Senior Living, August 2026

SENIOR LIVING IN STYLE

AUGUST 28, 2026 | CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | CJN.ORG 1

Senior Living in Style

A Cleveland Jewish News Advertising Special Section

SENIOR LIVING IN STYLE

2 CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | CJN.ORG | AUGUST 28, 2026

Downsizing made easier with expert guidance BILL MOTCHAN

I

f you have a basement or walk-in closet in your home, those areas will inevitably attract boxes of your belongings that may have been untouched for years.

That’s a sign that downsizing may be a good strategy. For empty nesters considering moving to an independent living facility, that decision is likely more pressing, since storage space may be limited.

The tough part of downsizing is the emotional attachment people have to parting with tangible objects, according to Mick Jendrisak, who operates Cleveland-based Downsize & Thrive with his wife Christie Dennis-Jendrisak.

“Every single client is 100% different,” Jendrisak, whose service helps make downsizing simple and stress-free, said.

“The one thing that doesn’t change are the problem or difficult spots within the house. And those are always going to be the basement and the garage. That’s just where we see the most accumulation. And I often joke that basements are where hobbies go to die.”

Miscellaneous tools, craft and do-it-yourself projects are also commonly found in dusty bins, he said.

“My job is to tell them to act rationally and logically and say, ‘Are you going to finish this project?’” he said.

Many households have boxes full of old photos, slides, super 8 movies and videotapes. Parting with those can be difficult for people, but there is a technology solution, Jendrisak explained. You can digitize that media and preserve it and save space.

“I did that with my mother,” he said. “She had 57 photo albums from every decade, and she cut it down to four. We went to a digitization service here locally, and they digitized

everything, and put it onto a thumb drive. We have this amazing public library system in Northeast Ohio, and in some of the major branches, they will do the digitization, or they will teach you how to do it. Those resources are out there.”

Another good reason for downsizing is eliminating the responsibility for a family’s adult children. A 2026 Talker Research study found that 49% of Americans would rather inherit nothing at all than have to deal with a relative’s belongings. Jendrisak said he encourages environmentallysound downsizing.

“One the reasons people have made the decision to downsize is because when they tell their adult children, ‘I’d like you to look at these heirlooms, the kids typically have no interest in it because they either have their own stuff, or they don’t have the space. The younger generations don’t collect Depression-era glass. They don’t have China cabinets. They don’t have curio cabinets.

“It’s another indicator that maybe you should consider finding it finding a way to clear the clutter,” he said. “We don’t want your possessions to go into a landfill. We want to find a home for them. We like to practice the ‘Five Rs.’ Those are repurpose, recycle, retail, and last, refuse. We really try to make trash the last option.”

Jendrisak said anyone thinking about downsizing should avoid procrastination.

“There’s never a wrong time to start,” he said. “You never know when life is going to hand you a not so fun chapter.

And I tell people, start now, start small, but be consistent.

Consistency is what’s going to get you through the process.”

Another good option for homeowners who intend to downsize is the Care Patrol of Northeastern Ohio. The

Christie Dennis-Jendrisak and Mick Jendrisak | Submitted photo senior resource service will help with assessing what items will fit in a new living space and coordinate with assisted living communities in before a move to help identify space dimensions.

Bill Motchan is a freelance journalist.

Careful planning can ease move to senior living BILL MOTCHAN

M

oving to a new home can be at once exciting, stressful and complicated. For older adults who move from their own home to a senior living community or facility, there is an added level of emotional strain. There can be a feeling of losing one’s independence.

The reality is that many older adults experience physical or mental Raichilson conditions that make remaining in their house an unsafe or unrealistic option.

Planning ahead can help make the transition easier. A good place to start is to determine if an individual should consider senior living, usually in concert with family members. Usually, adult children will help a parent navigate the world of senior living.

There are four primary types of senior

living options: independent living (usually these have a minimum age and maximum income requirement), assisted living, skilled nursing facilities and continuing care retirement communities. The latter is a popular option because it offers a single campus with multiple levels of care. Other more specialized housing facilities are also available, like memory care units.

What factors should a person weigh when considering a move to senior living?

Steve Raichilson from the Solon-based Raichilson & Associates consulting firm, said there are several triggers.

“The first area is when someone needs substantial medical and nursing services,” Raichilson said. “That’s when someone is living at home and may have very serious dementia that’s getting worse. They might go outside and get lost and never come back to their house. That’s an immediate medical nursing issue when someone needs help right away.”

Raichilson is a Medicare adviser who for 30 years was the CEO at Menorah Park

Beachwood, which at the time was the largest geriatric facility in Ohio. He has seen many situations where older adults require some form of senior living, depending on their physical and cognitive condition.

One example he described was when an individual has difficulty bathing, dressing and using the toilet.

“Then you would need a nursing home,” he said. “There is an acute medical nursing need and the person’s home situation just does not lend itself to that sort of situation.

Then you have to find a facility that would offer you the care you need. The second area when you know when it’s time is when the elderly person living at home, usually by themselves, is isolated,” he said. “There’s an emotional void. There’s no human contact.”

Raichilson found that situation close to home. His mother, a widow, was living alone in Buffalo when he discovered some warning signs. She was sleeping away most of the day. He and his family discussed options and determined the best solution was to move her to R.H. Myers Apartments,

an independent living facility in Beachwood.

“When she moved to Myers Apartments, she thrived,” he said. “She called it a cruise ship. She was busy, she put on makeup every day. She got new clothes. She was eating dinner with friends.”

Independent living can be an ideal option for individuals like Raichilson’s mother, but some people require more advanced care, he said. Often, the individual has cognitive decline and may be a fall risk.

“The reason is really when someone has physical needs,” he said. “For example, the person can’t cook anymore, they can’t bathe themselves anymore, and they cannot administer their own medications. They need that basic help and that’s what you find mainly in assisted living. When someone needs the physical care, meal preparation, assistance bathing, dressing, going to the toilet, those needs can only be met through assisted living or a nursing home.”

Bill Mochan is a freelance journalist.

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SENIOR LIVING IN STYLE

AUGUST 28, 2026 | CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | CJN.ORG 3

Minnie and Ramona - October 28, 2015 I am a past client

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4 CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | CJN.ORG | AUGUST 28, 2026

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SENIOR LIVING IN STYLE

AUGUST 28, 2026 | CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | CJN.ORG 5

Extraordinary Neighbors. Incredible Neighborhood.

Nestled in the tranquil, tree-lined streets of the historic neighborhood of Cleveland Heights, Judson Park is a vibrant, welcoming community that provides a continuum of senior care services to fit any lifestyle. Located just minutes away from University Circle, residents have access to art, music, education, philanthropic attractions, and renowned healthcare at Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals.

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Immersed in magnificent museums, educational institutions, and world-class healthcare in University Circle, Judson Manor exudes character and charm with updated modern conveniences. Residents enjoy breathtaking views of the city and walking distance to scenic parks, restaurants, and cultural attractions. Located in a one-of-a-kind area with unparalleled opportunities and excitement, this is urban retirement at its finest.

As a JudsonLink member, seniors who are not living in a Judson community can benefit from an extensive array of customizable services. JudsonLink members have full access to Judson communities including features and benefits related to security, social connection, cultural events, transportation, dining, wellness, and healthcare. All these resources help to create your health and wellness team.

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SENIOR LIVING IN STYLE

6 CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | CJN.ORG | AUGUST 28, 2026

Aging in place comes with unique challenges BILL MOTCHAN

M

ABOUT US CareBuilders at Home connects every aspect of senior care into one coordinated plan that adapts as needs change - from living arrangement decisions to daily support to ongoing monitoring.

One relationship.

One care plan. Total continuity.

SENIOR PLACEMENT SERVICES We guide families through the often overwhelming process of finding the right senior living solution.

Our Placement Support Includes: Personalized care assessments & lifestyle matching Guidance in selecting Assisted Living, Independent Living, or Memory Care Tours, coordination, and family advocacy

NON-MEDICAL HOME CARE We provide compassionate, professional in-home care that allows seniors to age safely and comfortably where they feel most at home.

Services Include: Personal care & hygiene assistance Companionship & emotional support Meal preparation & light housekeeping Medication reminders Mobility & fall prevention Dementia & Alzheimer's care

ost older adults have little desire to transition from their own home to assisted living. A 2026 Pew Research Center study revealed that 60% of seniors who live in their own home prefer to stay in that setting, with help from a caregiver if it’s needed. Known as “aging in place,” this arrangement means remaining in a home Cahan and community safely, independently and comfortably as you grow older.

Losing one’s independence is a great fear among older adults, whether it be losing driving privileges or moving out of your residence. For individuals who are mobile, active and have no signs of cognitive decline, there is no reason to move to a senior living facility. However, it will likely require making some physical adjustments to your home.

Typically, these include removing extra clutter from floors and loose items from all walkways; securing or removing small throw rugs; moving electrical cords out of walkways; and checking transitions by smoothing out uneven doorway thresholds.

Before starting home renovations and retrofitting, a good first step is formulating a plan with the assistance of an expert. Brigitte Schiffer and her team at Brigitte At Your Service specialize in helping older adults age in place. Schiffer begins with one or more site visits to thoroughly assess both the client’s needs and their home environment.

Then, they prepare a preliminary plan of action. It is a collaborative effort with the family, leading to implementation. That comes after lengthy interviews with the client and key family members, according to Susan Cahen, a Schiffer associate.

“It’s very important to listen carefully to their point of view and the goals they wish to achieve through aging in place,” Cahen said.

“Client assessment involves looking at the client’s physical and cognitive capabilities.

We ask questions like, ‘Is the client ambulatory? Does the client have upper body strength? Can the client lift things? Can the client easily retrieve things in cabinets or should they be rearranged? Can the client perform the daily routine tasks of living?’

“The objective is to determine what is needed to ensure the client is safe and

“The objective is to determine what is needed to ensure the client is safe and secure in their home environment.”

Susan Cahen Brigitte At Your Service

secure in their home environment,” she said. “Client assessment also involves looking at quality of life issues. This involves client activities, transportation needs and companionship.”

Assessment of the home environment addresses the issue of any necessary renovations and retrofitting. Schiffer and her team go through every inch of the home to identify potential hazards and solutions to ensure the client’s safety and welfare. This may mean installation of grab-bars and assistive devices, including canes, walkers and wheelchairs.

“Living at home is the goal,” Cahen said. “For many seniors who enjoy good health, the issue of aging in place is easily resolved. For others, institutionalization may be necessary. Aging in place is an issue for those seniors who have physical and sometimes cognitive limitations that require assistance.”

Brigitte believes that if these seniors can be maintained in their natural home environment, that is the best solution.

Her philosophy is that the best quality of life is when people can remain in their own familiar surroundings and not be institutionalized.”

Prior to working with Schiffer or another home safety consultant, older adults and their family members can perform a selfassessment of safety issues and potential obstacles by using a home safety checklist, available from the National Institute of Health.

Bill Motchan is a freelance journalist.

SENIOR LIVING IN STYLE

AUGUST 28, 2026 | CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | CJN.ORG 7

In-home care can help seniors age comfortably ELLEN BRAUNSTEIN

F

or many older adults, remaining at home is the preferred choice. But staying home safely often depends on how much help a person needs and whether that help can realistically be provided there.

Shalom Plotkin, owner of Right at Home Cleveland East, said in-home care can allow older adults to stay in their own homes while continuing to live independently.

“It means staying in their familiar surroundings,” Plotkin said. It also means keeping family, friends, pets and Plotkin community close by, he said.

For seniors who are still largely independent, relatively modest support may be enough.

Caregivers can help with activities of daily living, cooking, cleaning, driving and household tasks. Home modifications can also make a difference. Plotkin mentioned ramps, stair lifts, grab bars, detachable shower heads and easier-to-use fixtures as examples of changes that can improve safety.

The goal, he added, is not to take over everything.

If a senior can put on his or her own shoes, for example, a caregiver may help only with a more difficult task such as putting on tight support stockings. Maintaining independence remains part of the care.

The need for assistance often begins after a specific event.

Plotkin said a fall, a significant change in health, the death of a spouse or another major life change can prompt families to discuss whether an older adult needs more help.

Social isolation can also become a concern, especially after the loss of a spouse. Plotkin said families can create routines that include regular calls and visits. Technology may also help some seniors remain connected.

Transportation is another important part of remaining at home. Plotkin said Right at Home caregivers take clients to medical appointments, stores and personal appointments such as hair or nail salons. Those trips can also provide an opportunity to get out of the house.

Cost can also be a consideration. Plotkin said in-home assistance is typically less expensive than moving into a care facility when a senior needs only a limited number of hours of help each week. But if someone needs care around the clock, staying at home can become much more expensive and a facility may be the more practical option.

There are limits, however, to what in-home assistance can provide.

Plotkin said safety becomes the central question when

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an older adult’s needs increase. Someone who requires significant nursing care at all hours may be better served in an assisted living facility.

He also said many clients seeking in-home assistance are no longer fully suited to independent living. Their needs may fall somewhere between independent living and assisted living, and some may eventually require assisted living, memory care or another setting offering greater supervision.

That decision can depend on how much monitoring and engagement the person needs. Memory care, for example, may provide more continuous supervision and structured activity than a person can receive while living alone at home.

Plotkin described one client approaching 80 who had stopped getting out of bed regularly. She was not eating properly, taking her medications consistently or keeping up with personal hygiene.

With a caregiver providing regular assistance and companionship, her condition improved. She began eating better, taking her medication, reconnecting with a family member and returning to activities she enjoyed.

“They have lunch together,” Plotkin said. “They have conversations. They have a relationship.”

Ellen Braunstein is a freelance journalist.

DEDICATED TO QUALITY OF LIFE SERVICES Brigitte At Your Service is a health care company located in Cleveland, Ohio that provides premium concierge health care services to seniors and individuals of all ages with long or short term health care issues. Brigitte Schiffer, with over 20 years of experience in the field, has put together a highly qualified, experienced and dedicated staff devoted to providing top care to those who wish to age in place or supplemental care to those in a senior or other healthcare facility. Brigitte is a professional who can assess and understand the needs of each client and develop a comprehensive plan that meets the needs of both the client and family. Coverage: 4 hour

minimum up to 24hours/7days a week.

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8 CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | CJN.ORG | AUGUST 28, 2026

Shaker Heights to launch Senior Well Call Program MARTHA SOROHAN msorohan@cjn.org

S

haker Heights expects to kick off a new program in the fall that will help reduce isolation among senior residents.

As part of the volunteer-led Senior Well Call Program, volunteers will make daily wellness check-in calls to Shaker Heights seniors who opt-in, according to community service connections coordinator Grayson Henry. The city’s Office of Culture and Engagement will lead the program.

“It provides a friendly daily touchpoint and reduces

isolation,” Henry told the Cleveland Jewish News. “The goal is to provide the volunteer callers with more opportunities to be active members of the community and give back.”

He added it creates connection for both the caller and the recipient.

The desire for this type of program has grown over the years as residents have requested more support for seniors through check-in calls, especially after recent storms and power outages, from the city of Shaker Heights and city hall.

“In open discussions with seniors in the community, this program has been unanimously welcomed, with residents already reaching out to either receive the phone calls or

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“The goal is to provide the volunteer callers with more opportunities to be active members of the community and give back.”

Grayson Henry City of Shaker Heights volunteering to be callers,” Henry said.

The proposed program is modeled after similar programs in Solon and Cleveland, which use volunteers or automated systems to make the calls.

“Both cities’ Senior Service Departments have been very helpful and open with sharing ideas on how to help make this program succeed in Shaker Heights,” Henry said.

Volunteers age 55 and up who are recently retired – or older and retired – are eligible to serve as callers for the program, he said. Those interested in becoming callers will undergo background checks and a brief orientation, and they must have internet and phone service and be reliable.

While Henry said that program eligibility requirements are still being worked out, the program will most likely be restricted to seniors age 65 and older – about 20% of Shaker’s population – which are not enrolled in home care/hospice or another similar wellness call program.

“Each will have to provide an emergency contact.” Henry said.

Once the program nears its start, a sign-up form will be available online or other print communique.

There is no cost for the program.

“The calls are also meant to help the city gauge largerscale needs in the senior community and connect people to resources,” Henry said. “The Office of Culture and Engagement will also continue to assess the needs of the community members as they come in.”

Other events and activities for Shaker Heights seniors are through its recreation department and Shaker Heights Public Library and listed on their respective websites.

“It’s still in development, but based off social media comments and conversations within the community at recent events, there has been unanimous positive feedback with many people already offering to volunteer,” Henry said.

SENIOR LIVING IN STYLE

AUGUST 28, 2026 | CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | CJN.ORG 9

MetroHealth’s Spry Seniors offers ‘different way’ for care JIMMY OSWALD joswald@cjn.org

L

aurie Delgado said that if anyone in the Cuyahoga County area at least 55 years old and is looking to get more out of their primary care – what she calls “the most important part of your life” – then Spry Senior is for them.

Spry Senior is a primary care practice centered on the older population and offers a “different way” for people to get their care, Delgado explained. A program of Clevelandbased MetroHealth, it has locations in Solon, Brook Park and Strongsville, but its transportation service covers a 10-mile radius from each facility, which it uses to drive people to MetroHealth facilities or patients’ insurance companies as well, allowing it to serve a wide area of the community.

“We focus on adults 55 and over who might be looking for a different way of getting their primary care,” Delgado told the Cleveland Jewish News. “We provide longer appointment times, so people don’t feel rushed or feel like they don’t only have ten minutes to get all their questions answered before the doctor’s out the door and

seeing the next patient. We provide sameday access for sick visits, so if they’re not feeling well we are able to get them on that day. It’s not always with their physician or at their particular location, but we also offer a virtual service as well to get them in.”

Delgado added that Spry Senior couldn’t run the way it does without its “strong team,” which helps keep operations moving smoothly for those getting care.

“We work closely with our patients to coordinate specialty or diagnostic appointments for them,” Delgado said. “It can be very confusing to call a scheduling line and say, ‘Hey, I need to make an appointment.’ Because then you get transferred to several places before you get where you need. We take that burden off them.”

But patients do more than just visit their physican while at the facilities.

“In addition to providing medical care, we also offer different community programs at our facilities,” Dr. James Saul, who works at the Brook Park location, told the CJN. “We have different exercise programs, like chair yoga or cardio drumming, and we even have SPRY | CONTINUED ON PAGE 62

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10 CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | CJN.ORG | AUGUST 28, 2026

Early diagnosis can help slow progression of memory conditions SHANNON MORTLAND

T

he signs of memory loss often start subtle and may even seem normal, but there are signs that signal it could be a deeper problem.

Dementia typically becomes apparent in a person’s day-to day activities. Perhaps they forget how to get to places they go all the time, such as to church or a family member’s house. They might forget Myers what they are talking about mid-sentence, said Pam Myers, vice president, programs for Ohio at the Alzheimer’s Association.

Though everyone is forgetful at times, people with dementia might become confused and agitated. They might call common items by a different name, she said.

But all is not lost, Myers said, there are treatments to slow the disease’s progression

if caught early. Having dementia is not just a normal part of aging that we have to accept, she added.

If you suspect a loved one has dementia, Myers advised to start asking questions.

Don’t just take their word that everything is fine, she said. She recalled the story of one woman whose children said their mother always “dressed to the nines” and kept a very clean house. The woman told her children there was nothing wrong, but what the children saw told a different story.

“When they went to visit, mom was in sweatpants, the house was messy and she hadn’t showered or washed her hair,” Myers said. That’s when the children enlisted the help of their mother’s trusted friend, who was also a doctor, she added.

It is common for families to have to get creative to ensure their loved one gets the care they need, Myers said.

“It’s so important to get to the doctor and get these symptoms evaluated,” she noted. “All these things could also be signs of another issue, such as hormonal changes or

medications.”

Many will tell the doctor there is nothing wrong with them, and the doctor will make them take cognitive tests.

Even when a loved one hasn’t been diagnosed or assessed by a medical provider, there are signs that will tell loved ones when to put someone in a nursing home.

As it progresses, 60% of people with dementia will wander. They sneak away at night or just walk out of the house unnoticed, Myers said.

When a person becomes incontinent, they can’t take care of daily chores, not eating or they become belligerent, it is time for nursing care.

“Many times, the kids will promise they will never put them in a nursing home,” so they feel guilty when the time comes, Myers said. “When it comes time, the person with dementia will not remember that.”

Families are doing the right thing by getting their loved one the care they need, Myers added. Even if the person with dementia can no longer understand your

words, they will see when you get tired and frustrated, she said.

“It’s better for them to have a lessfrustrated caregiver,” Myers said. “Don’t deny. Don’t put it off.”

If you suspect a loved one may have memory loss, contact the Alzheimer’s Association at alz.org or 800-272-3900.

Trained professionals can help to determine next steps.

“Age is the greatest risk factor,” Myers said. “If we’re blessed to live a long life, we are all susceptible to memory loss, and it tends to run in families.”

Shannon Mortland is a freelance journalist.

This article first appeared in the Columbus Jewish News.

To read others like it, visit columbusjewishnews.com

SPRY | CONTINUED FROM PAGE 61

a book club. It’s a comprehensive way to keep seniors well and independent.”

Speakers will also come in and hold informative sessions, such as over dental health, new medications or ways to maintan a healthy lifestyle.

Another plus of attending Spry Senior, according to Saul, is the way the facilites are designed, which make it easier for seniors to navigate.

“Parking is right in front of all of these facilities,” he said.

“So, it’s a very short walk from getting out of the vehicle, walking through the front door and being inside. There’s no large parking lot where the person has to navigate or anything like that. We also can do labs on site so we don’t have to refer people out to do that at other facilities, which is really nice.”

Diane Banaszak, a patient at Spry Senior, was in attendance at a recent cardio drumming class and said she enjoyed how the sessions “get the energy going.”

“I’ve even lost weight, and it keeps you limber and keeps you young,” the 76-year-old Parma resident told the CJN. “I would absolutely recommend Spry Senior to anyone to stay healthy and active.”

Pat Mayer of Westlake said the class gives her an opportunity to “get the beat that’s inside of you out.”

“It’s great exercise and a lot of fun,” she told the CJN. “I get a lot of joy from it, and it gets me going for the day, gets the joints oiled up. I look forward to it.”

Spry Senior first opened in Solon in February 2022, and Delgado said that socialization for older adults, which had taken a hit amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, was helped by the new primary care facility.

“They can see their physician and then grab a cup of coffee or do a fitness class or listen to a dietician,” she said.

“It’s a well-rounded experience under one roof.”

Older adults take part in a drumming cardio class in Brook Park at Spry Senior, a program of Cleveland-based MetroHealth. | CJN Photo / Jimmy Oswald Patients also can take advantage of Lumina Imaging, a MetroHealth partner that provides MRI and CT scans at a lower cost. Spry Senior will also set up for them, Delgado said.

“We all know much how MRIs and CTs can be, so that’s just another benefit for our patients,” Delgado said.

The community has been very responsive to the new physician model, according to Delgado, and Spry Senior has evolved around its patients’ needs.

“Patients are seeing that it’s about going to the doctor

and truly understanding what’s happening with them,” she said. “They are seeing that they not only have a longer time with their providers, but they’re seeng them more often throughtout the year. And they are having progams and activites available to them that they don’t get everywhere else.”

Delgado said that Spry Senior takes traditional commercial insurance plans, Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans, Medicaid and dual plans, and it offers financial assitance to those we might need it.

SENIOR LIVING IN STYLE

AUGUST 28, 2026 | CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | CJN.ORG 11

Feels Like Family, Feels Like Home Comfort, Connection, and Care At Rose Beachwood, you’ll experience the comfort and security that come with our legacy of creating communities that feel like home.

With outstanding amenities and a prime location near shopping, dining, and entertainment, you’ll find everything you need to keep living the independent life you love. And if your needs change, assisted living and memory care are here to allow you to gracefully age in place.

Explore Our Community!

To learn more, scan the QR code, visit beachwood.roseseniorliving.com, or call 216-616-7823.

See how good life can be at Rose Senior Living!

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23611 Harvard Road, Beachwood, OH 44122 beachwood.roseseniorliving.com

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