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From the earliest days of the pandemic, the Brandman Centers for Senior Care (BCSC), a Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), distinguished itself as one of the jewels in the crown of the Los Angeles Jewish Home. While many other, similar programs across the country closed their doors as COVID-19 reached crisis proportions, BCSC took all of the extra safety steps required to stay open, ensuring vulnerable seniors had ongoing access to the center, as well as critical care through the clinic, rehabilitation services and much more. "The program is called 'all-inclusive care,' and it really is," notes Susie Fishenfeld, BCSC executive director. "Despite the obstacles presented by COVID, we were able to get people medication and supplies at home; to bring them into our center—of course, following distancing and safety protocols—to keep them socializing; and to prepare stimulating, energizing activities to help them stay vibrant. What a difference it made for our seniors, their families, and caregivers during this difficult time!" Now in its ninth year, BCSC provides adult day healthcare and a full suite of healthcare services that enable seniors to live independently in the comfort of their own homes even when health challenges make them eligible for nursing home care. It has proven to be a winning formula that continues to garner praise from the seniors being served. In fact, the results are just in from a comprehensive customer satisfaction survey, conducted by noted social science research organization Vital Research, showing overall satisfaction with BCSC is at an impressive 90 percent. From meals to medical care, social workers to healthcare specialists, and transportation to activities, BCSC participants praised the program's offerings and expressed appreciation for the support they receive. "Our goal is to make seniors feel safe and well cared-for, and I am deeply gratified we have been able to deliver what they need throughout the pandemic," Susie says. "Whether we have been doing onsite therapy or using telehealth to reach seniors who haven't been able to come to the center, we have made it our mission to reach as many people in our community as possible." In recognition of its ongoing success, this year BCSC's PACE program was honored with the prestigious Organization of the Year award from the California National Association of Social Workers. The recognition, Susie says, is testament to BCSC's talented and dedicated team. "Throughout all of the COVID surges, and regulatory restrictions, our staff were here at BCSC, demonstrating their commitment to our participants and their families and their belief that our seniors deserve the very best care possible," she says. Senior populations have been on the rise nationwide for years, and with demand for BCSC services continuing to spike, the Jewish Home is expanding the program—which has been based in the San Fernando Valley—to LA's Westside. The newest BCSC facility will be located in the heart of West LA's Pico-Robertson neighborhood (9800 West Pico Blvd.) and is set to open later this summer. "We can't wait to bring our award-winning service to the Westside, as we seek to meet the needs of seniors across West LA and the surrounding areas of Los Angeles," Susie says. "We're busy recruiting staff, completing construction, and preparing to welcome our first participants, hopefully by July 1." To watch our new BCSC video and learn more about the PACE program, click here. For information about program participation or employment opportunities, contact us at (818) 774-8444.

Ingenuity during a crisis can yield innovative results. That's what Rabbi Karen Bender, Skirball Director of Spiritual Life and the residents of the Los Angeles Jewish Home have discovered as they maintain social distancing during the COVID-19 lockdown. As Rabbi Bender began to consider how to convey her weekly in-person Shabbat services, she realized the most formidable challenge was how to lead the service without interacting with residents. Bender serves as the rabbi for the Home's Grancell Village (GV) campus, which includes the Joyce Eisenberg-Keefer Medical Center and Mark Taper Skilled Nursing Building. "If I'm just sitting in front of a camera praying at residents, I'm going to lose their interest," she says. To effectively engage Jewish Home residents, Bender recalls asking herself, "What if I tried to convey the essence of Shabbat, Shabbat's spirit?" Earlier in the year, she had successfully led the annual Seder service via video broadcast on closed circuit television from her office. "The fact that the Seder went fine, led me to see the possibilities of how to provide our services during lockdown," she says. "If we can do this, what else can we do?" "For Shabbat evenings, I decided to show the residents something different and record the videos from my house and outside in my yard with my kids," she says. "I'm bringing the residents into my home so they feel like they are in my living room or baking challah in my kitchen. The hope is to trigger memories for them." Before she knew it, Bender had become a director-writer-editor-producer—a big leap for someone who lacks professional video production experience. In addition, she also serves as the on-camera host, with staff, her children Holden and Shoshie, and dog Minnie as occasional featured guests. She records her Shabbat messages via her iPhone on Wednesday afternoon, often editing them late into the evening. Bender says she's learning as she goes, coming up with solutions as each new challenge emerges. For instance, how to get the residents to feel that they are part of the services? "No one is gathering now," Bender says. "No one receives a compliment on how they read a prayer. No one gets to hold the Torah. They see me, but I can't see them while I record." Bender notes that while she still meets with individual residents in-person, wearing PPE and remaining at a safe distance, the communal experience had disappeared. One remedy was to create the "Spirit of Shabbat" videos, with the goal to reach everyone at the same time. To generate a feeling of inclusiveness, Bender has opened up the process and recorded videos of individual residents saying, "Shabbat shalom." Another resident offered to sing the Jewish hymn, "Heenay Ma Tov" and Bender recorded her six feet apart in her room at JEK. She merges these videos into her Friday "Spirit of Shabbat" episodes. In future videos, she hopes to include staff and residents more frequently to help "create community." Bender also plans to record a tour of the GV kitchen and even prepare chicken soup "with the residents." "I'm able to include more voices and experiences now," she says. "But overall, I'm trying to encourage a feeling of closeness. I'm seeking closeness when we can't be close, we can't hold prayer services or share a hug. The residents need joy so badly right now. We are observing and celebrating Shabbat every week because I want them to smile." Watch Rabbi Bender's "Spirit of Shabbat" episodes.

Twice each year, the students at Crespi Carmelite High School in Encino, a Catholic boys' high school, gather in the gym for an interfaith religious service joining Catholic, Muslim, and Jewish clergy together to celebrate the common roots of our shared humanity. In November, at Crespi's invitation, Eisenberg Village Campus Rabbi Ron Goldberg was on hand for one such service as a co-officiant, sharing his wisdom and tradition and representing the Los Angeles Jewish Home. Rabbi Ron co-led the service (which was attended by approximately 500 young men from the Catholic boys' school) with Crespi's Brother Roberto Reyes and Iman Suhail Mulla of the West Valley Islamic Center. Each member of the clergy presented a meditation on the topic of "gratitude," followed by a morning blessing for the student body from their respective faith traditions. "Crespi holds these services around the winter holidays and then again in the spring to coincide with Easter and Passover," Rabbi Ron says. "This was my third time being invited, and it's something I very much look forward to." During his presentation, Rabbi Ron offered the students a lesson on understanding the difference between gratitude and thankfulness. "As a practical demonstration, I asked if someone would hand me a pen; once he did, I thanked him," Rabbi Ron said. "As I told the students, that's being thankful; it's transactional. Whereas gratitude is how we live our lives—knowing we value the efforts of others for making our lives better, and that we have the same responsibility toward them." The Jewish Home-Crespi relationship began a number of years ago, when the high school started sending students to the Home for Sophomore Service Week, an opportunity for Crespi 10th graders to give back by volunteering. During non-COVID times, the students would come to campus to visit with residents of the Goldenberg-Ziman Special Care Center and other Jewish Home facilities. "We always tried to make it a memorable time for the students and for our residents," Rabbi Ron says. "The last time they were here, pre-COVID, we had a panel discussion with our Holocaust Survivors Group. It was an interactive event, and we made it available on YouTube. One of the things we did was show a famous photo of the Anschluss—Hitler taking over Austria. In it, Hitler is going down a main boulevard in Vienna, in an open-air convertible, surrounded by crowds. I told the Crespi students, ‘Two of the people you're going to meet at the Jewish Home today were actually in that crowd and saw Hitler in person.' The look of utter amazement on their faces was profound." Rabbi Ron says the Crespi students are always a welcome presence on the Jewish Home campus. "I love having them here because they bring a lot of interesting questions and ideas, and it allows me to bring my faith tradition to a group of people who otherwise wouldn't encounter it," he says. "It's also a joy for our residents, who benefit from the students' youthful energy and kind attention. I look forward to continuing to evolve this wonderful partnership!"

A prescription for physician success when caring for seniors Early in their careers, physicians receive training in a broad range of disciplines, from orthopedics and obstetrics to cardiac care, pulmonary medicine, and more. Yet, very few new physicians get hands-on experience learning to care for the special needs of seniors. A new collaboration between the Los Angeles Jewish Home and Cedars-Sinai seeks to change that, bringing seniors and medical residents together to reshape the future of leading-edge senior care. On July 1, the Jewish Home became an affiliate institution for Internal Medicine residents at Cedars-Sinai. The partnership allows physicians in their third year of residency to spend one week rotating through a number of programs at the Jewish Home, with a particular focus on the Home's skilled nursing facilities, Brandman Centers for Senior Care, hospice, and psychiatric care. All 26 of Cedars-Sinai's third-year internal medicine residents are scheduled to participate (one at a time), mentored by Jewish Home medical leadership as the residents hone their skills caring for the Home's diverse senior population. "Young physicians have little, if any, experience learning about the care of patients in nursing homes, yet as doctors in a hospital they often transfer patients to these facilities," says Noah Marco, MD, the Jewish Home's chief medical officer. "This is a critical opportunity for them to find out about what makes a good transition from hospital to nursing home, and what happens when their patients arrive at their next destination." As Dr. Marco points out, the program is also a boon for Jewish Home residents. "One of the greatest challenges we have as caregivers of the elderly is continuously finding new ways to give them a sense of purpose and to engage them mentally and physically," he says. "Our residents truly appreciate being able to advance the education of young physicians, sharing their wisdom and lived experience. For the medical residents, it's a privilege to interact with and learn from our seniors. It's really a wonderful thing for everyone." The residents are licensed physicians in the state of California and meet all infection control standards, including required vaccinations. While at the Jewish Home, they will deepen their knowledge of the Home's systems-based practice, develop a strong understanding of the deep responsibilities and benefits of the care they prescribe, and gain experience coordinating care as a member of an interdisciplinary team. However, they will not write prescriptions or orders for Jewish Home residents, and they will be supervised by the Home's medical staff at all times. "We are delighted to have teamed up with Cedars-Sinai Medical Center to launch this initiative, which will help usher in a new era in medical education and, ultimately, improve the care seniors receive across our community or wherever these talented physicians may practice in the future," says Dale Surowitz, chief executive officer and president of the Jewish Home. "The Jewish Home and Cedars-Sinai both have long and distinguished histories in Los Angeles, and together we can reach new heights of success in supporting the seniors who rely on us for their care each and every day." Cedars-Sinai leadership is grateful to the Jewish Home for providing Cedars-Sinai residents with such a tremendous opportunity to deepen their education. "The internal medicine residency is thrilled to be partnering with the Los Angeles Jewish Home to enhance the educational experience of our residents around providing compassionate, holistic care for older patients," said Amanda Ewing, MD, FACP, director, Internal Medicine Residency Training Program at Cedars-Sinai. "It is a privilege to have our residents be able to learn from the practitioners who are the experts in caring for our seniors."

On Sweetheart's Day, February 14th, make time to share some special moments with the one you love. Your first thoughts may be candy and a card, a dozen red roses, or a special dinner out. You can actually celebrate the day - and your love - in an endless variety of ways and on any budget. Here are just a few suggestions: Start off the day with their favorite breakfast, prepared by you! A single flower in a simple vase makes it even more special.Is the one you love an outdoorsy person? Plan a hike, a stroll along the beach, or go for a run or bike ride. Have a bite at a neighborhood restaurant afterward.Does he or she prefer the indoors? Cue up their favorite movie and order in their favorite food.Is there one item they want and have yet to pick up for themselves? Whether it’s the latest bestselling book or the newest CD from their favorite artist, these thoughtful gifts will mean a lot.How about some spa time? You can recreate a relaxing spa experience at home. Fresh towels, candles, bubble bath and soothing music are really all that’s needed.And, speaking of spa time, surprise your special someone with a massage. Pick up some scented oil or lotion and add candles and music.Put on some music and dance!Plan a day out. Visit local museums, art galleries, shops, and parks, or join a walking tour. Top it off with lunch or dinner.If theatre or music is their passion, grab some tickets for a show or concert. If you’re in Los Angeles, there’s always a great variety to choose from.If your loved one is a foodie, make reservations at a restaurant they’ve been wanting to try.Remember to say “I love you.”If you have children, make sure to hire a babysitter so that, whatever you do, you’ll have time for just the two of you. And, perhaps most important of all, put your phone down! Give your special someone the most meaningful gift of all: your undivided attention. Let them know they are loved, respected and cherished. Happy Sweetheart's Day to everyone!

What is the secret to living to 106? According to Jewish Home resident Faye Levitt, "It's part luck and part the way you are. You have to be happy with yourself and have a good attitude and good friends." Last week, luck, attitude and friendships brought Faye to her 106th birthday, which she celebrated with family and friends. Held at the Home's Grancell Village Campus, the party was a collaborative effort of Faye's family and the activities department of the Mark Taper Building where Faye resides. The room was festively decorated for the occasion with pastel balloons, floral centerpieces and a Happy Birthday banner featuring photos of Faye. A beautiful cake tempted everyone until Faye did the honors of making the first slice. As a member of the activities staff played Happy Birthday on a baby grand piano, everybody sang along, wishing Faye all the best and many, many more. A self-confessed "shopaholic," Faye was glowingly beautiful in a new blue top and her hair freshly coiffed. The youngest of five children, Faye was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Anne and Harry Reader, who were from Austria. Anne and Harry moved their family to Galveston, Texas to open a jewelry store. Though business was good, sometimes the town would flood, with water entering their store and rising to the bottom of the safe. A friend suggested they consider moving to Taft, California, near Bakersfield. At the time, Taft was a booming oil town, so the family packed up and relocated. As she got older, Faye loved getting dressed up and going to work in the store, something she would do for decades to come. To this day, she still takes great care to always look her best. Another family move brought everyone to Santa Monica, where a new store was opened. It was in Los Angeles that Faye met her husband-to-be, Ben, through a girlfriend. After dating for one year, they married and went on to have two children, Ken and Myrna. Now Faye's family includes four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, all living nearby. She is also the only – and favorite - aunt to the thirteen children and grandchildren on Ben's side of the family, many who were on hand to celebrate her birthday. "She has become mother to all my friends as their own mothers have passed away," exclaims Myrna. Throughout their marriage, Faye and Ben worked together in the store and enjoyed traveling with a group of friends, visiting Israel, Spain, France, England, Italy…and Vegas. When he was 85, Ben passed away, and Faye, who was 75, began living on her own in an apartment in Encino. There she made friends with a group of women and they did a lot of fun things together, including barbecuing at Faye's place. When she was 93 and had to give up driving, Faye moved to an assisted living facility where she lived for about 14 years. As always, she made a lot of friends and enjoyed socializing. Although she has never had a serious illness or surgery, she began to need more care. Ken and Myrna suggested the Jewish Home. "The Home was recommended to us by so many people," explains Myrna. "And it is a wonderful place! Since coming here, our mother is eating better, exercising, participating in activities, and attending Shabbat and holiday services." "With our mom living here at the Home, we know she is taken care of and we don't have to worry," says Ken. "I feel lucky to have my mom with us at 106! She's smart, sharp, has a great memory and sense of humor. It's amazing what she has experienced and seen in her lifetime." Though she's only been at the Home for a few months, Faye encourages others to consider making the move. "It's made a big difference in my life," she says. "As you get older, it's better to be around other people than to be living in a place by yourself. It gives you the opportunity to communicate with others. Here at the Home, the care is great, the employees are wonderful and the food is good!" Reflecting on her 106th birthday celebration, Faye "is elated! I see all my relatives and friends and it's a pleasure. I'm happy to be able to enjoy this because it's not usual that a person my age would be able to experience this. I am thankful to my family and the Jewish Home staff for making this party so wonderful!" On behalf of the Jewish Home, mazel tov to Faye on this milestone occasion. We wish her good health and happiness in the years to come. To see more photos of Faye's 106th birthday celebration, click here.

This Sunday, May 8th, more than 1,000 friends and family members will attend the 22nd Annual World’s Largest Mother’s Day Celebration. This heartwarming celebration of motherhood will honor the Home’s senior mothers, grandmothers, great-grandmothers, and even great-great-grandmothers who have given us so much. “Mother’s Day serves as a reminder of all the amazing ways the special women in our lives have nurtured, cared and loved us,” The Home’s CEO-President, Molly Forrest remarked. “On Sunday, we will recognize with gratitude the women who have always been there for us.” “Mother’s Day is traditionally one of the Home’s most joyous, and well-attended, events of the year.” Board of Directors Chair, David L. Swartz observes. “This celebration is a direct result of the commitment and hard work of our Mother’s Day chair, Judy Friedman Rudzki, the generosity of our corporate and private sponsors, and the dedication of caring friends and supporters, whose effort makes this an exceptional day for our residents and Jewish Home family.” Jewish Home seniors and their guests will enjoy a delicious brunch and a dynamic performance by the Skye Michaels Orchestra. Colorful clowns will juggle, mime, and bring balloon animals to life. After a day of fun, guests will be given a commemorative program and a framed photograph keepsake to cherish for years to come. Tickets for adults (age 12 and older) are $25.00 each and children’s tickets (ages 5-11) are $12.00 each. There is no charge for Jewish Home residents and children under age 5. For more information about the 22nd Annual World’s Largest Mother’s Day Celebration, please contact Denise Horowitz at [email protected] or (818) 774-3324.

Throughout the years, the Jewish Home has benefitted from wonderful partnerships with companies in our community. During this time of COVID-19, the need has never been greater, and in addition to monetary donations, companies such as the Ford Motor Company and Harbor Freight have stepped up with in-kind donations of masks, gloves and face shields. All of this personal protective equipment (PPE) remains in high demand by the Home care teams. The PPE provided by these companies, and so many others, has played a major role in enabling the Jewish Home to keep our residents safe and healthy during this time. This outpouring of support exemplifies the essence of the Jewish Home's Corporate Partnership Program. Companies across the region and country have stepped forward to demonstrate their support of the Jewish Home and the quality of care we are providing to nearly 4,000 people annually. Everyone at the Home is grateful for this outstanding support from the corporate community. Contributions from our Corporate Partners support the Jewish Home's ability to provide a broad spectrum of elderly care services to meet the growing needs of our senior population. Corporate partners giving levels range from $10,000 to $100,000 annually. One of our most steadfast corporate sponsors is Torrey Pines Bank. "As our communities continue to face extraordinary health and economic challenges due to COVID-19, Torrey Pines Bank is steadfastly committed to standing by nonprofits, particularly those that are helping the most vulnerable and underserved populations in our communities," shares Monika Suarez, managing director of public, nonprofit and affordable housing finance at Torrey Pines Bank. "We are proud to contribute to Los Angeles Jewish Home as they continue their longstanding mission of providing seniors with access to the vital care and resources that they need, especially during these challenging times." Torrey Pines Bank is among numerous Corporate Partners who provide annual financial support to the Home. They join with many corporations from around the city and the country who have stepped up to partner with the Los Angeles Jewish Home during these challenging times. For more information on how you can become a corporate sponsor with a monetary or in-kind donation, please contact Lesley Plachta, Director of Development of the L.A. Jewish Home Foundation, at [email protected] or 818.774.3282.

For many aging adults and their loved ones, discussing plans for future care can be a sensitive topic. Jewish Home Chief Medical Officer Dr. Noah Marco shares how important it is to have the discussion and suggests a few ways families can ease into the conversation. While nearly 90% of American seniors over the age of 65 plan to live independently for as long as possible, many find illness and other life events can greatly affect a senior’s desire and ability to live safely on their own. Aging adults might experience difficulty completing household chores, running errands, and even taking care of their personal needs. For many, the humbling experience of admitting they need help with daily activities can become a source of embarrassment or anxiety. Therefore, they tend not to express to others the challenges they are having. Often, family and friends are the first to trigger the discussion. That is why it is important for family member to watch for changes in their loved one's appearance, behavior, and physical ability. An example would be the seniors leaving the stove on and burning a pot. A shift in the aging adult’s aptitude to complete everyday tasks can signal the opportune time to discuss plans for the future. Being proactive in partnering with the senior to select the right care plan can save family and friends from making difficult decision in a moment of crisis later on. If the senior is capable, he/she should be as involved as possible in the decision making. During the discussion, loved ones should actively listen and be respectful of the senior’s preferences, concerns, and decisions. Family members can start the conversation by asking their loved one to share their thoughts, feelings, and opinions on creating a plan for the future. A great way to stimulate a meaningful discussion is to ask, "If something happened that would mean you could no longer live in your home safely, what would you want to do?" Your follow up questions and answers should then be based on how the seniors responds. I often supplement these discussions with the phrase, "I am wishing for the best (that you can always stay in your home), but I think we also need to plan for the worse (you having to leave your home, or have someone care for you in your home)." Ideally, this is not a talk that occurs just once. Care planning works best as an ongoing conversation for seniors and their loved ones. Getting input from a trusted medical professional is advisable. The senior’s doctor(s) can provide insight and offer expert advice tailored to each senior's situation. Although the discussion can be a lengthy and challenging experience, it is important to remember all parties involved are working toward creating a future where the senior is safe, happy, and healthy. To connect with the Jewish Home’s expert staff and learn about the full continuum of quality senior care, call our toll-free Connections to Care hotline: 855.227.3745 or visit our website.

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.”