Indulge in Extraordinary Senior Living at The Watermark at Beverly Hills Hillside Memorial Park and Mortuary: Traditions for a New Generation

By Susan Payne

In the heart of Beverly Hills, assisted living residents thrive in the serenity of The Watermark at Beverly Hills minutes from world-class dining, shopping, cultural attractions, entertainment, sporting events and beautiful beaches.

The Watermark offers an all-inclusive lifestyle in which residents revel in the vibrancy of a close-knit community where opportunities for friendship, fun and adventure abound.

Custom to your needs and preferences, a team of patient, warm and diligent caregivers meet your needs around the clock. Each studio or one-bedroom residence features a spacious, boutique-style living space with designer kitchenettes, high ceilings and private balconies to enjoy the warm California sun.

From comfort food favorites to adventurous, elegant dining, five-star chef-prepared gourmet cuisines are resident ready and prepared with fresh, local ingredients. Each residence also features a fully stocked personal wine cellar and pantry.

The Watermark boasts “white glove” personal concierge services including personal drivers, a dynamic calendar of exciting events, classes and programs, and a rooftop that gives you a 360-degree view of the city.

For Watermark residents, a dynamic fitness center is available for use, along with daily housekeeping, dry cleaning and salon and barber services.

Gracious hospitality infused into all aspects of The Watermark ensure that every detail — and every resident — matters. Watermark hosts a number of innovative signature programs such as the award-winning Watermark University that allows residents to learn a new craft, embrace their passions, keep their body strong, explore new interests and indulge in inspiration. Watermark University gives residents an opportunity to test and improve their strength and flexibility in a yoga class, bring a new recipe to life in Creative

Cooking, discover a new artistic talent in The Artist Within, or dance the day away in Ballroom Dancing.

360Well, another signature program of The Watermark, is rooted in four key “circles” of wellness: mind, body, spirit and community. While each serves an important role on its own, the circles are interconnected. You’re in the driver’s seat when it comes to mapping your own 360Well path – traveling it independently or with your 360Well Coordinator serving as a guide. And when everything comes full circle, the result is a happier, healthier, and more fulfilling life.

For residents wanting to tap into their lifelong sense of adventure, Watermark’s Extraordinary Outings defy traditional expectations of what’s possible for residents in a senior living community. Residents, associates, families, and volunteers work together to plan safe, adapted outings you’ll be talking about for days to come — from overnight camping trips to day trips to a local winery, a night out at the ballet, hot-air balloon rides, museum tours, picnics in the park, and everything in between.

With EngageVR, Watermark’s virtual reality program, residents can indulge in curiosity and imagination as the universe unfolds and use computer technology to create interactive virtual experience that transport you to another place and time. Swim with dolphins, discover the glorious sights and sounds of Paris, visit your childhood home, take a journey through the majestic Grand Canyon, experience the Apollo 11 Moon landing, run with the bulls in Pamplona, or pilot a fighter jet for a real rush of adrenaline. Awe-inspiring adventures are right in front of you — no suitcase required.

The Watermark gives residents choices and endless opportunity to pursue passion and nourish their mind, body and spirit through this luxury, lifestyle-centric assisted living, short-term stays or senior living.

The Watermark at Beverly Hills is located at 220 N. Clark Drive in Beverly Hills. To schedule a private tour, call 424-512-7129 or visit beverlyhills.watermarkcommunities. com.

By Susan Payne

Serving the Jewish and Interfaith community, Hillside Memorial Park and Mortuary in Los Angeles is a peaceful, serene oasis from the moment you enter the grounds.

Amid lush landscaping, waterfalls and quiet courtyards, the tranquil environment allowing families and visitors to take a moment of time in a supportive environment to reflect on the lives of their loved ones.

“It’s important for us to create and maintain a beautiful place for families to visit, reflect and honor amidst a comfortable and quiet peace surrounding their loved ones,” said Rafael Ochoa, General Manager at Hillside.

Hillside offers a vast selection of ground and wall burial, along with cremation placement and burial, all with a concierge-level of service that helps you honor your loved ones, while reflecting on your families’ unique values and traditions. Hillside’s mission is to support each family with information, education and kindness from the initial appointment through the time of loss, continuing through aftercare.

“We create personal relationships with each of our families to find what resonates best with them. Listening to their unique family history and values, creating each service as a most memorable and beautiful experience for them,” Ochoa said.

Hillside is committed to providing families with the highest quality care and service in their time of need, softening the burden as they take the first steps toward healing.

“The beauty of Hillside is an extension of the extraordinary lives we honor each and every day. We look at every touch point within our families’ experience to provide excellent service in every step,” said Ochoa.

Hillside offers grief support programs, education programs and resources to the community and to families during and after the loss of their loved ones. Each year, the park hosts Remembrance Services for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and Kever Avot in their Large Sanctuary, allowing the community to honor and reflect on their memories of past generations.

“We take tremendous honor in serving our families. Our staff is carefully selected to ensure that each and every one of them has the genuine passion and compassion necessary to do this important and meaningful work,” Ochoa said.

Throughout history, the foundation of a Jewish community has always been built with a cemetery, school and a synagogue. Hillside is a community service of Temple Israel of Hollywood and is committed to the vitality of the greater Los Angeles and Jewish communities.

Education programs and special events are held throughout the year to educate members of the community about Jewish traditions, the importance of advance planning, mourning practices, as well as to reflect on important Jewish events, such as Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day.

Whether you are ready to make your plans now, or in the future, it is important to start the conversation with your family and loved ones. Planning in advance is one of the greatest gifts to share with your family. Removing doubt and understanding their preferences as to how they want to be remembered provides clarity and understanding, opening the path towards healing.

Each Saturday, the park is closed for visitation in observance of Shabbat, in addition to the Jewish holidays of Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret and the first and seventh days of Passover.

For more information, visit www. hillsidememorial.org.