Welcome to Our Fall Newsletter!

To Our JGS Lifecare Family,

As we approach Yom Kippur, I want to take a moment to wish our entire JGS Lifecare community a very happy and healthy New Year. We will be celebrating the fall harvest festival of Sukkot and Simchat Torah next. Both holidays are joyous, filled with beautiful music, festive decorations, and traditional foods that bring our community together.

Our 45th Annual Frankel-Kinsler Classic Day of Tournaments was a wonderful example of spirit. More than 200 people came together for a day of golf, pickleball, cards, laughter, and friendship. Together, we raised more than $139,000 to support the care of our community’s elders. My heartfelt thanks go to our participants, sponsors, volunteers, and staff who made the day so special.

I am also incredibly proud of the teams at JNH and Ruth’s House Assisted Living, both of which received successful surveys from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the Executive Office of Elder Affairs. These accomplishments reflect the dedication and teamwork our staff demonstrate every day.

Shanah Tovah and G’mar Chatim Tovah!

Warm regards,

Rob

Legacy Lifecare VNA & Hospice West has received the prestigious Hospice Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) Honors Award for the fourth consecutive year. The annual recognition honors top-performing hospice agencies across the United States for excellence in patient and caregiver experience.

Presented by MatrixCare, the Hospice CAHPS Honors Award recognizes hospice organizations that demonstrate exceptional performance in patient and caregiver experience. Recipients must score above the national performance benchmark on 100% of the 24 evaluated questions, making the award a significant measure of consistent, high-quality hospice care.

“We are truly honored to receive this recognition for the fourth consecutive year,” said Madeline Presz, RN, BSN, Senior Director of Home and Community Services. “To be recognized for exceeding the national performance score in every one of the 24 areas measured is a meaningful reflection of the trust our patients and families place in us. It recognizes the consistency, compassion, and teamwork our entire hospice team brings to every interaction, every day.”

For Legacy Lifecare VNA & Hospice West, receiving the Hospice CAHPS Honors Award for four consecutive years reflects an ongoing commitment to delivering compassionate, person-centered care and creating positive experiences for patients and their families.

“Our goal is always to ensure that patients and families feel heard, supported, and cared for with dignity, and we are incredibly proud that their experiences continue to reflect that commitment,” explained Presz.

For 90-year-old Connie Pajak, there’s no better surprise than seeing her son, musician Tim Ceccehetelli, walk through the door of her skilled nursing residence with his guitar.

This summer, Tim surprised his mom not once, but twice, with special performances for the residents at Leavitt Family Jewish Home, where Connie is a resident.

The first performance took place just before Mother’s Day. With the help of Cheryl Gumlaw, Director of Life Enrichment at JGS Lifecare, Tim arrived without telling Connie he was performing. When she saw him, her face lit up.

“She loved it,” Tim said. “She was smiling from ear to ear the whole time.”

Tim, who grew up loving The Beatles and began playing guitar in eighth grade, began his music career by attending open mic nights, gradually building the confidence to perform in front of an audience. After several years of persistence — and some early struggles — Tim found his footing as a performer. Today, he plays approximately 100 shows a year. His repertoire includes music from artists such as James Taylor, Jim Croce, Simon & Garfunkel and Neil Diamond, although he also plays the classics requested by the residents such as Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett and Bing Crosby.

Tim is grateful to the many members of the Leavitt Family Jewish Home (JNH) team who have helped make his mother feel comfortable and welcome. “I feel fortunate we found JNH to be my mom’s new home.”

He gives special credit to Gumlaw, who helped arrange these surprise performances. He also appreciates Diane, Jamaris, Byron, Melanie, Jesse and the many other staff members who care for Connie each day.

Connie has also found ways to continue enjoying one of her own favorite pastimes. These days she can often be found playing her keyboard in the A1 common room.

On August 3, Cheryl helped make magic happen again. Tim returned for an encore performance—and once again, Connie had no idea he was coming.

“I never tell Connie when Tim is coming,” Cheryl explained. “It’s always a pleasant surprise for her, and we all love seeing the absolute joy on her face.”

And once again, when Connie saw her son walk through the door, she asked with delight:

“Is that who I think it is?”

For Connie, the performances are about much more than music. They are special moments shared with her son — moments of joy, connection and a little bit of the outside world brought right to her home at Levitt Family Jewish Home. And for everyone lucky enough to be there, seeing Connie’s face light up when Tim walks through the door is a reminder that sometimes the greatest gift is simply showing up for someone you love.

At JGS Lifecare, person-centered care begins with a simple but important commitment: we take the time to truly know the people in our care. We learn about their lives, their interests, their routines, and the things that bring them comfort, purpose and joy.

Brian is a wonderful example.

When Brian first came to JGS Lifecare, Parkinson’s disease had significantly affected his strength and independence. Following rehabilitation at the Sosin Center for Rehabilitation, he transitioned to The Leavitt Family Jewish Home, where our staff quickly came to know Brian not simply as a resident, but as a person, with a fascinating career as a wine buyer, a love of flowers and gardening, and interests he wanted to continue enjoying.

Over time, Brian regained strength and became increasingly engaged in daily life. Today, he walks with the assistance of a walker, participates in activities, lends a hand to our Life Enrichment team, and enjoys spending time with residents, staff and volunteers.

And our staff continue to discover new ways to make his days meaningful.

Brian once shared that he had dreamed of retiring in Hawaii and spoke about his love of its beautiful tropical flowers. His room overlooks one of our courtyards, so this spring our staff planted vibrant hibiscus shrubs in a sunny spot where Brian could see and enjoy them.

The flowers have flourished, and so has Brian’s enjoyment of them. His smile says it all.

That same spirit of engagement carries into other parts of Brian’s day. Whether he is enjoying the courtyard, playing a game, helping with an activity, or joining residents for a little bowling, the goal is not simply to keep him busy. It is to offer experiences that connect with who he is and give him opportunities for enjoyment, purpose and belonging.

These may seem like small moments, but they are at the heart of exceptional elder care.

The JGS staff take great pride in learning the stories, preferences and passions of the people entrusted to our care and finding thoughtful ways to bring those things into their daily lives. Because person-centered care isn’t just about caring for someone. It is about knowing them, and helping each person continue to experience connection, meaning and joy.

That is the kind of care we are proud to provide at JGS Lifecare every day!

Director of Nursing at JGS Lifecare’s Nursing Home

For Stephen Wagner, RN, BSN, caring for others has always come naturally. But his path to nursing leadership took a few unexpected turns—including a career in construction and a lifelong passion for making a difference in people’s lives.

Steve grew up in central Massachusetts before moving to the Springfield area after graduating from Syracuse University in 1996. He earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology and biology with an initial goal of becoming a school psychologist. Instead, he discovered nursing and quickly realized it was the perfect fit.

“I became a nurse because I was naturally drawn to helping others,” Steve says.

He earned his BSN from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and became a registered nurse that same year. Early in his nursing career, Stephen worked as an oncology nurse at Baystate Medical Center and also gained experience in mental health nursing. As his career progressed, he moved into nursing leadership, taking on increasingly senior roles and developing a passion for supporting both clinical teams and the people they serve.

Although many of his nursing roles involved long-term care and caring for adults over age 65, Wagner says it wasn’t until 2023 that he decided to focus specifically on leadership in geriatric care.

That decision eventually brought him to JGS Lifecare, where he has now been serving as Director of Nursing.

Making JGS Feel Like Home

Ask Stephen about the best part of his job, and his answer goes beyond clinical care.

“I truly enjoy helping to make JNH a home,” he says. “It is a fundamental philosophy of our organization, and we get complete support from the leadership team.”

Steve believes a home should be more than a place to live– it should be safe, welcoming and filled with opportunities for connection. He sees that philosophy come to life every day through interactions among residents, families and staff.

He particularly enjoys seeing residents take part in the many social and recreational activities offered throughout the community. From cookouts and musical performances to art projects and other gatherings, these everyday moments create opportunities for residents and staff to share smiles, laughter and meaningful connections.

“JNH has so many wonderful residents, families and staff,” Stephen says. “I really like coming to work and look forward to spending time with the residents and families.”

A Culture That Values Family

One of the things Stephen appreciates most about JGS Lifecare is its emphasis on work-family balance.

When he interviewed for the Director of Nursing position with Robert Whitten and Carol Mortensen, they made it clear that his family life mattered to the organization.

That balance is especially meaningful to Stephen, who lives in Ludlow with his fiancée, Ashley, and their four children: Chase, 16; Dylan, 14; Tyler, 10; and Avery, 5.

Outside of work, Stephen enjoys spending time with family and friends, relaxing in the pool, playing sports with his children and cooking — although, with a laugh, he admits he is “not the best cook.”

From Building Houses to Building Better Lives

Perhaps the most surprising chapter in Stephen’s story is one that has nothing to do with nursing.

Until 2020, he owned a construction business that specialized in rehabilitating homes. During that time, the company helped restore more than 30 houses in the local area that had been abandoned or fallen into severe disrepair.

The work was personal for Steve. His father was an exceptional carpenter, and he learned much of what he knows about construction from him. But as time went on, Steve made the decision to step away from construction and focus entirely on nursing. The choice reflected something deeper than a career decision.

“I chose nursing over construction because I felt like my nursing leadership qualities had more of a direct effect on people’s quality of life,” he says.

Today, Stephen is an integral part of JGS Lifecare. He loves working alongside staff, residents and families to help create a community where people feel safe, supported and at home.

And this seems the perfect role for the former builder: to help build a home—not just a building—for people he cares about.

 

We want to hear from you! Our annual Resident Satisfaction Survey is an important opportunity for residents and families to share their experiences, celebrate what we’re doing well, and let us know where we can improve.

Once again, we’ve partnered with Activated Insights to conduct the survey.

The survey will take place October 12 through October 25. Residents and families will receive a personalized invitation by email or text with a unique survey link. The survey takes approximately 10 minutes and can be completed on a smartphone, tablet, or computer. All responses are confidential.

Need assistance? Our Executive Directors, also known as our “Survey Champions,” will be available to answer questions, and offer assistance with accessing or completing the survey.

“Your feedback helps us understand what matters most to our residents and families,” said Melissa Kershaw, MPT, Director of Organizational Development at JGS Lifecare. “Every voice gives us an opportunity to learn, grow, and make our communities even better.”

Thank you for participating in the survey. We truly appreciate your help!

Nursing Homes Can Provide Quality, Creative Care. Here’s One

By Howard Gleckman
[Photo by Stan Grossfeld of Patrick O’Brien]

The nursing home business is tough. Few want to live in them. It is hard to make money running a good one. Government regulations make creative care a huge challenge. And they have a reputation, too often deserved, of being unpleasant and even dangerous places to live and work.

Yet, I sometimes come across a skilled nursing facility that trashes all the stereotypes. It shows what a nursing home can become with a committed and skilled staff, good organization, and passionate and creative leadership.

I recently visited one such place, the Leonard Florence Center for Living in the blue-collar Boston suburb of Chelsea. It struggles with insufficient Medicaid reimbursement, but the care and dignity it provides its residents are extraordinary. It has created a sense of personal autonomy among staff and residents that makes it possible for extremely ill people to live their best possible lives.

Click here to continue reading on Forbes.com

Click here to continue reading via PDF.