NEWSLETTER CONTENTS
Chronicles SUMMER 2014
Letter from the Outgoing President ........................... 1 JCHC Annual Dinner – Another Enchanted Evening ... 1 Café Ruth is Open for Lunch – Stop by for a Nosh! .... 1 Letter from the CEO ................................................... 2 The JCHC Choir Celebrates 25 Years .......................... 2 There’s More in Store at our Country Store! ............... 2 Letter from the Incoming President ............................ 3 Lester Resident Honored at Holocaust Event ............. 3 Welcome Board Members and Officers ...................... 3 Annual Dinner Meeting Sponsors ............................... 4 Centerpieces Bloom for our Annual Meeting.............. 4 A Merry Month of May for Residents ......................... 5 Emergency Tips........................................................... 5 “To Tweet or Not to Tweet” ....................................... 5 Celebrating Older Americans Month .......................... 5 Tributes ....................................................................... 6
JEWISH COMMUNITY HOUSING CORPORATION OF METROPOLITAN NEW JERSEY 760 Northfield Ave., West Orange, NJ 07052 | 973-731-2020 | www.jchcorp.org
LETTER FROM THE OUTGOING PRESIDENT
Thank you. These two words can be used in many different ways with many different meanings. In my house, for example, as I try to teach my youngest daughter manners, thank you sometimes just means “I know, Daddy. I have to say those two words to complete the milk-to-daughter transaction.” I am certain that she does not understand how powerful those words can be. But I do. I know that saying thank you is not just a way of completing a transaction, but rather a way of expressing gratitude for something. And I am grateful for many things over the last three years. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve as President of the Board of Trustees of the Jewish Community Housing Corporation over the past three years. It is humbling to have a group of peers select you to lead their organization. When that organization impacts the lives of so many people, it is more so. I am grateful that the JCHC’s executive staff is as remarkable as it is. Without fail, they methodically and steadily steered our Board towards the best decisions. Their ability to always keep their eyes focused on what is best for our residents makes the JCHC what it is and separates our staff from others. I am grateful that our communities have such excellent on-site staff. Our site managers, administrators, maintenance staff, and kitchen staff are some of the best in the business. Under Terrence’s watchful eyes our buildings are better maintained than many buildings half their age. Our kitchen staff under Mitchell’s direction serves hundreds of meals a day without missing a beat. As best I can tell, responding to our residents’ needs never seems like work. What more could anyone ask? I am grateful that my successor, Alan Cohen, shares my passion for this organization. Alan has always been able to advocate for his constituency and I am confident that going forward, that skill set will serve the JCHC well. He has already put much thought into where to direct the organization’s attention and resources going forward. I am grateful that our residents are as vibrant and engaged as they are. Their constant quest for youth and vitality makes our jobs so much more important and meaningful. Those residents that I had the pleasure of interacting with showed me that age is just a number. Anything we as a Board can do to reinforce that fact is a plus. I am grateful to all of the families of our residents and friends of the JCHC. Your continued support for our organization with your time and resources allows us to continue to grow our programming. That, in turn, allows our residents to continue to participate no matter their age. So thank you to everyone for everything that you did to make these last three years as wonderful as they were. I know that going forward, you will continue to be as committed to the ongoing success of the Jewish Community Housing Corporation as I am. Thank you seems inadequate. Jay Murnick Outgoing President, Board of Trustees
JCHC Annual Dinner – Another Enchanted Evening
The Jewish Community Housing Corporation of Metropolitan New Jersey held its 2014 Annual Dinner on June 16, 2014. More than 150 people attended this festive event at Crystal Plaza in Livingston, where everyone enjoyed delicious hors d’oeuvres and dinner, and a full program.
Board President Alan Cohen (center) with members of the new Executive Committee
Annual Dinner Chair Roberta Zweifler, who served as the evening’s emcee, kicked off the affair recognizing the sponsors and fellow Jewish communal agency lay leaders and executives in attendance. Rabbi Henoch Polansky of the Joint Chaplaincy Committee of the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest delivered a stirring d’var torah. He was followed by Lester Senior Housing Community resident Teddy Halpern, who recited the blessings over the wine and the bread (more information about Teddy and his remarkable life story can be found elsewhere in this Chronicle). Those present were then treated to the highlight of the Annual Dinner: a performance from the JCHC Resident Chorus (read more about our choir on page 2). The event then focused on the transition in leadership of the JCHC Board of Trustees. Outgoing Board President Jay Murnick, who is finished his third year in that role on June 30, spoke about his experiences. JCHC CEO Harold Colton-Max made two presentations to Jay in honor of his service to the organization. The first was a piece of artwork with inscriptions in Hebrew and English, on behalf of the Board and staff. Then, to the surprise of Jay and almost everyone else, Harold announced that the Murnick family had made a three-year, $45,000 pledge to fully fund the Lifelong Learning Program, a religious education initiative at the JCHC’s Jewish Federation Plaza that Jay helped create and nurture during his presidency. After Harold completed his remarks and JCHC Nominating Committee Chair Eric Barr delivered the committee’s report, the assembled guests heard from incoming President Alan Cohen. Alan talked about what inspired him to join the Board and what he hoped to accomplish during his tenure. The evening was a true success. In addition to fabulous food and a wonderful program, the JCHC Annual Dinner raised more than $65,000, which will go to the beautification of the backyard seating and garden area at JCHC’s Village Apartments of the Jewish Federation building in South Orange. Attendees got a sneak peek at the conceptual plans for the redesign prepared by JCHC Board Member and architect, Stephen Schwartz.
Café Ruth is Open for Lunch – Stop by for a Nosh! Did you know that Café Ruth at the Lester Senior Housing Community is open to the public for lunch? Everyone is welcome to enjoy fresh salads, made-to-order omelettes, Chef Mitchell’s wonderful homemade soups, and a variety of sandwiches in our kosher café. The café serves lunch Monday through Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The kitchen is under the strict kosher supervision of the Va’ad Hakashrut of MetroWest. Orders may be prepared for takeout as well and we cater luncheons for area synagogues, offices and organizations. For catering information, please call Mitchell Goldberg, our Regional Director of Dining Services at (973) 929-2737. (And no, he won’t give you his soup recipes—he’s keeping those a carefully guarded secret!)
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LETTER FROM THE CEO
Giving Credit Where It’s Due As the JCHC’s fiscal/program year draws to a close, we use occasions like the 2014 Annual Dinner to take stock of what we have accomplished over the past year. Even with a number of speeches at the event, it is impossible to acknowledge all of the groups or individuals whose support has made it possible for the Jewish Community Housing Corporation of Metropolitan New Jersey to provide quality affordable housing with services for senior citizens. This is true not only because of the number of supporters, but their diversity as well. For many years, the seniors living at the JCHC’s buildings have benefitted from a range of government programs. At the federal level, the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) subsidizes the rents of residents in two of the JCHC’s apartment buildings: Jewish Federation Plaza and the South Orange B’nai B’rith Federation House. This has enabled the low-income households who live there to pay an “affordable” portion of their income (under 30%) so they can still pay for other staples like food and medicine. A number of residents living at these buildings have also been able to take advantage of the State of New Jersey’s Congregate Housing Services Program (CHSP). Under the CHSP, resident can pay under $1.00 an hour for an aide to help with cleaning, shopping or companionship as well as a Sunday brunch with their neighbors. Essex County has also funded additional kosher lunches for a nominal fee for residents living in South Orange (at our Village Apartments of the Jewish Federation apartment building) and West Orange (at the Jewish Community Center, which coordinates the program, next to Jewish Federation Plaza). This year, the Township of West Orange also stepped in to pay for upgrades to Jewish Federation Plaza’s commercial kitchen where, in addition to the lunches, we also prepare a kosher Meals on Wheels program and dinner for our Plaza residents. Foundation support is also crucial for the JCHC to continue its work on an ongoing basis. For example, the Harry and Jeannette Weinberg Foundation offered a $1 million matching grant (with crucial support from the local Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest and the Jewish Community Foundation); this eventually resulted in an endowment that, for the past 10+ years, has provided financial assistance for those residents living at our unsubsidized buildings but who no longer can afford to pay their rents. Our residents still benefit from grants provided by the Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey (which paid for the purchase and installation of the resident emergency systems at all of our buildings), the Grotta Fund for Senior Care (which provided support for the computer room at the Lester Senior Housing Community) and the Fannie and Morris Sklaw Foundation (which has provided regular support for various initiatives including the new bus for our Essex County properties). Individuals also provide vital financial contributions to improve the well-being of our residents. JCHC Board Members have led by example, making gifts to the Friends of JCHC year-in and year-out. Some have gone beyond that, including the Murnick family, which has pledged to support the Lifelong Learning Program at Plaza for the next three years in honor of the completion of Jay’s presidency, and the Schofel family, which, through the generosity of former Board President Janice Schofel (z’l), established an endowment to fund resident programs in perpetuity. Last, but certainly not least, are the residents and their family members, friends and loved ones. As the direct beneficiaries of our services and, in some cases, with limited resources, resident speaks volumes about the true value of the day-to-day work of the Jewish Community Housing Corporation. So, at the end of this most successful year, I want to take this opportunity to thank those of you who have provided us with the means to meet our mission of providing quality residential options for senior citizens in the Greater MetroWest community. And for those of you who have yet to do so, we welcome you to join the ranks of the Friends of JCHC in 2015 and the years to come.
Harold Colton-Max Chief Executive Officer
The JCHC Choir Celebrates 25 Years of Beautiful Music with Leil Shira
Twenty-three singers from Jewish Federation Plaza and the Lester Senior Housing Community treated residents, family and friends to an evening concert, Leil Shira (Evening of Song), on June 12. The program took place in Plaza’s beautiful new dining room which was renovated along with other spaces in the building this winter. The multi-generational audience—which included some of our performers’ great-grandchildren—was treated to a selection of songs to celebrate spring—and the JCHC choir’s 25th year of making beautiful music together—including favorite Gershwin tunes and popular songs from movies and plays. Volunteers Ronnie Weinstein, who has directed the choir since its inception, and accompanist Barry Ottenstein received flowers in appreciation for their hard work with the performers. “For over 25 years, the residents have been raising their voices in song together but just as important to see are the deep friendship that have developed. The residents really look out for each other and provide a meaningful family network for each other,” noted Weinstein. JCHC CEO, Harold Colton-Max added, “The JCHC is honored to have such a dedicated person as Ronnie leading our choir. She has helped foster a wonderful sense of community and fellowship among our members, and each year, she helps them create an enduring tribute to the American as well as the Jewish experience.” JCHC COO Laurie Loughney also noted that “The Leil Shira concert was truly a magical, elegant event. There was such a warm feeling of family, history and heritage among the singers and in the room. Everyone loved it.” Several days after the concert, residents were still singing the choir’s praises. Jewish Federation Plaza resident Clara Beckerman said, “There have been many wonderful events here but this was one of the very best, by far! The music was wonderful and it made my heart soar with happiness to see so many residents and families come to hear the choir.” The resident choir was also the featured entertainment at the JCHC’s 2014 Annual Dinner.
There’s More in Store at our Country Store! The Country Store at Lester Senior Housing Community is a wonderful convenience for our residents and guests and has just undergone a renovation to make it even better. A new sign and counter were installed as was a freezer so you can stop in for some ice cream—just in time for summer! New shelves were placed lower for easier Resident volunteers keep the Lester Country Store access and a fresh coat of paint stocked and selling; they are (left to right) Sylvia Zyto, Mira Platt, Teddy Halpern, Pearl Barell and has added some extra cheer. Marcie Liebling. The store is open five days per week from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and offers grocery items such as milk and eggs, various Judaica such as battery-operated yahrzeit and Shabbat candles, plus greeting cards, snacks and candy. They also sell Chef Mitchell’s homemade soups, which are a big hit (they are served at Café Ruth as well). New this summer, the Country Store will provide a Friday Farmer’s Market stocked with New Jersey organically grown vegtables, fruits and summer flowers for sale on Friday mornings. Resident volunteers Teddy Halpern, Helen Heller, Mira Pratt, Pearl Barell, Marcie Liebling and Sylvia Zyto run the Country Store. Stop in and ask our “staff ” about weekly specials.
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LETTER FROM THE INCOMING PRESIDENT
How I Got Here and Where We Are Going Six years ago I was nominated to the Board by Marty Kalishman. Marty asked me to join the Board because he knew that my law practice was concerned with aspects of affordable housing. He thought I could help. My wife Joni and I attended the annual meeting six years ago tonight. That evening I met Harold Colton-Max. I sat with some founders. I had a few drinks. I heard some prayers and speeches. I then heard the wonderful voices of our residents. For almost 35 years, my life as a lawyer has been centered around raising money for tax-advantaged real estate investments, including the low-income housing tax credit. Sometimes I got to meet with lawmakers to let them know of the great benefits of the low-income housing tax credit brought to their constituents. However, I only occasionally saw artist renderings or photos of the finished projects; I’d never been inside one nor met any resident who lived in one of these buildings. So when I heard our residents sing that night six years ago, it ignited a light. I realized that my law practice was missing the connection to the people my work was intended to benefit. Several weeks later I went on the tour of our JCHC properties. I saw the apartments, had a very good kosher meal, and I met with some of the residents. They kibitzed, kvetched and kvelled. I listened. I emerged into a new dimension beyond the practice of real estate or tax law, into what the JCHC provides for our seniors. We have created communities that enable our seniors to expand their lives through programs providing physical, spiritual and intellectual stimulation. They provide a choice to remain in communities with their families, where they made their careers and built their businesses. A place to maintain the dignity and respect they spent a lifetime building. A choice, if they desire, to observe Jewish traditions. The breadth of our housing and the support of the Federation, our donors and sponsors have enabled us to provide many of our residents with the ability to age with dignity regardless of the ability to pay. However, the next three years will be crucial ones for our organization, with new and different challenges. The massive baby boomer population is aging, causing a unique demographic shift. Our residents’ average age is over 85 years young; many are centenarians. For many who saved for retirement, they did not envision outliving their savings. Most of the programs that provided financing to build our communities and subsidize the rents are no longer available or are being substantially diminished, which disproportionately affects seniors. However, we are blessed with a Chief Executive Officer with the intellectual capacity to gather the resources we will need to allow us to continue the outstanding care that we provide. Laurie has provided great leadership in operating our properties and bringing into reality the programs that our Board members dream of providing. Sharon has maintained the integrity of our financial affairs. Our staff is exceptional in its providing care to our residents and maintaining our aging properties. And our fiscal house is in order. I have had the opportunity to serve as a board member under Eric and the honor to serve as an officer under Jay. I have seen him assume the responsibilities of running a business while providing remarkable acumen in guiding the JCHC over the past three years. He is truly a mensch. Our Board members’ broad range of business and professional expertise and history of community service will provide guidance in developing creative ways to meet our future needs. I look forward to working with you in developing the future path or this organization. Alan Cohen President, Board of Trustees
Lester Resident Honored at Annual Holocaust Remembrance Event “Courage and Conviction” was the theme for the City of Newark’s 27th Annual Holocaust Remembrance event, and no one embodied that more than keynote speaker, Theodore “Teddy” Halpern. He delivered remarks to approximately 1,000 attendees including local dignitaries, Newark students, representatives of the Jewish community, and business leaders.
Holocaust survivor Teddy Halpern, a resident of the Lester Senior Housing Community, was the keynote speaker at the City of Newark’s 27th Annual Holocaust Remembrance on May 6, 2014. Lester residents Alice Szylit (left) and Sylvia Zyto were there to support him.
Halpern, who speaks to many school groups about the Holocaust, recounted his harrowing personal experiences as a young boy and teenager during World War II. He was later presented with a proclamation from Newark Mayor Luis Quintana marking May 6, 2014 as “Theodore Halpern Day.” “It’s important for the next generation to realize that prejudice and bigotry should not go on; that’s what I try to emphasize,” said Halpern in reference to the hundreds of students who attended the event. Halpern, who moved to the Lester Senior Housing Community in 2007, began his poignant life story in Vienna, Austria as a baby born with several birth defects. He spent his early years in hospitals and was later prohibited from coming with his parent to the US. You can read his story on our news page: www.jchcorp.org/news. Halpern leads an impressively active life at Lester: he calls the bingo games, helps prepare the monthly newsletters and calendars for mailing, sings in the choral group, works in the Country Store, participates in the Lester congregation, and arranges a monthly dinner at local restaurants for residents. He also finds time to indulge in his favorite hobby, knitting. “This ceremony was a fitting tribute, as people like Teddy Halpern are true heroes,” said Harold Colton-Max, CEO of the JCHC. “Emerging from the horrors of the Holocaust, they continue to inspire us with their words and their deeds.”
A Welcome and a Thank You to our New and Outgoing Board Members, Officers and the Annual Meeting Committee! At the JCHC Annual Dinner on June 16, we installed our new officers and board members. The new JCHC Board Officer slate effective July 1 is: • President – Alan Cohen • Vice Presidents – Andrew Chavkin, Diane Saland, Brian Saltzman • Secretary – Ellen Barocas • Assistant Secretary – Ravitte Ginsberg • Treasurer – Lewis Gikow • Assistant Treasurer – Matthew Kaplan Joining the Jewish Community Housing Corporation Board on July 1 are: • Thelma Jennis • Jenifer Steig • Dr. Robert Sussman • Hope Tafet • Steve Weinberg • David Wolfe • Roberta Zweifler We also adopted a resolution thanking outgoing Board Members for their distinguished service, including: • Marty Barber • Bette Gandelman • Jonathan Levitt • Steven A. Loeb • Bernard Rabbino • Cookie Schneiderman Finally, our annual meeting & dinner could never be realized without the work of our dedicated committee. This year’s event chair was Roberta Zweifler; working with her were Ellen Barocas, Ravitte Ginsberg, Barry Herman, Elaine Pincus, Cookie Schneiderman, Stephen Schwartz and Judy Shulman. Yasher koach to everyone!
760 Northfield Ave., West Orange, NJ 07052 | 973-731-2020 | www.jchcorp.org
“Friends of JCHC” Tributes
mazel tov, get well and in memoriam
Given by
Sent to
On the occasion of
Baer Family Madeline Baron Chavkin Family Andrew and Sharon Chavkin Andrew and Sharon Chavkin Andrew and Sharon Chavkin Andrew and Sharon Chavkin Andrew and Sharon Chavkin Andrew and Sharon Chavkin Andrew and Sharon Chavkin Andrew and Sharon Chavkin Andrew and Sharon Chavkin Andrew and Sharon Chavkin Andrew and Sharon Chavkin Andrew and Sharon Chavkin Andrew and Sharon Chavkin Andrew and Sharon Chavkin Andrew and Sharon Chavkin Andrew and Sharon Chavkin Andrew and Sharon Chavkin Andrew and Sharon Chavkin Elaine Chonofsky Mary Kate Daley Jeffrey Delinko Alllison and Michael Diamond Allison and Michael Diamond Allison and Michael Diamond Harold Colton-Max
Jon Rothschild and family Jon Rothschild and Family Nancy Barta Ken Baris Karen and Jerry Karlik Michael Lipper Jordan and Elizabeth Karlik Carol and David Sidman Jay Murnick Harriet Greenberg Glenn and JaneCee Redbord Mark and Sally Gorsky Lane Ferdinand Michael Messer and Family Cohen Family Gorsky Family Dr. Howard and Laurie Taylor Mr. and Mrs. Alan Leibowitz Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Redbord Mr. and Mrs. Norman Feinstein Mr. and Mrs. Joel Yanofsky Jon Rothschild and Family Jon Rothschild and Family Dorothy Delinko Laurie and Jerry Lucks Judy and Marc Apirian Mr. and Mrs. Scott Geraghty Jay and Ellen Rice
Harold Colton-Max Harold Colton-Max Bruce Goldberg J.C.H.C. staff J.C.H.C. staff Ed, Annie, Jeremy and Scott Monsky Jacquelyn, Evan Taylor, Jay and Jodi Murnick Jay and Jodi Murnick Jay and Jodi Murnick
Judy Shulman Stanley and Ellen Stone Jon Rothschild and Family Yitzy Mittel Susan Wallenstein Jon Rothschild and Family Lynn Boodish Beena and Steven Levy Jay and Ellen Rice
Jay and Jodi Murnick Jay and Jodi Murnick Hilary Oser David Pulin Tina Rettig David Rosenbaum Sharon Saltzman
Bette Gandelman Stanley and Ellen Stone Jon Rothschild and Family Jon Rothschild and Family Jon Rothschild and Family Jon Rothschild and Family Marty and Ruth Barber
Pat Sebold
Jay and Ellen Rice
Pat Sebold Pat Sebold Roberta and Walter Zweifler Roberta and Walter Zweifler
Bette Gandelman Judy Shulman Judy Shulman Jeff Berger and Family
The passing of Bob Rothschild The passing of Bob Rothschild The memory of your mother Myra Laub The memory of your mother Roslyn The engagement of Jon and Jen Your special birthday The arrival of Cole Foster The arrival of Olivia Ryan The receiving of the Julius H. Cohen Leadership Award The receiving of the 64th Top Hat Award Your new grandson Stephan Your new grandson Cody The memory of your mother Harriet The memory of your mother Toby Messer The memory of Bruce Cohen The birth of Chase Ryan The birth of Tyler Rose The birth of Jesse Morgan The birth of Stefan Warren Jeffrey’s Graduation The marriage of Steven and Alexis The passing of Bob Rothschild The passing of Bob Rothschild In honor of your 95th birthday The birth of grandsons Charlie Grayson and Jared Abraham The birth of Quinn Joseph The passing of your mom Jane Geraghty The engagement of your daughter Dara Lynn to Raul Guillermo Smith The engagement of your daughter The passing of your mother Alice Stone The passing of Bob Rothschild The passing of your mother The passing of your husband Monte The passing of Bob Rothschild The passing of your husband Dr. Wesley Boodish The birth of your grandson Eyal Reuven Meiner The engagement of your daughter Dara Lynn to Raul Guillermo Smith The passing of your mother Lydia Brill The passing of your mother Alice Stone The passing of Bob Rothschild The passing of Bob Rothschild The passing of Bob Rothschild The passing of Bob Rothschild Being the honorees at the JCC MetroWest L’Dor V’Dor From Generation to Generation Gala The engagement of your daughter Dara Lynn to Raul Guillermo Smith The passing of your mother Lydia Brill The engagement of your daughter The engagement of your daughter The passing of your mother Bonnie Berger
*To send a tribute, contact Marcia Feldman at 973-530-3966 or marciaf@jchcorp.org. To Support JCHC, fill out form below and mail to: The Jewish Community Housing Corp. of Metropolitan NJ, 760 Northfield Avenue, West Orange, NJ 07052 or donate online: www.JchCorp.org
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A Merry Month of May for Residents at the South Orange B’nai B’rith Federation House
Health Care Professionals Learn about Social Media at “To Tweet or Not to Tweet”
The South Orange B’nai B’rith Federation House hosted some lively events for our residents throughout May. It was clear from the smiles all around that fun was in the air along with spring!
Approximately 50 health care professionals gathered to learn about social media and new technologies, and how they apply to the senior/ retirement community setting, at a seminar hosted at the Lester Senior Housing Community on May 20.
We started the month with a Mothers’ Day luncheon and later enjoyed two Kids, Concerts and Cookies performances—one with first-graders from Golda Och Academy in West Orange and another with fourthgraders from Temple Adath Shalom in Morris Plains. The students sang songs and as a special surprise, some brought instruments to accompany the vocal performances, much to everyone’s delight. After the concert, the youngsters stayed to talk to with our seniors as they all enjoyed refreshments together. The children are as excited about coming back for another visit next year as our residents are. We also held an ice cream social and invited volunteer Sarah Goldstein, who regularly works with our residents, to join us. Sarah runs arts & crafts activities, teaches our residents how to use our interactive computer program (ItsNever2Late, offered in all our communities) and more. During our social, Sarah showed residents how to set up and use their “assurance” mobile phones, then ran a fun karaoke session from the ItsNever2Late computer (we told you it was interactive!). Everyone enjoyed games as well and the day was a big success.
Our engaging presenters included Laurie Loughney, COO of the JCHC, our Community Life Coordinator Cheryl Fisch, and special guest presenter and Lester resident Dolly Moser. Dolly discussed her leadership and implementation of the Cogni-Fit computer program at our community, as well as information about the importance of exercising our brains as we age. Cheryl demonstrated ItsNever2Late, our interactive computer program that provides residents with access to computer games, movies, music, cultural programs and the internet. Clark Loffman from Online Computers gave an overview of cloud computing, the latest technology for storing and sharing data. The seminar, which granted CE credits to attendees, covered the popular social networks and how they can be used effectively to build community and awareness, to maintain strong connections with families of prospective and current residents, and as a strong informationsharing base. Regulatory standards regarding digital technology were reviewed and the downsides of improper use of technology in health care settings were also highlighted. Attendees included certified assisted living administrators, licensed nursing home administrators, social workers, nurses, and marketing directors representing various care environments: hospice, home health, nursing home, social work case management, and assisted living.
In April, residents were treated to a visit by Isidora Kianovsky, a bat mitzvah student at Congregation Beth El in South Orange, as part of her mitzvah project. Isidora brought some friends along to entertain our seniors, who loved every minute of it. The girls sang a selection of tunes as one also played guitar; Isidora’s grandfather even got into the act, accompanying them on the piano.
Emergency Tips Shared by Jewish Federation Plaza’s Resident Services Coordinator Congregate Services Coordinators from throughout New Jersey gathered in March to learn important strategies around emergency preparedness from Laura Berkin, the Resident Services Coordinator at Jewish Federation Plaza. About 50 people from the Congregate Housing Services Program (CHSP) were at the office of the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services in Mercerville, representing rentsubsidized residences statewide.
Resident Dolly Moser (second from left) discusses the Cogni-Fit program that helps seniors keep their minds active and exercised.
Celebrating Older Americans Month at Village Apartments by Supporting our Seniors Village Apartments of the Jewish Federation held several programs in May in observance of Older Americans Month, with senior health and safety in mind. Laura Berkin, left shows a Red Cross emergency backpack to Marilyn S. White, State Coordinator and Administrator of New Jersey’s Congregate Housing Services Program.
Berkin’s presentation was based on our highly successful Storm Chaser events held last fall at all four JCHC buildings; she shared the protocols that our emergency management team has developed to keep our seniors safe in the event of a disaster or weather-related disruptions. Seminar attendees also received helpful lists of emergency items for the elderly and saw examples of various emergency supplies that we made available to residents at our Storm Chaser programs. “Education about how to prepare for a major weather event is a significant part of keeping residents safe and calm,” said Berkin. “It is important for building staff to have emergency supplies readily available and for residents and their families to keep basics on hand.” These include flashlights, fresh batteries, non-perishable food items, bottled water, battery-powered radio, portable cell phone charger, and a ”to go” bag with extra medications, clothing, and personal care items. CHSP is a state program that assists senior residents living in buildings subsidized by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development with daily tasks to help them age in place with dignity and independence. The coordinators administer and coordinate the services where these seniors live, including the JCHC’s Jewish Federation Plaza and South Orange B’nai B’rith Federation House.
Health & Wellness: Our fitness instructor, Tami Rager, discussed how regular exercise and good nutrition can help anyone at any age look and feel better. Our residents enjoy Tami’s weekly exercise class which she also teaches at Jewish Federation Plaza. Safety: Detective Davenport from the South Orange Police Department spoke to residents about important safety issues that affect seniors. He talked about the need to understand and be wary of phone scams, and shared public safety tips when out in the community as well as in the home, and ways to keep apartments hazard-free.
Det. Davenport shares safety tips for seniors
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The Jewish Community Housing Corporation of Metropolitan NJ gratefully acknowledges our 2014 Annual Dinner Meeting Sponsors DIAMOND Capital Building Maintenance Corp. – CBMC CohnReznick, LLP C r a i g ’s P l u m b i n g a n d H e a t i n g C o . , I n c . Friedman LLP Midstate Services, Inc. Murnick Property Group Nixon Peabody Online Computers and Communication LLC Peapack Gladstone Bank P i r o , Z i n n a , C i f e l l i , P a r i s a n d G e n i t e m p o , P. C . Planned Security R&G Landscaping R4 Capital Stellar Private Systems, Inc. To t a l K a r e o f A m e r i c a WithumSmith+Brown
Centerpieces Bloom for our Annual Meeting Residents from Village Apartments of the Jewish Federation and the Lester Senior Housing Community gathered on June 16 to make fresh flower arrangements for the JCHC Annual Dinner. They worked under the tutelage of horticulture therapist Megan Fainsinger from the non-profit organization Art for the People. Residents made Lester residents show off their creations for the colorful, elegant centerpieces annual dinner. that graced the dinner tables at the event that evening, much to our dinner guests’ delight. From the happy faces and beautiful creations, we’d say the morning was a huge success! Roberta Zweifler, JCHC Annual Dinner Committee Chair, who worked alongside our residents said, “It is amazing that a package of greens and flowers can become such exquisite floral arrangements. Everyone was filled with such pride and delight. I would love to see us continue this design class and see where that goes.” You can see some more photos on our Facebook pages.
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Residents of Village Apartments of the Jewish Federation are talking about holding an ongoing flower arranging class.