Message from Rob Whitten, President of JGS Lifecare

September 14, 2023

Dear Residents and Families,

First, I would like to wish everyone a very happy and healthy New Year. Rosh Hashanah begins on Friday, September 15 at sundown and concludes on Sunday evening on September 17. Yom Kippur, Sukkot and Simchat Torah soon follow.

With Rosh Hashanah upon us, I thought this would be a good time to reflect on a very important anniversary in our organization. Ruth’s House opened its doors to our community on July 26, 1998. Now, 25 years later, I am very proud to say it is still an integral part of our JGS Lifecare campus.

On August 30th we marked this milestone by holding a celebration for our residents, families, staff and their families. The event was very well attended. We all enjoyed a delicious BBQ, live music, custom caricatures, and tasty desserts provided by Batch Ice Cream. Thank you to Ruth’s House team for all your hard work. We look forward to celebrating the next 25!

Warm regards,

Rob

JGS Lifecare COO Betsy Mullen Presented at Prominent Eldercare Conference

August 27, 2023

At the first joint Green House Project-Pioneer Network conference in Pittsburgh, COO Betsy Mullen reflected on creating and opening the Leonard Florence Center for Living, the first urban model Green House® skilled nursing facility in the country, over thirteen years ago. This year’s conference theme, Ready to Impact, brought together members from both the Green House Project and Pioneer Network under the new Center for Innovation banner. The four-day event consisted of networking opportunities, informational sessions, inspiring speakers, and special events, including a powerful musical about living with dementia.

Betsy was one of five distinguished key visionaries on a panel who discussed the past 20 years of Green House Homes. Other members included Steve McAlilly, president and CEO of Methodist Senior Services who started the first Green House 20 year ago; John Ponthie, founding Member of Southern Administrative Services, the first for-profit and largest operator of Green House homes; Jeff Shireman, CEO of Londonderry Village, the only PA provider of Green House Homes and Jill Wilson, president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Otterbein Senior Life.

The COO explained why JGS Lifecare and Chelsea Jewish Lifecare are different from other nonprofits. “We provide a real home and real family for seniors and individuals living with neurodegenerative and other debilitating conditions,” stated Mullen. “In essence, we overcome challenges by giving our residents and our employees experiences that they would not have otherwise.”

Susan Ryan, now CEO of The Center for Innovation, summed up the significance of the conference which included international attendees, many of whom had visited Leonard Florence Center for Living. “The overarching goal of this general session was to feature Green House leaders who have pushed through the challenges to seize the moment and the model that has impacted the world,” stated Ryan. “We are at a pivotal moment where demographics are shifting and the status quo can no longer be maintained or accepted.”

Betsy also addressed the fact that JGS Lifecare was able to retain its workforce throughout the COVID-19 pandemic without utilizing outside staffing agencies through its commitment to enhancing the lives of their employees. The company grocery store, started a few weeks ago on the Longmeadow campus and in place on three other campuses, provides free groceries to employees each and every week. Family trips are an integral part of the workplace culture, with destinations now such as Great Wolf Water Park, Encore, and past trips to Disney World and Las Vegas. The organizational culture has always been to appreciate staff and their families; this is more important than ever in the post-COVID world.

The conference was extremely meaningful to Mullen. “This was an amazing opportunity to collaborate with eldercare thought leaders throughout the world,” said Betsy. “It’s exciting to envision and be part of the growth and innovations in aging care services and in workforce development. The possibilities are endless!”

Behind the Scenes at JGS Lifecare

September 14, 2023

As August gave way to September, our Life Enrichment staff kept our residents engaged and entertained. At Home, our summer barbecues on Michael’s Café Patio continued to be a real hit! Residents enjoyed being outside for a fun and festive meal of hot dogs and hamburgers, grilled to perfection by JGS Lifecare president Rob Whitten.

Our monthly Veteran’s Gatherings continue to be a popular activity. A beautiful camaraderie has developed between these residents. They look forward to coming together, enrich their friendships and reminisce.

Jeff “The Plant Guy” entertained us in the Gloth Family Auditorium with his slideshow “Everything You Wanted to Know About Mustard!” Did you know that there is a national mustard museum in Middleton, Wisconsin? Residents were hesitant at first to attend based on the topic but left with a wealth of new and interesting information, as well as their own mustard seed plant!

Labor Day morning was celebrated with assorted mini donuts, to sweeten the day! Our afternoon celebration took place outdoors with music and ice cream treats.

At Ruth’s House our residents love to do crafts. Creating flower buttons was really fun for the residents. And for Hawaiian Day, residents enjoyed making homemade leis and savored the Hawaiian themed dinner made by our fantastic chef, Charlie.

Steve, a Ruth’s House Volunteer, plays chess each week with one of our residents, also named Steve. They have built a wonderful friendship.

A lunch trip to Red Robin was a delight. Tom and Robin enjoyed a beer while John and Faraz (our new Activity Assistant) socialized and told stories.

A special highlight of the month occurred on August 30th when Ruth’s House hosted a 25th Anniversary Celebration for residents, families, staff, and volunteers. Thanks to our amazing staff, and the beautiful weather, everyone had a wonderful time. Special thanks to Batch Ice Cream, Presz-Perry Acoustic, and JRC Caricatures/Drawing People Together for making the party extra special. Take a look at the video that we posted on our Facebook page.

The festivities will continue on September 19th with a community wide celebration, including a special dedication, candle lighting and heartfelt remarks.

Coming Your Way: 2023 Resident Satisfaction Survey

August 30, 2023

Our annual Resident Satisfaction Survey is meaningful to our organization. It’s an important way for us to obtain valuable feedback, enabling us to provide the best quality care for our residents. To coordinate the survey, we have partnered with Activated Insights, a nationally recognized research firm.

“Resident and family feedback helps shape the organization’s priorities and path forward,” stated Melissa Kershaw, MPT, Director of Organizational Development for JGS Lifecare. “Such input is vital to the care of our residents as well as our communication with families. We take to heart every comment, idea and suggestion.”

Designed to cover topics such as satisfaction with specific service areas, the survey is an opportunity to share what we are doing well — or could be doing better. The survey is completely confidential and will take place from October 2 through October 16. At that time, residents and families will receive an email or text invitation from Activated Insights which provides a special link to the survey. This link will be unique to each individual. The survey can be accessed via a smart phone, computer, or tablet and is compatible with all devices and web browsers. It should take approximately ten minutes to complete the survey. Please contact your Executive Director with any questions or concerns about the survey.

Kershaw stressed the significance of the survey. “We continuously strive to support and care for our residents in the best way possible. This feedback will guide us in helping our residents live life to the fullest!”