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As Angelenos live longer, they are increasingly looking for safe ways to age in the comfort of their own homes. Now, Brandman Centers for Senior Care (BCSC), a Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), is making it easier than ever with the opening of its latest facility on L.A.’s Westside. Located on the corner of Pico Boulevard and Roxbury Drive, this new addition to the BCSC family is poised to help nursing home-eligible seniors across the city live richer, fuller, healthier lives. The center’s official launch was announced on November 15th at a special open house attended by BCSC donors, care providers, state and national PACE representatives, elected officials, and supporters, who gathered for the opening ceremonies and guided tours of the clinic and other facilities. “We’ve been working for over three years to make this happen, and I couldn’t be more thrilled that we’re now ready to open our doors,” said Susie Fishenfeld, vice president of the Brandman Centers, in advance of the open house. “We’re excited to meet the full range of healthcare needs for the growing senior community here in Los Angeles.” The center offers comprehensive services including medical and specialty care, behavioral health services, social work services, physical and occupational therapy services, home care services, prescription medications, and more. In addition, seniors enrolled in BCSC can access a wide array of social activities onsite, where they also receive delicious, nutritious kosher meals. Grand Opening of the Brandman Centers for Senior Care PACE West Los Angeles Location Licensed by the State of California and monitored by the California Department of Health Care Services and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Brandman Centers serves seniors aged 55 and older who reside in the BCSC service area and need nursing home-level care, as long as they are able to live in the community without danger to their health or safety. Once they enroll, BCSC works to address all their health-related challenges. “Perhaps the most amazing thing about BCSC is the coordination of care from our interdisciplinary team,” Susie said. “Seniors and their families or caregivers no longer have to schedule medical appointments, go to the pharmacy, or pay their bills; we take care of everything. Our goal is to make BCSC participants’ healthcare as simple and seamless as possible.” The first BCSC facility, located in Reseda in the San Fernando Valley, opened in 2013. Today, it serves between 70 and 80 seniors each day, with 340 enrolled in the program. The new center is even larger, with the capacity to serve roughly 150 seniors per day and to enroll between 450 and 500. The new center also boasts features that are unique to the Westside location, such as a full dental clinic and a lab onsite. “I’m extremely proud of this facility, which is just gorgeous – and it’s all thanks to the incredible generosity of the Joyce and Saul Brandman Foundation, whose visionary philanthropy made it possible,” Susie said. Los Angeles Jewish Health President and CEO Dale Surowitz, who delivered remarks at the open house, noted that the Brandman Centers offers a transformational model for innovative senior care. “Prior to coming to Los Angeles Jewish Health, I served as CEO of Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Medical Center, and one of my jobs was to bring people into the hospital,” he said. “Our goal at BCSC is to keep them out – empowering them to live independently while receiving the very best healthcare available. This new facility is a gamechanger in West Los Angeles.” Those who may know of someone who can benefit from participating in the Brandman Centers for Senior Care at either this new location or the original location in Reseda should call (818) 774-8444 or visit BrandmanSeniorCare.org. Click here to view the photo gallery from the Grand Opening celebration.

Thank you for your amazing support this year. Your generosity helps Los Angeles Jewish Health deliver world-class, compassionate care.

Each year, U.S. News & World Report publishes its “best of” rankings across multiple categories. Whether it is evaluating colleges, hospitals, or places to live, the renowned media company identifies and recognizes standout performers—and, this year, Los Angeles Jewish Health features prominently on its lists of distinction. Three Los Angeles Jewish Health facilities—Eisenberg Village (Newman Building), Grancell Village (Taper Building), and the Joyce Eisenberg-Keefer Medical Center received a “Best Nursing Homes of 2024” rating, winning top marks in the area of short-term rehabilitation. In addition, the Joyce Eisenberg-Keefer Medical Center achieved top marks in the long-term care category. “Los Angeles Jewish Health is extremely proud of this recognition and honored to play a role in improving seniors’ quality of life across our community,” says President and CEO Dale Surowitz. “The ‘best of’ designation feels appropriate because our seniors are truly amazing, and it is our pleasure to ensure they receive the very best of everything.” The rankings resulted from an assessment of more than 15,000 nursing homes nationwide based on criteria such as patient outcomes, processes of care, and staffing. For short-term rehabilitation, metrics included number of patients able to return home, prevention of falls, and the rate of substantiated complaints. Factors determining results for long-term care were emergency room visits, ability to self-care, and health deficiencies per resident. The results from U.S. News & World Reports’ rigorous evaluation reaffirm the high level of quality, compassionate care Los Angeles Jewish Health has provided to the community’s seniors for over a century. They are also a testament to the hard work and dedication of LA Jewish Health’s staff, board, and generous donors. Those diverse stakeholders are critical partners in making Los Angeles Jewish Health’s work—and, by extension, the praise it garners—possible. “A majority of the seniors we serve rely on some form of government assistance, but that support is not nearly enough to cover the cost of the programs and services we offer to older adults across Los Angeles,” Dale says. “These ‘best of’ rankings are really the result of a partnership with the wonderful people who believe in our mission and invest in our success, and we owe them a true debt of gratitude.”

By Rabbi Karen Bender, Chief Mission Officer at Los Angeles Jewish Health When I arrived at Los Angeles Jewish Health almost a decade ago and Chanukah was soon approaching, I set out to purchase the largest Chanukah menorah that I could find. I decided this holiday should feel like an extravaganza. There would be joy, surprise, celebration, laughter, and of course, the spectacular and inspiring lights of the largest Chanukah menorah around. Our residents deserved the best. This year, with the struggles of our brethren in Israel, and even rising antisemitism here in the United States, would we do anything differently? Yes, we would rejoice with even more depth and joy and enthusiasm. After all, like Israel’s courageous soldiers who are fighting on the front lines of the Jewish People today, the Maccabees fought for our right to practice and celebrate Judaism. We honor the courage of both by being brave enough to rejoice. Indeed, our residents deserve it. The first Prime Minister of Israel, David Ben Gurion, once said, “In Israel in order to be a realist, you must believe in miracles.” As our brothers and sisters in Israel still struggle to bring the light, we brought the miracle of joy and hope to our residents this past Chanukah like never before. After all, the primary theme of Chanukah is the unwavering faith in miracles, as the second blessing of the holiday says, “she-asah nisim l’avoteinu” thanking G-d for the miracles made for our ancestors at this season in those days. Here at Los Angeles Jewish Health, we of course provide tradition with the intent of stimulating wonderful memories. It is our fervent belief, as well, that extraordinary memories can and are made here. Perhaps the most exciting Chanukah of a person’s life has not yet happened but will happen soon and will happen here. This year our residents enjoyed a concert with a prominent and highly esteemed local musician, Cindy Paley and a Klezmer group performed traditional folk music. There was traditional singing throughout the holiday. In addition, groups of children from various organizations came to enhance the holiday for all of our residents. The residents also participated in an olive oil and balsamic tasting while learning about Chanukah on a serious adult level. They received new colorful dreidels and chocolate gelt coins. They enjoyed not only potato latkas but also latkas of various vegetable influences, thanks to our creative dietary department leadership. They enjoyed Chanukah cookies and not only regular sufganiyot but also kosher Krispy Kreme jelly donuts. They lit lights and sang blessings as a large community, grateful, each of them, to not be alone these eight nights but on the contrary, to be surrounded by a loving community of peers and caring staff. They laughed in delight when I showed up dressed as a dreidel one day, as a menorah another, wearing a head to toe Chanukah outfit the next and Chanukah glasses another. Rabbi Ron Goldberg at the Eisenberg Village Campus describes how the eyes of the residents in our memory care unit lit up as they remembered the words of songs and sang along. He describes gathering everyone around the beautiful outdoor chanukiah, the Chanukah menorah, where together they could safely light real fire, like our ancestors. Our ancestral rabbis were well aware that Chanukah takes place near the winter solstice during the darkest days of the year and they set out to pierce the darkness and illuminate their world. The metaphor was not lost on them nor is it on us, especially this year, that we can all be a light in the darkness. Nothing brings more light than the smiles on the faces of the precious seniors we serve. Ben Gurion had another famous saying: “Anyone who believes you can’t change history has never tried to write his memoirs.” For all of you out there who choose to support the sacred work of Los Angeles Jewish Health with your time and resources, please know that you are changing history by enhancing the history and lives of our remarkable residents, participants and patients. Know that if you were to ever write a memoir about your own life you can proudly include the indisputable fact that you have generously enhanced the lives of the elderly in your generation. For more pictures of Chanukah 2023 at Los Angeles Jewish Health CLICK HERE For more pictures of Chanukah 2023 at Los Angeles Jewish Health CLICK HERE

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Members of the Jewish and African-American communities have long found solidarity in common purpose, with a history of teaming up toward the pursuit of equal rights. As the New Year began, two diverse community groups gathered at Los Angeles Jewish Health to remember the legacy of the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. while continuing to build toward a unified future. They literally came together to break bread. In collaboration with Challah and Soul, a program that seeks to educate and unite the Jewish and Black communities, high school students from Adat Ari El congregation traveled to Los Angeles Jewish Health for an adventure in baking and storytelling. During the fascinating intergenerational event, LA Jewish Health residents shared memories of Dr. King as they worked side-by-side with the students to braid loaves of challah. The result: a wonderful afternoon of raising awareness, passing along a beloved Jewish tradition, and fostering strong intergenerational bonds. “The students arrived with smiles and great energy,” says Susan Leitch, community manager and safety officer at Los Angeles Jewish Health and a key organizer of the event. “It was wonderful to see them interact with our seniors.” Created by Shonda Isom Walkowitz, the founder of Bucks Happy Farm in the Lucerne Valley, and Judi Leib, a chef and veteran of the food services industry, Challah and Soul was built on a mutual interest in helping Blacks and Jews rediscover the things that make them natural allies. As challah dough was passed to the assembled residents and students, Judi spoke about the importance of food in uniting diverse people, and Shonda offered her thoughts about the similarities between the Black and Jewish experiences. “This event showcased how much wisdom and perspective LA Jewish Health seniors can offer to the broader community,” Julie Lockman-Gold, special projects coordinator at Los Angeles Jewish Health, says. “Especially during a time of rising anti-Semitism, our residents have a lot to say about inequality, injustice, and racism. Giving them an opportunity to be heard – and for students to learn from their experiences – was truly meaningful.” The event drew a large turnout of residents from Grancell Village’s Mark Taper Building and Joyce Eisenberg-Keefer Medical Center, as well as 20 Adat Eri El students and some of their family members. “Watching them partner to make the challah, you could see the joy on everyone’s faces,” Julie recalls. “When the bread was done baking, the smell was amazing, and people were so excited to dig in!” By the end of the afternoon, the happiness and contentment that filled the room were clear indications of the event’s success. It was a feeling shared by all participants. Julie added, “As the students were leaving, Adat Ari El’s program director, Sara Markus, told me she’s already thinking about doing it again next year!”

When 94-year-old Jack Schlaifer agreed to officiate at the wedding of his grandniece, Alison, and her fiancé, Daniel, he was building on a family tradition: months earlier, he had performed the marriage ceremony for Alison’s father (his nephew Charles) in the backyard of his Westlake Village home. Jack was honored when Alison asked him to do the honors for her wedding as well. They laid out plans for a similar ceremony, in the same venue, on New Year’s Day—until life got in the way. “In November, I had a fall, and I fractured my L5 [a region between the lumbar and sacral spine in the lower back],” Jack says. “Suddenly, I was living in a rehabilitation facility, and all bets were off. I called Alison and told her, ‘You can’t count on me for the wedding.’ I was sad about it, but what could I do?” Alison knew exactly what he should do: proceed full steam ahead. "She said, “Uncle Jack, I don’t care where you are; I want you to marry us. We’ll come to wherever you are!’” he recalls. “I was incredibly moved.” All that was left was to coordinate with the staff at Los Angeles Jewish Health. LAJH is a place that Jack, a native Angeleno who had raised his family in the Valley, had long known and loved. “I joined The Guardians (a support group of LAJH) in 1980, and when they formed The Executives, I was a founding member and, later, president,” he said. “I served on The Executives’ board for 30 years.” Jack reached out to Los Angeles Jewish Health staff, and everyone enthusiastically leaned in to ensure all details were arranged. On January 1, 2024, in a cozy family room on the Grancell Village campus, Jack gathered together with Alison, Daniel, and an intimate group of family to give the couple his blessing and pronounce them “man and wife.” “It was an amazing wedding, and it brought me a lot of naches [joy],” Jack says, smiling. “After it was over, the family went for sandwiches to Brent’s Deli, which is Alison and Daniel’s favorite place. It was perfect.” Once the ceremony was complete, it was back to the hard work of rehab. Every day Jack has both physical and occupational therapy, and every day he gets a little bit stronger. While the road to recovery is long, he is grateful to be walking it at Los Angeles Jewish Health. “I’m lucky to be here,” he says. “The care is wonderful, and the people are great.”