved with the Jewish Home professionally as well. I have been the CEO for acute care hospitals in the San Fernando Valley for the past 30 years and have witnessed first-hand the outstanding quality of care provided to all who come in contact with the Los Angeles Jewish Home. Many years ago, I had the good fortune to meet and work with Molly Forrest, who has led the Jewish Home tremendously for the past 24 years and I am pleased to call her my friend. Under Molly's outstanding leadership, the Jewish Home has created innovative programs and services which have led to substantial growth and expansion, while still maintaining the core of what makes the Home so exceptional. I have been asked why I am coming to the Los Angeles Jewish Home at the current time. I had been the CEO of successful hospitals for nearly 30 years and could have remained at Providence Cedars Sinai Medical Center as the CEO and would have been extremely happy and content. However, like many of you, we did not become engaged or involved in the Jewish Home to be satisfied; we have a burning desire to make a difference in the lives of seniors and their families who need our help. There is a significant unmet need in the provision and coordination of care and services to seniors throughout the Los Angeles area. As we will see the number of seniors continue to grow to unparalleled levels, and as their need for more home based and outpatient services increase, we will need to expand our menu and diversity of programs and services to meet this challenge. What will not change is what sets the Jewish Home apart; our excellence, compassion and quality of care we provide to all those we touch. We are blessed to have outstanding staff, whose kindness and concern they bring to each person, every day is unrivaled. It has been our hallmark for 108 years, and is what truly makes the Jewish Home a unique and special place. I am thrilled to be part of the Jewish Home family and I look forward to a great year ahead. I wish you and your loved ones a very happy, healthy and sweet New Year.

The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has complicated romance around the world, but for Howard and Sheila Krupnick, love is everlasting—and a rose called by any other name would smell as sweet. The dedicated couple recently celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary at the Jewish Home with a visit lifted right out of Shakespeare. When they first moved into the Jewish Home, Howard and Sheila were on different campuses due to the specialized care each required. However, the staff at the Home was determined to get them closer to one another, ultimately orchestrating a move that located them both in Eisenberg Village: Howard in the Newman Building and Sheila in the Goldenberg•Ziman Special Care Center. Then COVID-19 struck, limiting the movement of residents as the Jewish Home worked tirelessly keeping staff and residents healthy and safe. Though they were now on the same campus, the threat of the coronavirus kept them confined to their respective rooms. "The Krupnicks have a special connection, and it was tough to see them apart," recalls Kathleen Glass, Eisenberg Village's executive director. "As their anniversary approached, we knew it was time to get creative to find a safe way to bring them together." Given the challenges of COVID-19, the reunion would have to be distanced— neither Howard nor Sheila could risk getting sick. But logistics were on their side: Glass realized that Sheila's location, on the second floor of Goldenberg•Ziman, would give her access to an upper-level outdoor patio—an ideal vantage point from which to gaze down at Howard, who could sit on a chair just below. Then the planning began. "Our social worker went to the store to pick up balloons and flowers," Glass says. "When it was time for the meeting, our team brought the two of them to their designated spots, outfitted in PPE. Howard had a face shield, and Sheila had a mask, but the protective equipment didn't stop them from blowing kisses to each other." What unfolded next was what Glass calls the couple's Romeo and Juliet moment. Howard asked Sheila if she would marry him again; her resounding "yes" was strong and steady as it carried down from the floor above. Extending the magic of the moment, Eisenberg Village Campus Rabbi Ron Goldberg led the couple in renewing their marriage vows. "It was really beautiful on so many levels," Glass notes. "Sheila has dementia, but when she saw Howard, she absolutely lit up. You could see it from two stories away." Glass says the event also provided a necessary boost for members of the Jewish Home staff. "Watching them together made a real impact on our team. We must face COVID-19 every day. Seeing Howard and Sheila interact was heartwarming and renewed our motivation to do what we do best: taking care of our residents and helping them fill their lives with as much love as possible during a time when so many things are being taken away from them because of the pandemic." For Glass, the celebration was a reminder of another famous literary pronouncement, this one penned by the father of English literature, Geoffrey Chaucer. "Howard and Sheila's story has an important lesson for every one of us," Glass says. As Chaucer wrote,"Love conquers all!"

As any gardener knows, seeds can take root and thrive even under the most challenging conditions. Although the coronavirus pandemic has made socializing extremely difficult for Jewish Home residents, many have nurtured robust new friendships thanks to an innovative partnership between the Home and Builders of Jewish Education (BJE), an L.A.-based nonprofit that facilitates Jewish educational experiences from early childhood through high school. Earlier this summer, BJE Experiential Educator Michal Kress reached out to the Home about a potential month-long partnership focused on connecting Jewish teens and Jewish Home residents. The idea was simple: teens and seniors, both stuck at home with few outlets for socializing, could meet over Zoom and get to know one another. The result would be strong intergenerational relationships that fostered Jewish continuity and enriched all the participants' lives. Stacy Orbach, director of volunteer services at the Jewish Home, was enthusiastic about the program from the get-go. "Our residents have been lonely during the pandemic, and this presented such a wonderful opportunity for them to bond with people in the community," she says. "It also enabled residents to share their knowledge with teens – to pass on the wisdom they've accumulated throughout the course of their lives." The program paired eight Jewish Home residents with 15 teens from high schools across the city including De Toledo, Milken, Shalhevet, Cleveland and Notre Dame. During weekly Zoom chats lasting between 30 minutes and an hour, the residents and teens learned about each other, swapped stories, and even studied together. "One of the residents who participated was a Spanish teacher, and he started teaching the kids Spanish on his Zoom!" Orbach says. In addition to the Zoom calls, the teens also attended workshops to talk about what their time with the residents had taught them. The goal, says BJE's Kress, was to focus on the Jewish value of "lizkor" (to remember). "We asked the teens to think about what the Jewish Home residents want their legacy to be for future generations." At the end of the program, the teens wrote reflections about their experiences. "Over the past few weeks, I have learned not to take any moment for granted and to be thankful for the opportunities that come my way," wrote one student. "My partner showed me that, even through this very difficult time for all of us, we must be grateful because we are fortunate to be healthy and safe." Residents who participated used iPads donated by Jewish Home supporters, who purchased the equipment precisely so seniors at the Home could stay linked to the outside world. "The past months have been hard on our residents, and things like having ‘face-to-face' conversations can make such a difference," says Corey Slavin, the Home's vice president of community engagement. "With the iPads, our donors are helping residents stay happy, healthy, and optimistic about the future." Although summer has come to a close and the new academic year has begun, a number of the students plan to stay in touch with their new Jewish Home friends even as they balance schoolwork and other activities. "We had to say our official ‘goodbyes' before the kids returned to their classes," Orbach says, "but I've heard from a number of participants in the program that these friendships were built to last!" For more information about exploring partnerships like this with the Jewish Home, contact Stacy Orbach at (818) 774-3219 or [email protected].

Each year Dean and Brooke Collins, ages 11 and 9, make a donation in honor of their great-grandfather, Izzy Slome. This year, due to COVID-19, these young philanthropists chose the Los Angeles Jewish Home to be the recipient of $500 worth of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Dean and Brooke wanted to donate to an organization in need, and determined that the Los Angeles Jewish Home's staff, true superheroes, would be the recipient of their generosity. "I wanted to donate PPE to the superheroes at the Jewish Home for the Aging, because I really respect how they are risking their lives to protect families' elderly loved ones," says Brooke. Her older brother Dean added that helping others is important, "because we are not perfect and it's important to do good deeds to make up for this, and also because Judaism teaches us to do Tikkun Olam and repair the world." Brooke and Dean came to drop off the PPE at the entrance of the Jewish Home on a very hot Tuesday in July with their mother, Dr. Brynie Collins, a Pediatric Gastroenterologist. They were also joined by their Pediatrician Dr. Daniel Bruckner, who the children fondly refer to as "Dr. Danny." Dr. Bruckner has been donating PPE to the Home, and Brooke and Dean "felt very proud to deliver the PPE, especially to help out Dr. Danny, too." Their special gift and the love with which they gave it to the Home, is significant, helping the Home's staff to continue to provide the best quality of care, as safely as possible. If you are interested in donating to the Home, please contact Corey Slavin, Vice President, Community Engagement, at 818.774.3031 or [email protected].