It takes a village to create a place as special as the Jewish Home. One of the things that makes our village so effective — and so extraordinary — is the high caliber of our dedicated volunteers. Every year, they donate over 22,000 hours to the Home, assisting with everything from mail delivery and speech therapy, to playing music for residents and facilitating group activities. Their energy and passion infuse the Home with a remarkable spirit that builds community and positively impacts so many seniors' lives. The value of our volunteers is priceless, and I consider myself fortunate to partner with such an incredible group of individuals. Working together, we are able to serve thousands of elderly men and women in the San Fernando Valley, on the Westside, and across Los Angeles. Volunteers enrich our programs and services — and they, in turn, are enriched by the time they spend giving back to the Home and to the many other charitable organizations they support. Research shows that volunteering actually makes us feel like we have more time; it helps us to feel loved; it builds important skills and experiences; and it can even keep our bodies healthier. The impulse to volunteer may be philanthropic, but data tells us the benefits are even greater than the investment required. Albert Einstein noted that we are on this earth for a short visit, not knowing exactly why. Yet, as we make it through the successes and stumbles of daily life, one thing we do know is that we can be here for the sake of each other. By supporting friends and strangers, we make things easier and better for everyone. Our volunteers understand this well. They join their many hands to spread joy throughout the Home, bringing smiles to the faces of our residents. Every week, I am moved by scenes I see unfolding on our campuses, as volunteers offer the simple gift of love and residents positively glow with happiness. Whether you are a long-time volunteer or new to the Jewish Home family fold, thank you for your wonderful contributions. If you have not yet experienced the thrill of volunteering, either at the Home or anywhere else, I invite you to give it a try. I can promise you will not regret it.Molly ForrestPresident-CEO

The Jewish Home is a destination for Los Angeles-area seniors—an environment offering warmth, caring, compassion, and safety. For many seniors, including Edith Frankie, Linda Frankes, and Mildred Moccio, it is also a point of embarkation: a place from which to set out on exciting journeys of growth and self-discovery. In June, all three women celebrated their adult bat mitzvahs at the Home, culminating a period of intensive preparation and personal exploration. It was Edith, recalls Rabbi Karen Bender, the Home's Skirball Director of Spiritual Life for the Home's Grancell Village campus, who provided the initial inspiration for the bat mitzvah event. "Edith is a Holocaust survivor, and she had sponsored an honorary bat mitzvah for her six-year-old sister, who never made it out of the camps," Rabbi Bender says. "One day, I suggested she consider having her own bat mitzvah, and she quickly embraced the idea." From there, Edith picks up the narrative. "I was worried at first because I don't read Hebrew, but Rabbi Bender was very encouraging about how I could learn," she says. "I thought, ‘What a terrific way to get revenge on Hitler: to deepen my understanding of Jewish history and culture!'" Once Edith was on board, Rabbi Bender extended the offer to her Jewish Home congregants at large. Linda and Mildred stepped up immediately. "I've always had a deep interest in Judaism, but I grew up during a time when girls were less involved in Jewish religious life, plus my family lived far away from the closest Jewish community," Linda notes. "Now that I'm at the Home, I have time to do what I want to do, and I decided to join Rabbi Bender, Edith, and Mildred every week to learn. It was absolutely wonderful." Mildred's path to the bimah was different. Earlier this year, at 82 years old, she converted to Judaism from her native Catholic faith in a Jewish Home ceremony led by Rabbi Bender. Her daughter had converted decades earlier, and Mildred ultimately felt the same call. "It took me 82 years to move closer to God, but Judaism has changed my life and way of thinking," she says. With the conversion behind her, she set her sights on a new horizon: gaining something else in common with her 22-year-old granddaughter Payton, who was raised Jewish and had a bat mitzvah at the age of 13. "My mom and my daughter share an incredible connection, and my mom actually took Payton's Hebrew name during her conversion," says Debbie Doll Breindel, Mildred's daughter. "Now with the bat mitzvah, this whole set of experiences has been so amazing for both of them. I'm incredibly grateful to the Jewish Home for making it possible. My mom living there has been the best thing that's happened to our family." Edith's son Richard is equally effusive. "My mom has a smile that is always shining, both on her face and in her heart," he says. "Even though she moved into the Home right when she lost my dad—the love of her life for 65 years—and didn't know anyone else, she quickly embraced her life there and started attending services every Friday night and Saturday morning. Her bat mitzvah at the Home is a remarkable accomplishment my wife and I will always treasure, and one that I know my dad would have loved to see." Edith, Linda, and Mildred's admirers extend well beyond their immediate families. "It was a privilege to attend the b'not mitzvah of these very special Jewish Home residents," says Andrew Berman, chair of the Home's board of directors. "I'm thrilled they were able to experience the joy and fulfillment of this monumental event at this stage of their extraordinary lives." The women each received a tallit for the occasion, and they wrote divrei torahs (brief commentaries on the weekly Torah portion) to give during the service. Their speeches reflected the insights they gleaned during five months of dedicated study with Rabbi Bender. "The learning process was so rewarding for these women, and for me," Rabbi Bender says. "It was very touching, and a great honor, to shepherd them through this process. These are people who would probably never have done this in any other setting, but because they're at the Jewish Home, they had the opportunity. It's just incredible." Rabbi Bender points out that, in addition to engaging in a life-affirming act for themselves, Edith, Linda, and Mildred have also helped blaze a trail for other seniors like them. "The moral of this story is that you can keep stretching and growing at any age," she says. "It's never too late to learn something new."

April is National Poetry Month, celebrating an artform that can be evocative, challenging, and inspirational. In honor of this month, we filmed three Jewish Home residents talking about their interactions with poetry—how it inspires them and sparks their creativity even when encountered later in life—and reading original works. An increasing body of evidence documents characteristics of poetry that go well beyond beauty. Indeed, more and more research highlights the positive effects of creative writing on people’s physiological, emotional, and cognitive well-being. In recent years, scientists have used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and other instruments to examine the ways in which poetry affects the human brain. Among their discoveries: When we think about a poem’s meaning, it activates particular parts of our brains – some of the same parts we rely on to interpret our everyday reality. An article in the highly regarded Harvard Business Review notes that poetry “teaches us to wrestle with and simplify complexity.” As it sparks our creativity, it can also help us foster a deeper sense of empathy, enabling us to understand the feelings and motivations of our family, friends, coworkers, and community members. Studies show that poems help us in another critical way, too. They cause us to hear words differently and to see them in a fresh light, expanding our ability to use and process language. This stimulates brain function and, ultimately, strengthens brain health. At the Jewish Home, providing an outlet for creative pursuits like poetry, photography, and music allows seniors to broaden their horizons, to push past mental barriers, and to engage with their peers. Active brains can mean happy lives – seniors excited to learn and to embrace the world around them. Jewish Home staff and volunteers encourage seniors to compose, to paint, or to take up any similar activity that can lift spirits and potentially forge new neural pathways. The Home is fortunate to count among our residents aspiring poets at all levels of experience. Ellen Meli has been writing poetry since her youth; Nyla Lyon worked in the entertainment business and started experimenting with verse later in life. Both enjoy shaping words and phrases to express themselves, and both see putting pen to paper as stimulating and therapeutic. Their paths to poetry were different, but their conclusions are the same: Creativity can be a blessing at any age. View Nyla Lyon reading her poem, “The Fireflies’ Glow,” Ellen Meli reading her work titled “How Old?” and Mack Stevens reading an award-winning poem by former resident Shelley Greenspan (of blessed memory) called “See Me With Your Eyes Closed” in three more inspiring videos below.Mack Stevens Reads the Poem “See Me With Your Eyes Closed”Ellen Meli Reads Her Poem “How Old?”Nyla Lyon Reads Her Poem “The Fireflies’ Glow”

Many seniors rely on a broad array of prescription medicines to help their bodies function smoothly and efficiently. Whether they are taking antibiotics, cholesterol-lowering medications, or painkillers, seniors can benefit enormously from the groundbreaking innovation of research scientists and pharmaceutical manufacturers. Often, and for various reasons, seniors have an overabundance of these medications. Perhaps their physicians prescribed painkillers to take on an as-needed basis, and their pain was brought under control before the medicine was fully used. Maybe they misplaced a bottle of pills, only to unearth them later and find they had expired. Increasingly, pharmacists and other medical professionals are realizing seniors need better information about how to dispose of leftover or excess medicine in a safe and effective way. "Prescription drugs can be dangerous," notes Robert Shmaeff, Director of Pharmacy at the Jewish Home. "Storing unneeded prescription medication at home after completing the prescribed regimen exposes them to children and other people who may not be aware of the risks they present." Fortunately, finding appropriate methods of medication disposal is getting easier. The California State Board of Pharmacy has created an online database of locations offering drug-take-back services statewide. This convenient new resource promotes environmental protection (pills disposed of improperly can contaminate the local water supply) and also helps stop prescription drug abuse. Determining where to dispose of unwanted medications depends, in part, on the type of pills being thrown away. For instance, registered receptacles can collect prescription drugs, including controlled substances, as well as over-the-counter medicine. However, auto-injectors such as EpiPens require alternate handling. Consumers can visit the California Department of Public Health website for more details. In addition to the pharmacy board and state public health department, patients can turn to a variety of other resources for advice on getting rid of medication properly such as the federal Drug Enforcement Administration website and "Don’t Rush to Flush," a site administered by the California Product Stewardship Council that has a wealth of information about responsible drug disposal. These resources are emerging at just the right time: A recent poll by the University of Michigan shows Americans between the age of 50 and 80 receive too little guidance about what to do with medicine they no longer need. Nearly half of survey respondents reported having medication left over; 86 percent of those individuals said they kept the medicine in case their pain returned. "The fact that so many older adults report having leftover opioid pills is a big problem, given the risk of abuse and addiction with these medications," Alison Bryant, Ph.D., senior vice president of research for AARP, said in a press release about the study. The bottom line: Education about what to do with these pills is a critical part of the formula for a healthy society—and vital for keeping seniors active and thriving into their golden years.

Maintaining memory and other cognitive skills is a fundamental challenge for aging brains. Many seniors address this challenge by seeking intellectual stimulation – adhering to a “use it or lose it” philosophy that has them tearing through books of Sudoku puzzles or laboring over crosswords from the Sunday New York Times. Yet, a recent study by a team of Scottish researchers suggests that these types of brain training exercises may not fend off age-related mental decline. Published in leading research journal The BMJ, the study (entitled, “Intellectual Engagement and Cognitive Ability in Later Life: Longitudinal, Prospective Study”) looked at 498 volunteers, all born in 1936 and living independently in northeast Scotland. Tracking them from the age of 11, when they each took an intelligence test, scientists measured their information processing speed and verbal memory over a 15-year period after they had reached late middle age. Results showed that mental stimulation does not directly prevent cognitive decline. However, there was a bright spot: The study did seem to indicate that investment in intellectual activities throughout the course of one’s life, starting with the younger years, can enhance cognition overall. “These findings are interesting, but I don’t believe they argue against seniors participating in activities that make them think,” says Noah Marco, M.D., Executive Director of the Brandman Research Institute and Chief Medical Officer of the Los Angeles Jewish Home. “The satisfaction that comes with accomplishment can trigger feelings of well-being, and research shows that seniors’ emotional health is linked to longevity.” The Scottish study was led by Roger Staff, an honorary lecturer at the University of Aberdeen and head of physics at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. He and his team acknowledge that individual personality may play a part in how much effort seniors put into puzzles, and that the combination of personality and effort could influence cognitive ability, ultimately, changing the study’s results. For his part, Dr. Marco plans to continue giving residents of the Home the same advice he has always offered. “Seniors should do things they love, and they should pursue those activities with determination, passion, and joy,” he says. “Filling their days with happiness will make every year worth more.”

Photographic images can tell a compelling story. But if a picture is worth 1,000 words, it is only because of the talent of the person behind the camera. The Jewish Home's Photography Club is a case in point. Led by volunteer instructor Ron Cooper, a retired dentist and lifelong photography buff, the club enables residents of the Home to tap into their creativity and strengthen their powers of self-expression. The club meets weekly at Eisenberg Village and is open to residents of all skill levels. L.A. native Ron began taking pictures in grammar school; by the time he was a teenager, he was catching a bus from Westwood to a storefront on Western Avenue run by Otto Rothschild, a prominent performing arts photographer. "I would hang around the dark room and learn how to print photos," Ron remembers. "Ever since I was little, photography has helped shape my view of the world. The fact is that once you develop the skill, you see things better even when you're not taking pictures." Once he stopped practicing dentistry, Ron began looking for ways to get involved in the community. Sharing his passion for photography seemed like a good way to give back. He had heard about the Home from board chair Andrew Berman, and from the moment he walked on campus to teach, he knew it was a perfect fit. "I walked into the Pepp Center and immediately felt comfortable," Ron recalls. "Gertrude and Ray Pepp were among my parents' closest friends." Ron has been delighted by the interest and excitement of Photography Club members like Marilyn Weiner and Ray Joseph. "Based on the ideas they have and the questions they ask, I'm learning a lot myself," he notes. "And, through my interactions with them, I can tell the Home offers such a healthy and nurturing environment." For Ray, who moved into the Home three years ago, the Photography Club has been a wonderful way to continue a hobby that stretches back decades. "I took pictures semi-professionally for years—submitting them to magazines and selling them to newspapers," he says. "At the Home, I'm using an iPhone to shoot the statues situated all across campus." Marilyn is focused on photo editing—a particular expertise of Cooper's. "We sit together at the computer, and I teach her different editing techniques," he says. "She's getting good and can now do some of it on her own."Eventually, club members hope to showcase their work in an exhibit at the Home. "I'm eager for people to see what we're producing," Ray says. "Once they take a look at how good iPhone cameras are, and how easy they are to use, they might decide to take up photography, as well!"

Dr. Noah Marco, the Home's Chief Medical Officer, appeared on the Who Cares? Podcast presented by Honor. The podcast explores the future of home care through engaging interviews with thought leaders and innovators in the senior care space. Dr. Marco discussed current innovations in care for older adults and what's needed most, industry-wide, to improve post-acute care and wellness support Download the podcast on iTunes at https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/innovative-l-a-jewish-home-dr-noah-marco/id1436238216?i=1000419806722&mt=2 or on Spotify at https://open.spotify.com/episode/6LO4f5JnbtyuHsDMkAk2Ie

Every year the Home chooses two staff members—one from the Eisenberg Village Campus and one from the Grancell Village Campus—who exemplify the best of our team, the people who work toward fulfillment of our mission and demonstrate our core values each and every day.The employees of the year are chosen by a vote of the Home Team Council. The Council is made up of employees from different departments at each campus. They were invited to represent their peers in electing new Home Team members and in selecting the employee of the year.“We are very fortunate to work with truly incredible people all throughout the Home,” said Alyssa Alderman, the Home's Vice President of Human Resources.Scarlett Alvarez, Eisenberg Village Scarlett has been with the Home for over 15 years, working in in the same department since she started. She has held different positions in different buildings. Scarlett is always willing to take on extra shifts, always with a smile. The residents love her and look forward to seeing that big smile as she engages with them. She knows every aspect of her job and does it with enthusiasm. She clearly loves what she does and leads by example as she always encourages her co-workers to do their best. Many new nurses look to her for guidance. She is a fantastic C.N.A., a Med-Tech and an R.N.A! Tammy Martinez, Grancell Village Tammy began her career at the Home almost 15 years ago as an Administrative Assistant to the Director of Nursing. She has truly been the right hand of all the people she has reported to over the years—sometimes as many as four people at one time! Tammy is currently in the JEK Administration department. She knows the ins and outs of every policy and procedure related to nursing, clinical, infection prevention, safety, maintenance, and the list goes on and on. She is always willing to help every building at every campus, especially during annual surveys. She is a go-to person for many staff members across all campuses. Tammy has received several “Home Runs” based on great appreciation for her assistance. She is truly amazing at what she does!Congratulations to our Employees of the Year!

Since the opening of the Jewish Home’s Brandman Centers for Senior Care, a Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), participating seniors and their families have experienced a broad range of benefits. Now those benefits have been measured, thanks to the first national caregiver survey conducted by the National PACE Association (NPA). The results are clear: The Brandman Centers are making an important difference in their members’ everyday lives. PACE provides high-quality, comprehensive medical and social services to seniors aged 55 and older, promoting their independence in the comfort of their own homes, even when health challenges make them eligible for nursing home care. The Brandman Centers offers a full continuum of services including primary medical care on-site, preventive health services, rehabilitation, social work services, nutritional counseling, medications, supplies, Adult Day Health Care, and transportation to and from the Center. The NPA survey included 20 PACE programs across the United States, gauging a metric known as “caregiver burden” — essentially, the level of stress experienced by the men and women (often adult children or other loved ones) who assist seniors in meeting their day-to-day needs. Across the board, the Brandman Centers outshined its peers. “Our caregiver burden score was nearly 50 percent less after participant enrollment, meaning caregivers were healthier, happier, and had more time for themselves,” says Susie Fishenfeld, the Brandman Centers’ Executive Director. “This was a higher reduction when compared to the national results. And one hundred percent of respondents reported our program helped them to be better caregivers, which ultimately positively impacts the many seniors we serve.” The survey provided detailed feedback about what makes the Brandman Centers such a positive force in the community. Respondents praised the “wonderful support system,” the “excellent attention” given to seniors, and the convenience of having doctors and other medical services in one location. With assistance from the Brandman Centers, notes one typical comment, “I had a few hours to work without interruption and without worrying that my mother is unsafe or lonely. PACE is a blessing to our family!” Jewish Home CEO-President Molly Forrest noted these responses which reinforce how vital the Home and its programs are for seniors and their caregivers throughout Los Angeles. “Helping to care for a senior is a great privilege, but also a huge responsibility,” she says. “The Brandman Centers is a critical ally caregivers can rely on for compassion, understanding, and resources.” The NPA survey was administered by Vital Research, in conjunction with the Brandman Centers, in fall 2018.