Jewish Home Lifecare 

 

The holiday spirit is alive and well at Jewish Home Lifecare Sarah Neuman Center, a 300-bed nursing home and rehabilitation center in Mamaroneck. At a year-end celebration in December, the Center acknowledged its community outreach program, "Open Your Heart to Others and Your Heart Opens Too." Over the course of the year, nursing home residents, staff and families performed community service on behalf of U.S. troops serving overseas; children in need at home and abroad; sick children at St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital; survivors of domestic violence; and the homeless. The community service activities included making sandwiches for the homeless, and decorating and stuffing boxes with goodies to send to children around the world through Samaritan's Purse International Relief.

Shirley Jones, 83, who crocheted eight warm and colorful blankets for newborns registered with the nationwide Linus Project, said that the community outreach program makes her feel "back in the world.I go to bed happy, knowing that I'm contributing something that will bring joy to others," she said. "And while I'm crocheting blankets, my neighbors are working on their projects to make something for someone else.  It's a fun time for all of us, including the entire staff, housekeepers, certified nurse aides, nurses, dietary staff and pharmacy workers.  We're all in it together." Community Coordinator Lori Grossman said, "It is amazing to see the transformation in our residents when they become involved in this project. They spend

time brainstorming ideas and talking to their friends and families about getting involved and donating. They even give up their bingo vouchers for others in need.We are certainly looking at an active, spirited and involved group of seniors." For Ms. Grossman, the resident participation has been inspirational.    

An Interfaith Community

Tulsa, OK

Tulsa, Oklahoma's "Newson6" reported on inspiring events at the Jewish Retirement Center (http://www.newson6.com/global/story.asp?s=13735953). "Getting off work on Christmas Day isn't always a guarantee for Christians who work at a 24/7 business," the story observes. "But at the Jewish Retirement Center, many non-Jewish employees get the gift of 'Christmas off' thanks to their Jewish co-workers." And the Christian employees step in for the Jewish employees when Jewish holidays come around. "It's a great place to work," said Sheri Springer, who has worked at the facility for 14 years. "It's a great family." This year, the Jewish employees prepared a special Christmas Eve meal for their non-Jewish colleagues, which included prime rib steak and lots of trimmings. "Just an interfaith dining room, and we respect one another," Susan Surchev said. "I'll be home for Christmas if only in my dreams - not bad for a nice Jewish boy," laughed Norm Levin.

Morse Geriatric Center Designated "Teaching Nursing Home"

With a solid commitment to researching and disseminating best practices in geriatric care and ongoing validation of its highest standards of excellence, Morse Geriatric Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, has received designation as a "Teaching Nursing Home" in the State of Florida.  The nursing facility is one of only two in Florida, out of a total of 700 nursing homes, to have earned this coveted designation.

The Florida Teaching Nursing Home Program (TNH), created over ten years ago, promotes research and education in the field of long-term care, and advances best practices in the care of seniors in Florida. According to Keith Myers, President and CEO of MorseLife, "The organization exceeds the criteria to be a Teaching Nursing Home." 

For information about Morse Geriatric Center and its work in research and education in best practices, call (561) 687-5749, or visit the MorseLife website at www.morselife.org.

Kimberly Van Haitsma, Ph.D., (Yardley), director of the Edward and Esther Polisher Research Institute of the Madlyn and Leonard Abramson Center for Jewish Life in Horsham, Pennsylvania, was invited to serve as Practice Concepts and Policy Analysis Section Editor of The Gerontologist, the prestigious bimonthly journal of the Gerontological Society of America (GSA).  The Gerontologist provides a multidisciplinary perspective on human aging through the publication of research and analysis in gerontology. AJAS is pleased that Dr. Van Haitsma will be a presenter at our upcoming conference in March.          

            In her role as Practice Concepts and Policy Analysis editor, Dr. Van Haitsma will review articles on innovative policies and practices related to the study of aging, and help to expand the scope and expertise of the Journal's editorial board, which is comprised of scientists and researchers from all over the world. An adjunct assistant professor at the Hartford Center for Geriatric Nursing Excellence in the School of Nursing at the University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Van Haitsma has taught and lectured throughout her career and mentored student interns and post-doctoral fellows in psychology, geriatric nursing, and gerontological research. She is a member of the Gerontologcial Society of America and the American Psychological Association.

Dr. Van Haitsma also serves on the board of trustees of the IDEAS Institute, and she is a member of the Medical and Scientific Advisory Board of the Alzheimer's Association Delaware Valley Chapter, and the Institutional Review Board of the Polisher Research Institute, which is part of the Madlyn and Leonard Abramson Center for Jewish Life. Through its ties to the Center, the Polisher Research Institute provides unique clinical and research opportunities in a range of clinical settings. For more information, visit the Polisher Research Institute online at www.abramsoncenter.org/PRI.  

from left to right: Chris Laxton, President, Life Services Network; Bill Casper, CJE's VP of Residential Services

Bill Casper, CJE SeniorLife's Vice President of Residential Services, was honored in December by the Life Services Network (LSN), Illinois' largest statewide eldercare association, with its 2010 LSN Member Legislative Leadership Award. Casper was recognized at the organization's annual legislative luncheon for his leadership and commitment to advancing LSN's legislative and regulatory principles during the most recent session of the Illinois General Assembly.

 "Bill Casper of CJE SeniorLife took an active leadership role on behalf of LSN members, representing them to the highest degree on the Governor's Task Force on Nursing Home Reform," said LSN Chair Chuck Newton at the award luncheon. "He traveled to meetings and hearings in Chicago and Springfield, providing insight and extremely helpful ideas on issues confronting our membership. LSN is proud to have had Bill's assistance throughout 2010."

Casper, who has served as Vice President of Residential Services at CJE since 2005, has more than 30 years of experience in the field of senior living and skilled nursing care. He oversees the operation and strategic direction of Lieberman Center for Health and Rehabilitation in Skokie, the Weinberg Community for Senior Living, and CJE's Karmel community, the organization's planned continuing care residential community project in Deerfield.

For more information about CJE services, call 773/508-1000 or visit www.cje.net. 

Volunteers of the Parker League, the renowned volunteer auxiliary of the Parker Jewish Institute for Health Care and Rehabilitation, prepared and distributed colorful, delightful baskets of fruit to the residents of Parker in recognition of

For more than 36 years, the Parker League has engaged in a wide range of exciting activities aimed at enhancing the quality of life for Parker's diverse population of patients and residents. More than 600 League members assist in fundraising, education, social activities and advocacy.