NEWSLETTER CONTENTS
Chronicles FALL 2018
Letter from the CEO .........................................................1 JCHC Annual Dinner Featuring a Very Special Guest........1 Spring and Summer is JCHC Family Barbeque Time .........2 Seeing Red and White (and Movies) at Lester ..................2 Ramping Up Our JCHC Cycles of Wellness .......................2 B’nai B’rith Hosts Sen. Menendez’s Legislative Counsel ..3 Creative Living Series Available to Non-Profit Groups ......3 Welcome our New Site Managers.....................................3 New Spaces and Lots of Color at Village Apartments ......4 It’s an Artist’s Life at Jewish Federation Plaza ..................4 Notes from the JCHC Resident Association Conference ...5 Shabbat and Kiddush in the Sukkah at Village..................5 Sign Up for the AARP Smart Driver Class .........................5 Spotlight on Dennis & Holly Fruchter, Legacy Donors ......5 Taking Care of the People Who Care of Our Residents ....5 Tributes .............................................................................6 Memory Care Suite Accredited by Comfort Matters ........6 JCHC Endowment Funds ..................................................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 CEO As I started to write this column last month, it was yet another balmy, summer day in West Orange. For the Jewish Community Housing Corporation of Metropolitan New Jersey, July also heralds the start of a new program year and all of the promise that comes with it. But before we get too far ahead of ourselves, I think that it is important to take stock of the successes that the JCHC and our residents have experienced over the prior year. Some of the highlights of the 2017-2018 JCHC’s program year include: Hosting a New Jersey Symphony Orchestra Concert for our seniors. In June 2017, more than 325 people converged on the Federation building on the Whippany campus to attend “Music and Memories: A Concert for Our Seniors,” featuring the NJSO. The crowd, which consisted mostly of senior citizens from our buildings or the broader community, were treated to a classical music program transporting them on a “road trip across America.” Beforehand, the audience received a very nice welcome from Mayor Ron Francioli on behalf of Hanover Township. The concert itself was amazing and made a lot of seniors very happy, and we received so many compliments at and after the event from our sponsors, JCHC residents, area residents and others. We also managed to raise an additional $46,350 to fund our operations, including financial support and additional programming for our senior residents. Overall, it is safe to say that this event was a genuine success all the way around.
JCHC Annual Dinner Recap— Featuring a Very Special Guest The JCHC Board of Trustees Annual Dinner was held on June 18, 2018 at the elegant Crystal Plaza in Livingston. About 130 guests attended, including staff, board members, sponsors, and residents, as well as Hanover Mayor Ronald Francioli and Deputy Mayor John Ferramosca (Lester Senior Housing is in Whippany, which is part of Hanover Township). This year’s theme was “Building Bridges to a Brighter Future,” which focused on how the JCHC is working to enhance the lives of residents in all four of our senior living communities. There was a sumptuous cocktail reception with international fare, carving station, and an array of beautifully displayed appetizers, after which everyone went to the ballroom for a performance by the JCHC Choral Group, followed by speeches and dessert. In addition to remarks from JCHC leadership and others, we heard from our guest of honor, Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver, who spoke of the pressing need for greater access to quality affordable housing for seniors and others in New Jersey, and the commitment of Gov. Phil Murphy and his administration to meeting the challenges of affordability in the state. According to the lieutenant governor, the nonprofit sector will play a vital role in filling the gaps in quality, affordable senior citizen housing. She also discussed the importance of the government playing an integral role by working with developers and others.
Reaching more seniors and improving services in our Memory Care Suite at the Lester Senior Housing Community. Seven out of 12 units are occupied in the converted third floor of the Weston Assisted Living Residence, surpassing 50% occupancy for the first time. In addition, we have continued to work with Comfort Matters, who has helped us to incorporate their model of resident-centered care in our Memory Care Suite. We are proud to report we received Comfort Matters accreditation on August 1. Completing renovations at Village Apartments of the Jewish Federation. After 18 months, I am pleased to report that all renovation work at 110 Vose Avenue is finally complete. We were initially focused on repurposing unutilized space to provide new housing opportunities for senior citizens to live in South Orange. While the 12 new one-bedroom apartments became available to rent in January (and are almost completely rented), the following months saw many more improvements that benefit new and current residents, including a new amenity space on the first floor with exercise equipment, a computer room, large-screen television and areas for socializing and programming. Other upgrades include a new waiting room near the main entrance, an expanded community dining room and aesthetic improvements on all four floors. Building bridges at the Annual Dinner. Finally, as you will read about in more detail elsewhere in this issue of the Chronicles, our 2018 Annual Dinner at Crystal Plaza in Livingston featured remarks from New Jersey Lieutenant Governor Sheila Oliver about the Murphy-Oliver Administration’s commitment to housing with services for seniors. Our resident chorus almost stole the show with another great performance, prompting the Lieutenant Governor to extend an invitation on the spot for them to perform at the Essex County Jewish Heritage Month event next April. To top it all off, we raised another $100,000 from event sponsors so that the JCHC will be able to do much more to meet its charitable mission. None of this would have been possible without the dedicated work of the JCHC staff and volunteers, including the Board of Trustees, whom I would like to take this opportunity to thank profusely for their efforts. I look forward to working with all of you and others who would also like to join us in support of our mission of providing quality residential options for seniors living in the Greater MetroWest Community And now, onward to 2018-2019 and beyond!
Harold Colton-Max Chief Executive Officer
The JCHC Choral Group, comprised of residents from Jewish Federation Plaza and Lester Senior Housing Community, regaled attendees once again with a fun performance of songs that emphasized the positive in life, and Lt. Gov. Oliver invited them to perform next year at the Essex County Jewish Heritage Month observance! Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver at the JCHC Board of Trustees Annual Dinner, at which she addressed the need for expanded access to affordable housing in New Jersey, and the commitment of Gov. Phil Murphy’s administration to this issue.
During the program, Brian Saltzman shared the board’s vision of continuing to provide safe, enriching and affordable housing for JCHC residents. He noted that, “Every decision the board makes is through the lens of how those decisions will affect our residents. We are committed to more development and expanding our capabilities so we can better respond to the changing needs of our residents as well as seniors in our area.” Future plans include completely renovating the apartments and properties at Jewish Federation Plaza and South Orange B’nai B’rith Federation House starting in the next year; and the development of more apartment buildings for senior citizens with services, at least a portion of which will be affordable to those living on a fixed income.
Annual Dinner Co-Chairs Cookie Schneiderman (left) and Roberta Zweifler treated us once again to an elegant evening.
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It Wouldn’t be Spring or Summer at the JCHC without Family Barbeques As is our custom, our senior living communities host family barbeques in the late spring and summer. Residents and family members get to mix, mingle, and dine on traditional BBQ fare and these get-togethers are always so much fun, as you can see from these photos. Even bad weather in South Orange didn’t deter our residents, who brought the fun indoors.
Ramping Up Our JCHC Cycles of Wellness In January, we kicked off an employee wellness initiative called “Cycles of Wellness,” which really got rolling this spring.
Estelle Franconia and Sandy Lublin with JCHC Site Manager Cheryl Kasye (center) at Village Apartments’ indoor BBQ.
• Did you know that in as little as 15 minutes a day your body can benefit by strengthening muscles and bones, improving balance and coordination, enhancing one’s mood, maintaining a healthy weight, and helping prevent or manage heart disease, high blood pressure, and Type 2 diabetes?
The Lester Pirates—Joan Wesolowski, David Rozen, and Briana Canavan—from the Lester Senior Housing Community were the Step Up Challenge winners.
• To that end, our Spring Step Up Challenge brought together 18 staff members in employee walking clubs who competed for the prizes ($100 each and a half-day off with pay). The Lester Pirates team won the walking competition but getting up to exercise throughout the day meant that everyone was a winner. Village residents had just as much fun inside at our barbeque.
The crowd was really enjoying the music and games at Lester.
Lots of residents and guests got up to dance at Lester’s BBQ!
Seeing Red and White (and Movies) at Lester Senior Housing
Residents of the Heller Independent Living Apartments were treated to a special Red & White Night at dinner in June. The fun evening was planned by Mitchell Goldberg, JCHC’s Regional Director of Dining Services, and everyone gobbled it up! Mitchell asked residents to come to Mitchell Goldberg, Regional Director of Dining Services, dinner dressed in red with Ruth Zelman at Red & White Night at the Lester Senior or white for the special Housing Community. meal; they had no idea why and were eager to find out. They were served a delicious dinner of short ribs, accompanied by white and red wines (Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay), finished off with red velvet cupcakes with white icing for dessert. When asked by a resident why he came up with the Red & White dinner, Mitchell simply replied, “Because we are so happy you are here!” Residents in our Weston Assisted Living Residence were treated to a 1950s-style diner meal in July, with festive decorations, custom menus at every place setting, and musical entertainment by Flip Peters. Another fun pop-up event in July—Movies and Mimosas—was held in the Lester Theater. We served mimosas and showed “Jolson Sings Again,” which everyone really enjoyed. Residents toasted the event and are looking forward to the next one. Our Community Life Coordinator, Keisha McDonald, is the brains behind our many wonderful programs and activities and we are so grateful for her fabulous ideas and her energy!
• This fall, we’ll begin our Monthly Health and Wellness series of fitness training, lifestyle coaching and yoga sessions, available in one-hour blocks each per month for all interested employees. The series is on a voluntary basis, and the scheduling of each of the programs is staggered so that all staff members can participate during work hours. “The JCHC is putting greater emphasis on preventative care and overall employee wellness. We are excited to offer the Monthly Health and Wellness Series to all of our staff,” said COO Laurie Loughney. “As an added incentive, employees who attend will get Cycle Coupons that can be redeemed for different prizes, such as water bottle infusers or discounts on vegetables at a local store.” Laurie noted that because Cycles of Wellness adds enhancements to the employee benefits package and promotes access to health and wellness alternatives, JCHC leadership hopes the program will yield some beneficial outcomes: a healthier workforce with a decrease in health-related time off, reduced overall health care costs, and greater employee satisfaction and retention.
Dolores Narag, RN and Keisha McDonald select fresh produce at the Lester farmers market.
Each farmers market had a bounty of fresh produce displayed in baskets baskets, which Keisha McDonald and our mashchiach, Joseph Dubov, are checking out.
• With summer produce readily available, we hosted employee farmers markets at the Lester Senior Housing Community and Jewish Federation Plaza. Employees were able to buy farm-fresh vegetables and fruits (we sold out at both markets!) and received handouts with healthy recipes and information about health and wellness. Produce available included mangos, blueberries, peppers, tomatoes, oranges, cucumbers, and kale. We also held raffles for smoothie makers. “It is a testament by the JCHC’s Board to its employees that we were able to provide a 50% discount on healthy and fun summer farmers market fare. It is important for our staff to be well and to learn healthy ways of living to enjoy life and enjoy working here at JCHC,” said Mitchell Goldberg, Director of Regional Dining Services. Chef Mitchell Goldberg shows off the vegetable display at Jewish Federation Plaza.
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South Orange B’nai B’rith Federation House Hosts Visit from Sen. Menendez’s Legislative Counsel
Welcome our New Site Managers
This spring, the South Orange B’nai B’rith Federation House (SOBBFH) hosted a visit by Rebecca Schatz, Legislative Counsel for Senator Robert Menendez, who toured the community and heard from residents about what it means to them personally to have affordable housing available to them. The visit provided Ms. Schatz with the opportunity to see firsthand the tangible benefits of HUD Section 202 Supporting Housing for the Elderly, a program that enables very low-income seniors to live independently in an environment that provides supportive services.
Two of our communities have new site managers, bringing with them many years of experience in property management and HUD buildings.
The residents who shared their insights and stories with Schatz also shared a common theme—that being able to live at B’nai B’rith Federation House provides them with safe, affordable housing in a true community setting that has had a strong, positive impact on their lives. They expressed the importance for them of HUD’s financial assistance due to the New Jersey’s high rental rates and other financial factors that have affected them.
SOBBFH: Beth Rayman
Beth started at South Orange B’nai B’rith Federation House in late July. A New Jersey native, she recently moved back here after living many years in southern California with family. In California, Beth was the multi-tasking office manager for a privately held real estate firm, where she handled many facets of property and asset management and became acquainted with Section 8 and HUD. From there, she worked with a friend who was involved in the active adult (55+) sphere, and she became very interested in working for organizations that serve older adults. Back in New Jersey, Beth was considering several professional options, including 55+ active adult communities. However, a search for “housing” led her to the JCHC and the site manager position.
Lavinia Walker (center), a long-time resident of South Orange B’nai B’rith Federation House with Artin Hagshenas (left) from Senator Menendez’s Newark, N.J. office and Rebecca Schatz, legislative counsel from Washington, D.C.
“We thank Ms. Schatz for making the time to see our community and hear how strongly our residents feel about the need for affordable housing,” said CEO Harold Colton-Max. “Our seniors are proof of what a vibrant and engaged retirement looks like, and of the benefits of providing high-quality housing with services at rates they can afford on restricted incomes.”
Our Creative Living Series is Available to Non-Profit Groups Did you know that the JCHC's Creative Living seminars—our lighthearted adult education presentations—are available to senior groups in Morris and Essex counties? Our residents have enjoyed these Creative Living seminars for years, and we share them with area senior groups at no charge. Presented by members of the JCHC team, each seminar runs 30-45 minutes and the topics are varied and fun. Groups learn about the history of coffee, tea and chocolate; take a look at New Jersey weather, explore facts and occurrences in daily life, learn about life in Israel, celebrate the “upside of 80,” and more. Read more on our website at http://jchcorp.org/jchc-presents-our-creative-living-seminars. To book a presentation or for more information, contact Barbara Moran, Community Liaison Coordinator, Barbaram@jchcorp.org or (973) 518-0993.
“Senior housing is really where my passion lies, and to be able to make a difference in a HUD community resonates beautifully with me,” said Beth, who credits her grandparents and parents for instilling in her the values of kindness and respect for others. “I am looking forward to carrying on these heartfelt values as site manager of the B’nai B’rith Federation House; thank you for welcoming me into the JCHC family!”
Jewish Federation Plaza: Kerry Rios
Kerry, who has worked in property management for 14 years, joined the JCHC team in March. She has managed both family and senior affordable housing properties, including HUDsubsidized programs and Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) programs for profit and non-profit organizations. Prior to working in real estate, Kerry was in the medical field but as she says, “After I transitioned to the housing world, I have never looked back. I truly believe this is my passion and where my heart is and will always be.” We’re glad to have Kerry on board and we welcome her to the team.
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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760 Northfield Ave., West Orange, NJ 07052 | 973-731-2020 | www.jchcorp.org
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New Spaces and Lots of Color at Village Apartments
It’s an Artist’s Life at Jewish Federation Plaza
As many of you know, we opened a beautiful new community room at Village Apartments of the Jewish Federation, as part of the extensive renovation that has been going on there since last year (with 12 luxury apartments and many upgrades to our common areas).
Creating art has been found to have many positive benefits, such as improving mood, memory, concentration and cognition, and reducing stress. It’s no wonder our residents at Jewish Federation Plaza look forward to our monthly creative arts classes!
Our new community room has become a vibrant hub of activity with a Wi-Fi-enabled business center (complete with computers, printers, and scanners), well-equipped fitness center, media space for films and presentations, multi-purpose activity areas, and a fireside lounge with comfy chairs. Our residents have been enjoying using the computers, getting in shape, watching movies on the widescreen monitor, and schmoozing aplenty.
Village Apartments residents enjoying a toast by the fireplace in the new community room.
Megan Fainsinger and Dina LaFond, a Village Apartments resident, planting flowers in windowsill boxes.
Owned and Managed by the Jewish Community Housing Corporation of Metropolitan New Jersey
Do you know an adult, age 62 or older, who’d love to live within walking distance of downtown South Orange Village? Contact Site Manager Cheryl Kasye at (973) 763-0999 to arrange a visit to see our new community room and luxury apartments.
Joan Cummings, our creative arts instructor, holds a BFA from Pratt Institute and has had a long, fulfilling career as a craft editor, product designer, and art director at several Fortune 500 companies in NYC. Joan is also a jewelry designer and has had her work on display at the Newark Museum, the Morris Museum, and Kean University.
Jewish Community Housing Corporation of Metropolitan New Jersey 760 Northfield Ave., West Orange, NJ 07052
If you haven’t seen our courtyard, it’s a lovely, fully landscaped getaway with a paver patio, handsome teak furniture, a pergola, plus standing gardens and windowsill planters.
Over the past three years, class participants have learned quilling (curling many narrow stripes of paper to create an image), mixed-media collage, and book making, they’ve created decorative cell phone shoulder bags and much more. There was a recent request to learn basic drawing, which will also be taught. Although the objective of each lesson is to teach participants something new about art, the foremost objective is to have fun!
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Of course, in the nice weather, there are also ample opportunities to enjoy our courtyard that is now bursting with color, thanks to all the beautiful plantings our residents did under the guidance of Megan Fainsinger from ART By The People at a spring planting party. (Megan conducts our JCHC horticulture (L. to r.): Alice Rowe, Dina LaFond, Megan Fainsinger and Laurie Tyrtell and floral arts at the spring planting party. classes at our communities.) Residents filled our windowsill planters with flowers and our standing gardens were prepped for the season’s floral finery. The patio explodes with color during the spring and summer months, where residents enjoy social gatherings, discussion groups, entertainment, and afternoons of sunshine.
Run by instructor Joan Cummings, the twohour classes cover basic art techniques and introduce participants to media, materials, and tools in new ways. The dedicated group is always excited for the next project and each art lesson . . . and the lively discussions. In between the quiet times when they’re concentrating on their work, our Plaza artists will often discuss what role art played in their lives: how they always wanted to learn how to draw, how they had to put off their art practice to raise their family, or how much they enjoy sharing art experiences with their grandchildren.
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Notes from the JCHC Resident Association Conference
Spotlight on Dennis & Holly Fruchter, Circle of Life Legacy Program Donors
Our third annual event was held on May 23 at the JCC MetroWest in West Orange. The focus this year was on advocacy and engagement for our seniors.
We spoke this spring to Holly and Dennis Fruchter, who have pledged a donation to our Circle of Life Legacy program. Holly’s ties to the JCHC are longstanding and very meaningful to her and Dennis serves on our Board of Trustees.
Representatives from our communities’ resident associations heard from B’nai B’rith International’s Evan Carmen, Assistant Director for Aging Policy and Janel Doughton, Associate Director for Senior Services; they are based in Washington, DC. After an overview of the many services provided by B’nai B’rith and the many senior housing buildings the organization sponsors worldwide, Evan and Janel spoke at length about how our residents can contact legislators to discuss issues of concern. They explained how to get in touch with the right people and how to make the issues known. Evan and Janel also shared insights into creating a welcoming fair housing environment. They discussed the different ways in which diversity shows up, the importance of respecting different cultural values, beliefs and lifestyles, and the need for accommodations for the disabled. Jeremy Julis, Deputy Director of Constituent Services from Senator Menendez’s office, also spoke. He advocates for New Jersey residents who contact Sen. Menendez’s office about various matters on a state or federal level (such as veterans’ benefits, Social Security or IRS matters, and housing); he told residents that he can also help connect them to other helpful resources and services as needed and encouraged everyone to contact him with any issues they need resolved. Dr. Beth Leiderman Statfeld, a member of the JCHC Board of Trustees who attended the morning session, noted that, “It is so important for our residents to step up as leaders and advocate for seniors’ needs and concerns—and for JCHC leadership to listen to our residents’ concerns as well. Thanks to today’s speakers, our resident association members are now well-informed about how to arrange a visit by a legislator or to reach the right people in their lawmakers’ offices, and get their voices heard.” In the afternoon, we had a vibrant session around leadership development. We covered the skills and traits of a good leader and everyone did a self-assessment of their leadership qualities, which sparked some great conversation around the room. We also discussed action plans and goal setting; and concluded with ideas on how to make our resident councils more effective. It was very productive and everyone came away with refreshed insights and tools to bring back to our communities’ resident associations.
Sign Up for the AARP Smart Driver Class
Holly’s mother, Nellie Morris—who is now 103— has lived at the Lester Senior Housing Community since Holly and Dennis Fruchter with Holly’s mother, Nellie Morris, 2001 and her father who lives at Lester Senior Housing Community. was there until he passed away in 2009. Holly visits her mother every week and sees the quality of life her mom continues to enjoy. “We see firsthand the importance of providing a safe, stable environment for our elders as they age, so when we heard about the legacy gift opportunity, and the importance of getting a certain number of commitments in order to qualify for a matching grant, we jumped at it,” she explained. The JCHC has not only met but exceeded that baseline number of pledges as well as the forecasted fundraising amount to date, with 19 commitments worth over $136,000. When Dennis retired about three years ago, he was looking for additional opportunities to get involved with Jewish organizations beyond what he was already doing. He connected with the JCHC and soon joined the Board, which has broadened his understanding of the work we do every day for our seniors. “I’ve had the opportunity to visit all the communities, see all the different people who make their homes with us, and see the value of the many functions our communities serve for our residents,” said Dennis. “We made our Circle of Life pledge last June, knowing that our donation will be used to expand the JCHC’s offerings for seniors and continue the wonderful programs our residents enjoy now, which is so important to us.” Becoming a Circle of Life legacy donor is such a meaningful way to make a charitable contribution that speaks to your own legacy. There is information available in all our buildings about how to join as a legacy donor. You can also visit our website page at www.jchcorp.org/ legacyprogram or contact JCHC CEO Harold Colton-Max at (973) 530-3961.
Planting the seeds for future generations
Village Apartments, located at 110 Vose Avenue in South Orange, will host the AARP Smart Driver Class on Monday, October 29 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Attendees will learn current rules of the road, defensive driving techniques, and how to operate a vehicle more safely in today’s increasingly challenging driving environment. You may also qualify for a three-year discount from your insurance company for completing the class. The cost is $15 for AARP members, $20 non-members. A continental breakfast will be provided; please bring your lunch. Preregistration is required, class size is limited. Call (973) 763-0999 to reserve your place.
Join residents of Village Apartments for Shabbat and Kiddush in the Sukkah
Fri., Sept. 28 at 1:30 p.m. Contact Cheryl to RSVP: 973-763-0999
Taking Care of the People Who Take Care of Our Residents JCHC employees enjoyed an afternoon of appreciation and fun at the Funplex in Whippany in early May, with a luncheon and gifts acknowledging those who were reaching milestone years of service as well as those employees cited by our residents for their work through our new Bright Star program. CEO Harold ColtonLily Medina (left), the maître d’ at Jewish Max thanked our hardworking Federation Plaza and April Osborne, our team members for their activities coordinator for Plaza and Village commitment to our residents Apartments, were among those acknowledged for their service to our residents. and our organization. Then it was time to enjoy more laser tag, video games, and some high-speed go kart racing.
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“Friends of JCHC” Tributes From
Cookie Schneiderman Cookie Schneiderman Charlie & Libby Stein Pat Sebold Andrew & Sharon Chavkin Andrew & Sharon Chavkin Harold Colton-Max Harold Colton-Max Brian Saltzman & Alma Schneider Dan & Matty Goldberg Bernard & Tina Rabbino April & Robert Sussman Harold Colton-Max Andrew & Sharon Chavkin Andrew & Sharon Chavkin Andrew & Sharon Chavkin
mazel tov, get well and in memoriam
To
Ms. Lee Sellinger Brian Saltzman Meryle Bromberg & Family Arthur Schechner Roberta Ferrara Lenore Gordon Arthur Schechner Richard Rosen Arthur Schechner Arthur Schechner Arthur Schechner Joni & Alan Cohen Paul & Renie Carniol Mrs. Marilyn Maloof Mrs. Arlene Haber Mr. & Mrs. Bruce Hausman
Lifecycle Event
In honor of a wonderful friendship Congratulations on your son’s bar mitzvah In memory of June Miller In memory of David Schechner In loving memory of your mother, Bea Alter In loving memory of your mother In memory of David Schechner Congratulations on Rebecca’s wedding In memory of David Schechner In memory of David Schechner In memory of David Schechner Congratulations on being honored by Temple B’nai Abraham Congratulations on the birth of your granddaughter, Lucelia Diane Carniol In loving memory of Jack In honor of your new grandson, Jack In honor of your new grandson, Noah
*To send a Tribute, contact Tayelor Barrett at 973-530-3966 or email TayelorB@JCHCorp.org.
Our Memory Care Suite is Now Accredited by Comfort Matters Comfort Matters: Quality of Care/Quality of Life Initiative is Formalized at Weston! We are delighted to announce that effective August 1, 2018, our Memory Care Suite, located in the Weston Assisted Living Residence, is now Comfort Matters accredited! We are the first assisted living residence in the state of New Jersey and the first Jewish community to hold this accreditation. Our team has been working closely with Tena Alonzo, Executive Director of Research and Education at Comfort Matters since before we opened the floor last May and welcomed our first resident. To attain this accreditation, Administrator Marlene Glass has been working diligently with the memory care team and with Tena to meet the criteria. Among the many touchpoints involved in this process were reviews every six months and questionnaires, data forms, and assessments regarding everything from care practices to meal choices, all to make sure our team was engaged actively in implementing the Comfort Matters philosophy. The Comfort Matters philosophy is a flexible, person-centered approach, putting each resident’s needs and comfort first, respecting them as individuals with preferences, likes and dislikes, and accommodating them as individuals. There’s no rigid schedule to follow—residents sleep when they want, eat what and when they want, and are offered a range of therapeutic, meaningful opportunities to continue to enjoy programs, hobbies and new cultural events, tailored to meet the residents at this time of their lives. Using the Comfort Matters road map, our care managers get to know each person in order to better anticipate his or her needs, and are empowered to help resolve problems quickly. Marlene created course handbooks for our team members based on the Comfort Matters materials. Our care managers are trained universally to provide care, dining experience, and community life programs and there is continuous training going on for new staff. At our six-month mark earlier this year, Tena came to the Lester Senior Community to observe our team in action, give a family class on dementia and dementia care, and presented a lecture for professionals. Throughout the year there has been continuous monitoring, coaching, and support. In July, we were ready for our site assessment, and demonstrated successfully that our team has the knowledge and skills to be Comfort Matters accredited. Tena met with family members of Memory Care residents, who shared how meaningful it has been for them and their loved ones. Special compliments were given to: Marlene Glass, Lester Administrator, for her tireless work on staff training and answering phone calls well into the evening; the Weston Memory Care Suite care managers for their compassion; the nurses and social workers who help make assessments and implement care plan changes immediately; and Mitchell Goldberg, JCHC Regional Dining Services Director and his dining team’s innovative ways of addressing resident nutritional needs and personal preferences in food choices. “It’s such a brilliant program because it’s so simple,” said Marlene of the Comfort Matters approach. “We see the benefits of it every day—the residents are happy, they are sleeping and eating as desired, they’re engaged in life on their own terms. When issues occur, our care managers handle those right away to ensure each resident’s comfort and calm at all times.”
The families are comfortable as well, feeling they can rest easy knowing their loved one is in good hands. Here’s what one grateful daughter had to say about Memory Care at Lester: “Due to my parent's increasing dementia we decided, with some trepidation, to put my parent in Memory Care. The Memory Care unit looked very inviting with newly renovated rooms. We were worried that the transition would be challenging but it went smoothly. My parent feels safe there and always looks nicely dressed and comfortable. The residents spend a lot of time together in the community room, participating in activities and eating their meals. Kendra and the staff do a great job engaging the residents. The fact that we know that our parent is well taken care of 24 hours a day is very comforting and takes the weight of worrying off our shoulders. I would recommend it to anyone struggling with a decision of how to take care of a parent with dementia.” If you have a loved one who would benefit from the individualized comfort care offered in our intimate Memory Care Suite, contact David Rozen at davidr@jchcorp.org or (973) 929-2725 to arrange a visit and discuss your needs.
JCHC Endowment Funds These endowment funds were set up by generous individuals and organizations with specific missions that ensure our seniors have the services and programs they need to live life to the fullest in our four communities. For more information, you can read about these funds on our website at http://jchcorp.org/endowment-funds/ The Weinberg Endowment Fund – provides financial assistance for lowincome seniors living in our unsubsidized apartment buildings. It was established in 2001 by a $1 million gift from the Harry and Jeannette Weinberg Foundation out of Maryland and matched by $2 million raised by the local MetroWest Jewish Community. The Harold Colton-Max Endowment – established in 2015 in honor of CEO Harold Colton-Max’s 10th year with the JCHC. Provides financial assistance for low-income seniors living in our unsubsidized apartment buildings. The Schofel Family Endowment – subsidizes activities and/or food programs for senior residents in need of financial assistance. This was established in 2005 by a $150,000 gift from former JCHC Board President Janice Schofel (z”l). The Dorothy Lazarus Endowment for the Hearing-Impaired – to purchase audiology equipment, hearing aids and pay for hearing examinations of JCHC residents. Philanthropists Eugene W. and Joan Kalkin established the endowment in 2002 with a $25,000 gift which was subsequently enhanced with an additional $5,000 contribution from the Kalkins. The Pearl and Max Randall Endowment – provides financial support for residents of our buildings to experience movies. This was started with a contribution of $10,000 from the Randalls over 20 years ago. If you wish to contribute to support any of these particular initiatives, please contact Harold Colton-Max, JCHC CEO at (973) 530-3961. You can also make your donation to the Friends of the JCHC and indicate the purpose on the memo line so that we can direct the funds accordingly.
760 Northfield Ave., West Orange, NJ 07052 | 973-731-2020 | www.jchcorp.org