The transition from a private home or apartment to a senior living facility requires physical, emotional, and, perhaps more importantly, attitudinal adjustments. It also requires generous time to discuss, evaluate, and then make the move. Experts agree that the key for a successful move is understanding that the change itself can result in an overall better quality of life. It is best to keep in your thoughts and your discussions that the purpose of transitioning to senior care is to enhance their physical, psychological, and social well-being. The Challenge of Change Change is difficult at any age. Consider how good it feels to return home, even after an enjoyable vacation. Our first response is usually "it feels so good to be home." That's because our minds and bodies experience new environments as an additional stressor. New places put new demands on us, requiring us to remember where we are, to learn how to access resources, and to make new plans for how our needs will be met. Home, by contrast, is easy and familiar, a place where we accomplish our movements by rote — from getting a drink in the middle of the night to finding the TV remote! The Learning Curve A new setting can take at least three months — and often twice that — for a senior to "learn." Even with full acceptance that the move to a senior living community is a positive step, the learning curve can be steep. The right preparation can make the move a lot easier. One helpful approach is to step back and look at the big picture. Consider or discuss all options and emphasize what will be gained rather than lost. Many tremendous benefits are often hidden or overlooked in the pressure wrought by change. The fact is that most seniors gain rather than lose independence. Transitioning Rather than embarking on a move abruptly, keep an eye out for opportunities to ease gently into a new situation. Try visiting a new residence during the lunch hour. Have lunch there with your parent (or loved one). An ordinary activity, like dining, can help familiarize you or a loved one to a new environment. On your next visit, stay a little longer after a meal. Participate in a social activity that appeals to you, whether it's a game of cards or watching a favorite show or movie. In all interactions with staff, try to be comfortable accepting assistance, and remember they are experienced professionals who are committed to their work. An Emphasis on New Freedoms After making a move, seniors sometimes compare their new homes to living on a cruise ship. It's true! You move in, the room is fresh and clean, and the place is yours. Meals and snacks are provided for you around the clock. You have the opportunity to take a variety of educational, artistic, or recreational classes. Exercise classes or individual workouts can restore or improve health. Spiritual activities and support can provide a new sense of fellowship and well-being. Through social opportunities, new friendships are developed and old friendships rediscovered. Transportation worries are over, and life opens up in new ways. Seniors are now free to take in a movie or museum, or to go shopping whenever they like. For many who have been struggling to keep up their own homes, it is a tremendous relief to have someone else take care of everything. In an age when more and more senior living facilities are sensitive to the needs of the whole person, seniors are leading far more enriched lives full of meaningful activities that make each new day an opportunity to enjoy all that life has to offer. A 40-plus-year veteran of senior housing and healthcare issues, Molly Forrest is the Chief Executive Officer-President of the Los Angeles Jewish Home, one of the foremost multi-level senior living communities in the U.S. and the largest single-source provider of senior housing in Los Angeles.

With summer already here, Associates-IMC is busy planning its 86th Tree of Life Luncheon to be held on Wednesday, August 10, at The Beverly Wilshire Hotel, 9500 Wilshire Boulevard, Beverly Hills. This prominent auxiliary support group of the Los Angeles Jewish Home will be honoring two exceptional individuals whose commitment to the Home and Jewish community is unparalleled. Rosanna Hirshon Bogart will be honored with the Zelda White “Woman of the Year” Achievement Award, and Bob Hirsch will be recognized with this year’s Humanitarian Award. Rosanna Hirshon Bogart has tirelessly supported the Jewish Home for many years and served as president of Associates-IMC from 2003-2007. She helps provide yearly scholarship funds for the Home’s Annenberg School of Nursing. Rosanna is a member in the Tiffany Society, the Marilyn & Monty Hall Statesman’s Society, the Century Club, and the board of governors. Having gifted the Home with the Rose Garden Wall on the Grancell Village campus in memory of her parents and late husband, Arnold “Bogie” Bogart, Rosanna is an active and supportive executive advisor of the Associates-IMC board of directors. Her community involvement includes her support of the Child and Family Guidance Center, American Technion Society and the L.A. Opera. She sits on the board of The Music Guild and is an active member of the California Retired Teachers Association. Bob Hirsch has served on the Jewish Home’s building and facilities management committee and as a past chair of the Home’s board of directors, on which he continues to serve. He was on the Home’s executive committee, the building and safety committee, the council of past presidents, and the Annenberg School of Nursing board. Bob is a member of the Marilyn & Monty Hall Statesman’s Society, Century Club, Legacy Circle, the board of governors, and The Executives’ Generation to Generation. He recently donated over two acres of land adjacent to Grancell Village currently being developed as the Hirsch Family Campus. Bob’s extensive community involvement includes being a board member of Alzheimer’s Los Angeles, as well as working with the Skirball Cultural Center, Beit T’Shuvah, the Shoah Foundation, de Toledo High School, and the Jewish Community Foundation. The Tree of Life Luncheon will begin at 10:00 a.m. with a boutique featuring many diversified vendors. The luncheon will start at 11:45, when Madeleine Rosenberg, president of Associates-IMC, will be welcoming all the attendees. Florence Gorlin, luncheon chair, is looking forward to introducing the special guest speaker, Jeanne Phillips, also known as “Dear Abby,” the world’s most widely syndicated columnist. The Honorary Luncheon Chair is Renee Kumetz. Honorary chairs include Barbara Miller-Fox Abramoff, Janet and Jake Farber, Marion Goldenfeld, Earl Greinetz, Regina Scheer, and Joan and Arnold Seidel. Event chairs are Terri Bloomgarden, Joy Brook, Donna Burstyn, Roberta Delevie, Earl Greinetz, Claire Kunin, Diane Miller, Sheila Rose, Nancy Salka, Regina Scheer, Melinda Seltzer, Sandra Stackler, and Gloria Stoddard. Tree of Life Luncheon tickets are $165 per person, including parking, and are the perfect opportunity to support the Jewish Home and recognize our deserving honorees. The proceeds will bring in much-needed funds to care for the 1,000 on-campus residents besides sustaining 5,000 seniors the Home serves each year through its extraordinary continuum of care. We welcome your support and hope to see you at the luncheon. For more information, please contact the Associates-IMC office at 818-774-3375 or [email protected].

The Jewish Home’s Annenberg School of Nursing (ASN) began its vocational nurse program in 2007. The 12-month, full-time program includes classroom and skills lab instruction as well as clinical training at local hospitals and other sites. A vocational nurse, or VN, is trained to administer medication, change dressings, monitor vital sign, and maintain patient charts. The program prepares students for the NCLEX-PN® licensing examination. ASN is currently accepting applications for the Class of 2017, scheduled to begin in September. Information is available online at www.asn.edu or by attending an Open House event, which will be held on July 19th and August 2nd. While someone considering a career as a vocational nurse has many schools to choose from, there are some very good reasons to choose ASN. First of all, it’s a program of the non-profit Los Angeles Jewish Home, an organization that has provided excellence in senior healthcare since 1912. The relationship between the Home and ASN is a major reason many students choose ASN for VN, nurse assistant (CNA) and home health aide (HHA) studies. According to the VN Class of 2016, additional reasons to choose ASN are: facilities • accreditation • financial aid package • low tuitionfaculty • NCLEX-PN® pass rate • employment resourceexcellent clinical sites • graduation rates • small class size Alumni of ASN’s VN program agree. “The small class size provided a fantastic experience for me, and faculty and staff were always available to help with anything we needed,” says Joselyn Shmaeff, BSN, MBA, RN. After licensure, the Class of 2011 graduate went on to work as a LVN in skilled nursing at the Home, in pediatric home health and outpatient wound care, and to teach VN students. She completed her Bachelor’s in Nursing and attained her RN license in November 2015. Joselyn now works full-time as a RN in the ICU of Valley Presbyterian Hospital. “I owe the Annenberg School of Nursing everything! They provided me with an excellent foundation in nursing and a great starting point to a career with endless possibilities.” Class of 2009 graduate Norma DelCid, BSN, RN, also speaks highly of her experience at ASN. “I could not have chosen a better school to start my life – and I say life because nursing is my life.” Now director of health services at the Home’s Fountainview at Eisenberg Village, Norma explains, “The instructors prepared me for the real world of nursing. I am now a BSN, RN, and I still refer back to what I learned at ASN, whether it be documentation, assessment, or bedside manner. The faculty and staff encouraged me to believe in myself and molded me into the nurse I am today.” ASN director Marie Cordeiro has some thoughts about the Annenberg experience and how it can lead to a successful career in nursing. “Our curriculum is comprehensive – we cover the full journey of life, from birth to death. We offer excellent resources, such as our skills and computer labs.” The skills lab features medical manikins that provide a way for students to practice inserting gastric tubes for feeding, giving injections, and wound care. A special maternity manikin, Coco, allows students to practice delivering babies and providing post-delivery care. “We’ve also added two clinical sites to our rotation,” adds Marie. “Kaiser Permanente, a medical-surgical hospital, currently provides our students with hands-on experience in their maternal/child clinics. ASN has been approved to utilize all Kaiser clinics as clinical sites in the future. Our students will be rotating through Pacifica Hospital, where they will care for patients in the sub-acute unit. These patients may be on ventilators, have tracheotomies, or have gastric feeding tubes.” At Mission Community Hospital, ASN students work in the out-patient surgery department, where they see a wide variety of procedures, and in ICU. “Our students are exposed to all components of nursing, and have the ability to begin a career in any area of nursing.” Nursing continues to be a fast-growing field. The Bureau of Labor Statistics states that nursing, and particularly vocational nursing, will grow by 25% by the year 2022. According to Marie, “This is significant. As our baby boomers age, the “oldest of the old” will become the largest segment of our population. They will also be the biggest consumers of healthcare. There are not enough RN schools to fill all the spots that will be needed. And, home health care will continue to grow, which is a natural fit for a VN.” The field of nursing is one that offers challenges and provides great rewards. If you are considering nursing as a career, consider the Annenberg School of Nursing. For more information, please register to attend an Open House by calling Cindy Thomas at (818) 757-4431 or visiting the ASN website at www.asn.edu.

Members of the Marilyn & Monty Hall Statesman’s Society (MMHSS) look forward to their twice yearly exclusive restaurant events. It’s always a foodie experience and a great time to catch up with friends and with news about the Jewish Home. On June 28th, the group celebrated a uniquely special occasion, the 95th birthday of the Statesman’s Society namesake and founder, Monty Hall. For the past 29 years, Marilyn and Monty Hall have been actively supporting the Jewish Home through their involvement in the MMHSS and their annual Chanukah visits with the residents of the Home’s Eisenberg Village campus. Marilyn and Monty were honored with the Habonim, or Builders, Award at the Home’s Celebration of Life: Reflections 2010 gala. The dinner, held at Madera Kitchen in Hollywood, was replete with a decadent chocolate birthday cake serving the 75 members in attendance and a video presentation showcasing Monty’s years of involvement with the Jewish Home. It was a meaningful and celebratory evening honoring a very special man and his deep and long friendship with the Home. The love in the room for the Halls was palpable. To view photos from the event click here. The MMHSS celebrates donors who give $5,000 or more annually to the Jewish Home. MMHSS members are invited to members-only events at exclusive L.A. restaurants in gratitude for their generous support of the Home. We welcome you to join our community. For more information, contact Lesley Plachta at 818-774-3282 or [email protected].

For one week in June, the Brandman Centers for Senior Care (BCSC), a Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), hosted its second annual Emergency Preparedness Fair. Representatives from the Jewish Home staff, the City of Los Angeles, and the Braille Institute presented helpful information on the proper procedures for emergency situations. The event, planned by the Brandman Center’s high risk committee, gave seniors insight on basic first aid practices, how to prepare your home for an emergency, and strategies for emergency situations in the participants’ homes as well as at the Brandman Center. “At the Brandman Centers, our participants’ wellbeing is our top priority,” Jillian Simon, BCSC director explains. “We believe it is imperative to provide seniors with the tools needed to ensure they are best prepared in the event of an emergency – either on-site or at home. This is why we provide our participants and their families with a variety of educational opportunities and resources. We are thrilled to partner with our local community programs, such as the Braille Institute and the Los Angeles Emergency Management Department, to host our second annual Emergency Preparedness Fair.” During the event, representatives from the Brandman Centers distributed educational handouts and activity sheets, and tested participants on their safety and emergency knowledge. After each presentation, seniors were able to ask the experts questions, share stories and experiences, and examine sample emergency kits and poster displays. Seniors who attended the fair were given a reusable tote bag, magnifying glasses, 7 day pillboxes, and hand sanitizers. “Our goal was to give our participants the tools and knowledge necessary to stay safe in an emergency situation,” says Santos Rodriguez, BCSC’s director of marketing. “Being prepared for earthquakes, fires, and floods is crucial for seniors and people of all ages. Having a plan in case of an emergency could mean the difference between life and death.” City of Los Angeles Emergency Management Coordinator Mona Curry says, “In the case of an emergency situation in greater Los Angeles, first responders might not be able to get to everyone in a timely manner. That’s why it’s important for seniors to know what they can do on their own to protect themselves for a few days.” Brandman Center participant Lee Kramer was delighted with the fair. “This is my first time at the Emergency Preparedness Fair, and I think it has been very helpful,” Lee shares. “I learned quite a few tips for preparing my home for an emergency. In the future, I plan on keeping extra water and clothes in my bedroom so I know I’ll be ready when an emergency occurs.” “It is a big advantage to be a member of the Brandman Centers,” says BCSC participant Azucena Roca. “Not all of this important emergency information is available to seniors who live on their own.” Special thanks to the City of Los Angeles, the Braille Institute, and BCSC’s high risk committee for helping to make the event a success. People who are 55 or older, in need of nursing home level of care, are able to safely live in the community, and are living in the BCSC service area are eligible to become participants. To schedule a first meeting with the Brandman Centers for Senior Care, call 818.774.8444, toll free at 855.774.8444, or via TTY at 818.774.3194 between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The Jewish Home’s Annenberg School of Nursing (ASN) is bustling with activity! As the vocational nurse (VN) Class of 2016 prepares to graduate on July 14th, recruitment is in progress for the Class of 2017. The school is hosting Open House informational events on June 7th, July 19th, and August 2nd. Led by ASN director Marie Cordeiro, MN, RN, these events include an overview of the program, admissions process, financial aid, curriculum, and clinical sites. Cindy Thomas, admissions coordinator, and Barbara Noblet, financial aid director, will be on hand to discuss important enrollment information and answer questions. In order to reach more potential students, ASN is also making Open House info available on their website. Online you can view a PowerPoint presentation, which provides an overview of the program, admissions process, financial aid, curriculum, and clinical sites. You can also see videos featuring current VN students talking about their experiences at Annenberg and sharing the impact ASN has had on their lives. If you’re interested in the field of nursing, ASN offers three ways to begin and expand your career: The 12-month, full-time vocational nurse (VN) program includes classroom and skills lab instruction as well as clinical training at local hospitals and other sites. A VN is trained to administer medication, change dressings, monitor vital signs, and maintain patient charts. The program prepares students for the NCLEX-PN® licensing examination. The 22-day nurse assistant (NA) program focuses on all aspects of patient care. A NA learns to monitor vital signs, perform basic procedures and assist patients with activities of daily living, such as eating, bathing, and shaving. The program is designed to prepare students for passage of a state certification examination. The home health aide (HHA) program trains students to help people who are elderly, disabled, chronically ill, or cognitively impaired. They help with activities, such as bathing and dressing, and provide services such as light housekeeping. This is a five day (40 hours) program. Registration for the nurse assistant and home health aide programs are ongoing. There is a growing demand for nurses at every level as our population continues to age and nurses retire from the field. It is anticipated most future openings will be in nursing care facilities and home health care services. The number of VN positions in particular are expected to grow 25% from 2012 – 2022, faster than all other occupations, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The Annenberg School’s vocational nurse Class of 2017 is scheduled to begin on September 6, 2016. For more information, please register to attend an Open House by calling Cindy Thomas at (818) 757-4431 or visiting the ASN website at www.asn.edu

Short-term in-patient rehabilitation is often a critical factor in recovery after an illness, injury, medical procedure, or hospital stay. Conditions requiring this type of specialized care may include joint replacement rehab, orthopedic post-hospitalization care, stroke and neurological rehab, post-medical and post-surgical recovery, and adaptive equipment instruction and conditioning. For Fernando Carrillo, it was a stroke that eventually brought him to the Transitional Care Unit (TCU) at the Los Angeles Jewish Home. At 66, Fernando is an active man, working fulltime as a buyer in a downtown LA store, exercising at the gym regularly, and enjoying two mile walks and trips to Las Vegas with Lucia, his wife of 14 years. After spending 10 days in the hospital, he was brought to the Home for rehab. With the left side of his body completely effected by the stroke, Fernando spent the first two weeks in rehab in bed, unable to move. “I was also a little confused and had difficulty speaking, eating, and swallowing,” he recalls. His brain returned to full function quickly, and within 10 days he was able to eat and swallow. As he began physical therapy, Fernando’s first question was: How long is it going to take you to fix me? The answer from his inter-disciplinary team: That’s all up to you! “I move fast. I don’t like to sit around and do nothing,” says Fernando. “I was committed to working hard and doing everything I could to improve. And the daily encouragement and support I received from everyone was fantastic!” By the end of the first month, Fernando was able to lift his left leg. Two weeks later, he could lift his left arm. Now he can reach out with it. “The first day I could stand up and take a step, we all cried,” he shares emotionally. After 100 days in short-term rehab at the Jewish Home, Fernando was ready to return to his home and Lucia. “When I came here I couldn’t even move. Considering what I can do now, it’s hard to believe,” Fernando says as he stands and takes several steps. “I consider myself to be at 50% now, and my goal is to be at 90% in five months.” Before leaving TCU, Fernando was referred by his physician to receive in-home physical therapy, and he chose Jewish Home Care Services as his provider… “of course!” After that he will receive outpatient physical therapy as he continues working toward his goal. The rehab team receives the highest marks from Fernando. “This wonderful team has all my respect. I have never seen a group of people so devoted to what they do. If someone is in need of rehab care, they should come here!” Marina Balabanov, DPT and facility rehab director for the Joyce Eisenberg-Keefer Medical Center (JEKMC) at the Home, offers some insight into what makes their team so successful. “Each rehab program is individually designed by a supervising physical therapist, taking into consideration the patient’s medical history, current medical problem, and prior and current functional status,” she explains. “These programs are reviewed weekly with consideration of new ideas and recommendations from team members. We have state-of-the-art rehab equipment that helps us implement our programs, provide very high quality care and services, and achieve patient-oriented goals.” The members of Fernando’s rehab team worked diligently to help him return to his home and his life. It was truly a group effort, and the bonds formed are strong, with each person feeling invested in his improvement. “It’s a testament to Mr. Carrillo’s 100% commitment and the dedication of our rehab staff to see such incredible improvement,” says Ilana Grossman, executive director of JEKMC. At the Jewish Home, the approach to recovery and wellness combines onsite medical care, prescribed therapies, personal coaching and counseling, and excellent nutrition. We direct all efforts toward promoting healing, building confidence, and restoring independence. For more information, please call Connections to Care, our toll-free hotline, at (855) 227-3745 or visit our website at www.lajh.org.

This year, Assembly Bill 1319, also known as the Medically Needy Program Extension is being reintroduced as Assembly Bill 1655. AB 1655 will be supported by California State Assemblyman Bill Dodd. If you are interested in giving aid to California’s Medically Needy beneficiaries, we suggest doing one of the following: Write and mail a personal letter to your California Representative. If you don’t know who your representative is, click here to find out.Write and mail a personal letter to Bill 1655's supportersAssemblyman Bill Dodd at:District Office:725 Main Street Suite 206Woodland, CA 95695Tel: (530) 662-7867Fax: (530) 662-6370or Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez at:District Office:1350 Front StreetSuite 6022San Diego, CA 92101Tel: 619-338-8090Fax: 619-338-8099Spread the word to your friends and family members about our cause and get them involved.

Last week, Jewish Home seniors gathered at the Schulman Activities Center for a special Yom Ha'Shoah— or in English, Holocaust and Heroism Remembrance Day— program. Skirball Director of Spiritual Life, Grancell Village Rabbi Karen Bender led the seniors in prayer and song. During the program, six seniors came to the front of the room to light six candles, each candle representing one million of the six million Jews who died in the Holocaust. Several survivors were in attendance. Some shared poetry, sang songs, and spoke about their experiences. Rabbi Bender emphasized the importance of Yom Ha'Shoah is remembering. "Each year on this special day, we must remember the victims and the heroes of this catastrophe and we must make sure that a tragedy like this will never happen again."