Hebrew SeniorLife Blog

Tips and resources to help you navigate the joys and challenges of aging, from Boston's trusted expert in senior care.

Chaplaincy Initiative Combats Isolation Among Boston’s Jewish Seniors

Brings the Jewish Chaplaincy Council of Massachusetts under Its Spiritual Care Department

News Topics

Locations

BOSTON – Hebrew SeniorLife (HSL), a nonprofit senior care provider committed to improving the lives of older adults of all religions, today announced a new initiative designed specifically to combat isolation among frail Jewish seniors living in Greater Boston.

Going forward, the work of the Jewish Chaplaincy Council of Massachusetts (JCCM) will be delivered through a new Community Chaplaincy Initiative (CCI) at HSL. HSL already offers an award-winning clinical pastoral education program that is the only Jewish program of its type nationwide accredited by the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc.

The HSL CCI is led by HSL’s Director of Spiritual Care Rabbi Sara Paasche-Orlow and Rabbi Judy Kummer, who served for 18 years as JCCM’s Director. Seniors will access CCI services through HSL’s rapidly expanding Home and Community Based Services, which serve more than 600 seniors daily and include Home Care, Hospice Care, and a recently launched community palliative care program.

According to Rabbi Sara Paasche-Orlow, HSL Director of Spiritual Care, “Isolation and loneliness are issues for many seniors of all backgrounds. Jewish seniors are the Jewish community's fastest growing segment and CCI allows us to provide the increasingly specialized services they will need in the decades ahead. CCI will be a natural extension of our chaplaincy work and home-based care, and will allow us to bring our best spiritual and physical care to ensure seniors remain connected and supported as they age.”

"I’m delighted to join HSL to continue JCCM's mission of providing professional spiritual care services to isolated Jewish seniors in Greater Boston," said Rabbi Kummer. Rabbi Kummer will work to expand the number of non-Jewish eldercare facilities and acute-care settings where HSL provides spiritual care and connect isolated Jewish elders with other HSL services and supports.

HSL offers a comprehensive range of home and community-based services to older adults, including home health care and hospice care. Hebrew SeniorLife Home Care is staffed by seasoned professionals who specialize in the needs of older adults and are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The continuation of the mission of JCCM as a new and collaborative initiative at HSL is possible due to funding from Combined Jewish Philanthropies (CJP) and members of the Greater Boston Jewish community. “Providing compassionate care at this critical stage of life is an integral aspect of what it means to be a caring community,” said Sarah Abramson, Vice President; Caring, Community Impact and Strategic Partnerships, CJP. “We’re confident that delivering spiritual care to isolated elders through this new HSL initiative will ensure access across our community to high-quality Jewish chaplaincy services.”

About HSL Spiritual Care
The Spiritual Care Team at HSL serves patients, residents, staff, and family members of all traditions and backgrounds. In HSL hospitals, home care and hospice, assisted living, and independent living communities, chaplains work as members of an interdisciplinary team to provide emotional support and to facilitate reflection and spiritual growth. With extensive training in clinical pastoral care, HSL chaplains have particular expertise in helping people find meaning and deepen their spiritual lives as they encounter the challenges and opportunities of aging, in some cases struggle with dementia, and face the end of life.

The HSL Chaplaincy Institute, accredited by the Association of Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE), is an important part of the HSL Spiritual Care program. Seminarians come to study and intern with HSL from Greater Boston, nationally, and internationally. In addition to training future and current clergy and chaplains in pastoral care with elders, students increase HSL’s ability to provide care throughout Hebrew Rehabilitation Center, providing over 5,000 hours of pastoral care to patients each year. The program is the only ACPE accredited program nationally focused on caring for Jewish elders. As one of the most respected CPE programs in the region, the majority of certified Jewish chaplains in Greater Boston and many chaplains of all backgrounds have studied at HSL during their education and certification process. For more information, please visit https://www.hebrewseniorlife.org/clinical-pastoral-education.

About Hebrew SeniorLife
Hebrew SeniorLife, an affiliate of Harvard Medical School, is a national senior services leader uniquely dedicated to rethinking, researching and redefining the possibilities of aging. Founded in Boston in 1903, the nonprofit, non-sectarian organization today provides communities and health care for seniors, research into aging, and education for geriatric care providers. For more information about Hebrew SeniorLife, visit https://www.hebrewseniorlife.org, follow us on Twitter @H_SeniorLife, like us on Facebook or read our blog.

Events that Fuel Innovation

By participating, supporting, sponsoring, or volunteering at one of our events, you are helping to ensure a bright future for all of us as we age.

Hebrew SeniorLife has two annual events. EngAGE is our signature event, with compelling speakers, panel discussions, and intimate dinner parties afterwards. It’s an easy, fun way to learn something new, laugh with friends, and benefit seniors at the same time. Our golf tournament is another fun event that raises funds for the seniors in our care, research on how we can age well, and education for the next generation of care providers. We also have smaller, educational events throughout the year. Come join us, and help us reinvent the experience of aging.

For more information about these events, contact Stacey Weinbaum, Executive Director, Board Relations at 617-971-5790 or Weinbaum@hsl.harvard.edu.

Our Annual Events

EngAGE logo

EngAGE

For more than 100 years, Hebrew SeniorLife has been redefining care for older adults. Today, we have the opportunity of a lifetime to change the way we age, for ourselves and future generations.
EngAGE 2024 will be held on Tuesday, October 1, 2024, at the ICA/Boston.
 

Learn More About EngAGE
Beautiful day with a golfer on the green with several other golfers in background

Golf Tournament

Each year, Hebrew SeniorLife holds a golf tournament to raise funds to help older adults live with independence, dignity, and joy, no matter what their age or ability. This year’s golf tournament will be held on June 24 at Belmont Country Club. 

Register Here

Event Photos

Our EngAGE event is both thought-provoking and entertaining; guest speakers have included Fran Drescher, Isaac Mizrahi, Alan Alda, Rita Moreno, and Meredith Vieira, to name just a few.

Class of Alzheimer’s Drug Presents Unique Challenge for Patients With Cardiovascular Disease, Says JAMA Article

Authors advocate for additional research to improve decision-making before initiating lecanemab

News Topics

Locations

BOSTON – A new Viewpoint article published in JAMA, entitled “Use of Lecanemab for Patients with Cardiovascular Disease – The Challenge of Uncertainty,” advocates for additional research to improve decision-making prior to initiating lecanemab, commercially known as Leqembi, an FDA-approved Alzheimer’s Disease drug.

Co-authors of the Viewpoint included:

Advanced care planning prior to initiation of lecanemab and other antiamyloid monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) approved in the future is important so that clinicians, patients, and their families are fully aware of the unknowns, especially for patients with cardiovascular disease that may require anticoagulants or thrombolytics.

The authors note that “in the initial phase of the drug rollout, patients are being carefully selected to minimize the potential side effects of the drug (but) a major safety concern … has been amyloid-related imaging abnormalities (ARIA), the most concerning of which is cerebral macrohemorrhage.” Dr. Ko said that “the risk was higher in patients on anticoagulation.”  

Antithrombotic therapy presents a unique challenge for patients considering some Alzheimer's drugs. In their Viewpoint, the authors note that in approving lecanemab, the FDA did not advise regarding the risk of concurrent anticoagulation therapy, and that “the Alzheimer’s Association’s Therapeutics Work Group took a more conservative approach and recommended that persons with cerebral amyloid angiopathy and those currently prescribed anticoagulants should not be candidates for lecanemab because the risk of bleeding outweighs the potential benefit.”

“We anticipate that three common acute clinical conditions – ischemic stroke, myocardial infarction, and pulmonary embolism – for which treatment with thrombolytics and anticoagulation are critical and clinical decisions must be made emergently, will be particularly challenging in patients treated with antiamyloid mAb and will require careful advance directive conversations with patients,” they wrote in the paper.

Decisions regarding the use of lecanemab, an important advance in the treatment of Alzheimer’s, are currently based on limited safety data. “To meet this challenge,” the authors note, “there is a pressing need to create multidisciplinary treatment teams for Alzheimer’s Disease, develop shared decision-making models for advanced care planning, and produce the empiric data needed to guide treatment decisions.”

 

About Hebrew SeniorLife

Hebrew SeniorLife, an affiliate of Harvard Medical School, is a national senior services leader uniquely dedicated to rethinking, researching, and redefining the possibilities of aging. Hebrew SeniorLife cares for more than 4,500 seniors a day across six campuses throughout Greater Boston. Locations include: Hebrew Rehabilitation Center-Boston and Hebrew Rehabilitation Center-NewBridge in Dedham; NewBridge on the Charles, Dedham; Orchard Cove, Canton; Simon C. Fireman Community, Randolph; Center Communities of Brookline, Brookline; and Jack Satter House, Revere. Founded in 1903, Hebrew SeniorLife also conducts influential research into aging at the Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research, which has a portfolio of more than $85 million, making it one of the largest gerontological research facilities in the U.S. in a clinical setting. It also trains more than 500 geriatric care providers each year. For more information about Hebrew SeniorLife, visit our website at or follow us on our blog, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and LinkedIn.

About the Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research

Scientists at the Marcus Institute seek to transform the human experience of aging by conducting research that will ensure a life of health, dignity, and productivity into advanced age. The Marcus Institute carries out rigorous studies that discover the mechanisms of age-related disease and disability; lead to the prevention, treatment, and cure of disease; advance the standard of care for older people; and inform public decision-making.

Offered at:

Personalized Treatment for Dementia at the Wolk Center for Memory Health

At the Deanna and Sidney Wolk Center for Memory Health in Boston, we focus on you - not your disease. We will consider and address all aspects of your health and life, and based on your own goals, we’ll partner with you to decrease your risk of developing more advanced dementia, slow the progression of cognitive decline, and maximize your daily functioning. 

At the Wolk Center, you won’t need to navigate a complicated system of health care providers on your own. You’ll have a small team dedicated to you and coordinating your care with other providers. 

The Wolk Center is led by Medical Director Dr. Alvaro Pascual-Leone, a Harvard Medical School professor and international leader in maintaining brain health across the lifespan, and includes specialists in:

  • Cognitive neurology
  • Geriatrics
  • Palliative care
  • Psychiatry
  • Psychology
  • Nursing
  • Social work

We’ll be here throughout your entire journey, working with you to adjust your care plan as your needs change.

Treatment for All Types of Dementia

We provide evidence-based treatment for many different forms of cognitive decline and dementia, including:

  • Mild cognitive impairment
  • Alzheimer’s disease
  • Vascular dementia
  • Lewy body dementia
  • Frontotemporal dementia
  • Mixed dementia

It’s never too early or too late to seek treatment at the Wolk Center for Memory Health. We treat patients at all stages of the disease.

We also encourage involvement from family members and caregivers. They play an important role in each patient’s journey and we want everyone involved to have the knowledge and support they need.

A Coordinated Care Team

If you or a loved one has dementia, you’ve likely experienced a confusing and fragmented network of care providers, with a number of specialists who don’t always communicate with each other and leave you to bridge the gap. The Wolk Center for Memory Health is committed to providing a different experience.

At the Wolk Center, you’ll get all the advantages of an academic medical center in a small team of specialists under one roof who consult with each other frequently to give you the best care possible. We’ll also coordinate with your primary care physician to ensure smooth transitions and alignment in your treatment.

The Wolk Center is part of the Hebrew SeniorLife network of health care and senior living services, including in-home care, memory care assisted living, long-term chronic care, and more. Wolk Center patients enjoy seamless access to these resources throughout our organization, along with the knowledge that they will continue to be cared for by people who know their goals and personalized plan.

Treatment Options

The first step is to get an accurate diagnosis to understand exactly what is causing your symptoms and difficulties. We’ll make sure you understand your diagnosis and what science tells us about your prognosis and the trajectory of the disease.

With a specific diagnosis, we can tailor your treatments to slow the progression of the disease and minimize its impact on your life.

Treatments available at the Wolk Center include:

Cognitive health is impacted by a number of modifiable lifestyle factors, meaning that there are specific scientifically-proven steps you can take to minimize or manage memory loss.

During a consultation, we’ll review your current situation and make recommendations tailored to your other medical conditions, living environment, and goals of care. This may include:

  • Sleep
  • Nutrition
  • Exercise
  • Social connections
  • Vision
  • Hearing
  • Diabetes management
  • Blood pressure management
  • Weight management

For example, 50% of people who receive a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) never go on to develop dementia. With the right combination of lifestyle and health interventions, you can slow the progression of cognitive decline and reduce the risk of developing dementia.

Once we’ve developed a personalized plan for you, our team can help you put in place the resources and support you need to succeed.

Our physicians, nurse practitioners, and health care providers are up to date on the latest approaches for using medication to manage the effects of dementia, and can prescribe them if they could be of benefit for you. 

We can also assess whether other medications you take may actually be worsening symptoms of dementia, and work with your primary care physician and other specialists to make changes as necessary.

Depression can commonly occur with or exacerbate cognitive decline. It’s estimated that up to 40% of people with Alzheimer’s disease experience significant depression. The Wolk Center’s geriatric psychiatrist and psychologist can provide treatment for depression, including medication and counseling. Because we know that dementia is a disease that affects the entire family, we also provide counseling services for the family members and caregivers of people with dementia.

We offer the only transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) program in New England that specializes in treating geriatric depression. This new, non-invasive outpatient treatment is particularly effective in improving treatment-resistant depression.

Palliative care focuses on treating the symptoms associated with illness that may be standing in the way of you living your best life. Palliative care can be helpful at any stage of a chronic illness, but especially as dementia progresses.

The Wolk Center for Memory Health offers palliative care consultations with our geriatrician who will take a holistic view of your illness, working with you and your family to understand how the disease impacts all areas of your life. We will suggest medical and non-medical ways to alleviate the effects of dementia. We can also help you consider your goals of care and align your treatment plan accordingly, document your end-of-life wishes, and facilitate family discussions.

Wolk Center for Memory Health patients have access to translational and clinical cutting-edge research conducted at Hebrew SeniorLife’s Harvard Medical School-affiliated Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research. The Marcus Institute is one of the top gerontological research institutes in the country, and its research portfolio ranks in the top 11 percent of institutions funded by the National Institutes of Health.

In fact, many Wolk Center clinicians also hold research positions at the Marcus Institute and can suggest clinical trial opportunities that coordinate with the rest of your treatment plan. Marcus Institute research focuses on discovering ways to improve treatment for people with dementia and developing new approaches to slow cognitive decline.

Learn more and see what studies you may qualify for.

How to Schedule an Appointment with the Wolk Center for Memory Health

Contact us at 617-363-8600 or send us a message online for an initial consultation. Together, we can start putting together a plan that includes the right mix of treatments for your own unique needs. Virtual and in-person appointments are available. 

Contact the Wolk Center

Related Wolk Center Services

Dr. Caleb Jordan speaks with a patient at the Wolk Center for Memory Health.

Finding the Answers You Deserve

Diagnostic Services at the Wolk Center

If you’re concerned about signs of memory loss, cognitive problems, or behavioral changes in you or a loved one, the Wolk Center for Memory Health can provide assessment and diagnostic services. We go beyond just “whether” you have an impairment to identify “why” you are experiencing it.

Get Answers
An older woman sits at a table painting at Hebrew Rehabilitation Center in Dedham, with bright artwork in the foreground. She is smiling up at a younger female staff member who is standing next to her and holding her hand.

You’re Not Alone

Support for Living with Memory Loss

Caring for a loved one with dementia can be overwhelming. That’s why we’re here to help you with caregiver training, counseling, support groups, and more.

Get Personalized Support
Dr. Caleb Jordan and Dr. Davide Cappon have a discussion while walking outside.

Experts Here For You

Meet the Team

As a Wolk Center patient, you’ll benefit from a team approach. Meet the expert professionals who will collaborate on your care.

Get to Know Us

From Our Blog

A resident in memory assisted living at NewBridge on the Charles in Dedham, MA arranges flowers with a middle-school aged student.

From Our Blog

How to Help Disorientation Caused by Dementia

Confusion with time and place can be common for people with dementia. Get tips from the experts at the Wolk Center for Memory Health.

It’s easy enough for any of us to lose track of time, forget the date, not know what day of the week it is, or even be unsure of where we are. As we get lost in the business of...

Keep Reading

Harvard Medical School Research in a Personal Environment

Wolk Center for Memory Health patients have direct access to the latest clinical research studies related to brain health, cognitive decline, memory loss, and healthy aging. Your Wolk Center care team can recommend clinical trials at Hebrew SeniorLife’s Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research as a complement to your treatment plan.

The Marcus Institute is an affiliate of Harvard Medical School and partners with leading research organizations around the world. Their research portfolio ranks them in the top 11 percent of institutions funded by the National Institutes of Health.

Many Wolk Center clinicians, including Medical Director Dr. Alvaro Pascual-Leone, also hold research positions at the Marcus Institute. This makes the connections between the Wolk Center and the Marcus Institute seamless for our patients and their families.

Research studies are also open to those who aren’t patients at the Wolk Center. Marcus Institute clinical research is conveniently based near the Wolk Center on the campus of Hebrew Rehabilitation Center in Boston. Some studies require in-person visits, while others are home-based.

Read more to explore which Marcus Institute studies are currently recruiting participants, and what you may qualify for.

Current Research Studies

If you’ve been diagnosed with memory deficits, you could participate in a study to determine if a home-based form of non-invasive brain stimulation (tACS) improves memory in older adults. Past studies have shown promise in using non-invasive brain stimulation as a tool to improve memory and thinking.

Study staff aims to recruit pairs of participants - a person with memory decline and a caregiver, spouse, or adult child who will learn to administer the treatment at home under the supervision of trained research staff.

Learn More

Download a Brochure

Changing the Standard of Care

Three young researchers at the Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research in Boston study images of a human brain.

Uncovering Answers to the Challenges of Aging

For more than 50 years, the Marcus Institute has discovered innovative treatments and proven best practices to help seniors live longer, more active, and more fulfilling lives. Our experts study everything from the brain to mobility, osteoporosis to palliative care, and more.

Explore Our Research
A graphic representation of an older woman struggling with memory issues.

Learn About Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation

Studies have shown promise in using non-invasive brain stimulation as a tool to improve memory and thinking. Researchers at the Marcus Institute are assessing whether it can improve cognition in older people with dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. Watch the video to learn how the technology works.

What People are saying about Hebrew SeniorLife

  • "Dr. Cappon is super and the research staff is really incredible. That’s what has kept my husband wanting to do these studies. His interaction with Dr. Pascual-Leone and the staff has been exceptional. Their drive and dedication is really inspiring."

    Olga P.

Wolk Center Services

Coalition Issues Recommendations to Prevent Secondary Osteoporotic Fracture

Recommendations target all health care professionals who participate in the care of older adults at risk for osteoporotic fractures

News Topics

Locations

BOSTON - A multistakeholder coalition assembled by the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR) has issued clinical recommendations for the optimal prevention of secondary fracture among people aged 65 years and older with a hip or vertebral fracture - the most serious complication associated with osteoporosis. Douglas P. Kiel, M.D., M.P.H., Director of the Musculoskeletal Research Center in the Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research at Hebrew SeniorLife and Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, is senior author on the report and served as co-leader of the project. The recommendations were published last month in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research to coincide with the annual meeting of the ASBMR where Dr. Kiel was honored with the 2019 Esteemed Frederic C. Bartter Award. This prestigious award is bestowed upon an ASBMR member in recognition of outstanding clinical investigation in disorders of bone and mineral metabolism. 

Osteoporosis is a disease of the bones that cause them to weaken and fracture more easily. Approximately 10 million Americans have osteoporosis, and 44 million have low bone density, placing them at risk of developing the disease. This means half of all adults over 50 are at risk of fracture or should be concerned about bone health.

Bone fractures are painful and debilitating, and pose a serious health threat to older adults. Despite remarkable advances in treatment, osteoporosis-related fractures are undertreated, due in part to misinformation about recommended approaches to patient care and discrepancies among treatment guidelines. To help address this problem and improve patient outcomes, ASBMR engaged the Center for Medical Technology Policy (CMTP) to help develop a consensus by a broad multistakeholder coalition regarding several aspects of osteoporosis treatment with aim of promoting more effective treatment for patients with osteoporosis and prevention of a secondary fracture in patients who have already suffered a fracture. The coalition was comprised of representatives from 42 professional organizations from the United States and abroad, including the American College of Physicians, American Association of Nurse Practitioners, American Geriatrics Society, and International Osteoporosis Foundation.

Based on a review of existing clinical guidelines and medical literature, CMTP developed an initial set of draft recommendations, which were reviewed and edited sequentially by the coalition co-chairs and ASBMR, the coalition steering committee, and the full coalition. The cycle was repeated until consensus was reached.

The coalition developed 13 recommendations strongly supported by the empirical literature and recommends increased communication with patients regarding fracture risk, mortality and morbidity outcomes, and fracture risk reduction.

“The value of our secondary fracture prevention efforts is that it will be used to initiate an action plan to improve the current practice of not treating many patients who have sustained a hip or vertebral fracture,” said Dr. Kiel. “We are pursuing a multitude of activities such as improving awareness, educating physicians in practice, creating national fracture registries, and meeting with CMS to set financial and quality of care-related reimbursement to care for older adults who have sustained a fracture.”

About the Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research

Scientists at the Marcus Institute seek to transform the human experience of aging by conducting research that will ensure a life of health, dignity, and productivity into advanced age. The Marcus Institute carries out rigorous studies that discover the mechanisms of age-related disease and disability; lead to the prevention, treatment, and cure of disease; advance the standard of care for older people; and inform public decision-making.

About Hebrew SeniorLife

Hebrew SeniorLife, an affiliate of Harvard Medical School, is a national senior services leader uniquely dedicated to rethinking, researching, and redefining the possibilities of aging. Based in Boston, the nonprofit, non-sectarian organization has provided communities and health care for seniors, research into aging, and education for geriatric care providers since 1903. For more information about Hebrew SeniorLife, visit http://www.hebrewseniorlife.org, follow us on Twitter @H_SeniorLife, like us on Facebook, or read our blog.

A Friendly, Resident-Driven Culture

Come live your best life surrounded by welcoming, interesting people (both residents and staff), and with experiences centered on what matters most to you. In this dynamic and stimulating environment, you can make your imprint on the community while experiencing everything we have to offer.

Our residents have a strong voice in how the community is run. They are encouraged to make use of their leadership experience and passion for civic engagement by participating in various committees as part of the Orchard Cove Residents Association, which helps to shape our community on a daily basis. Many feel a true sense of ownership and stewardship, ensuring that Orchard Cove continues to meet everyone’s needs.

Live Where You Never Stop Growing

A man playing an upright acoustic bass and a man playing trumpet perform.

Stay Stimulated and Engaged

Enriching Programming

Whether it’s a talk by a best-selling author, a performance by an acclaimed musician, or a workshop teaching you a new skill, Orchard Cove’s community programming makes every day an opportunity to broaden the mind.

Explore Programming
Two older men in colorful T-shirts share a moment as they walk off the tennis court after a game on the Orchard Cove campus.

All You Need to Live Your Best Life

Shared Amenities for Shared Experiences

Orchard Cove offers beautiful natural surroundings, four restaurants, a resident-run library, fitness spaces, and much more.

Explore Orchard Cove Amenities
Orchard Cove's executive director chats with older woman in the Orchard Cove main lobby.

Here for You

Meet Our Staff

Our collaborative team works as an extended family to coordinate services for you along our full continuum of care.

Get to Know Us
An older woman sits at a desk and types on a keyboard.

What Matters Most to You

Meet One of Our Residents

At Orchard Cove there are unlimited opportunities to explore your passions and interests. Meet Joan Halperin and see what gives her purpose.

From Our Blog

Water flowing through the Canton Viaduct, an arched stone railroad viaduct, and cascading down a spillover.

From Our Blog

7 Reasons Canton is a Great Place for Seniors

Nature, shops, restaurants, and more are all within minutes of Hebrew SeniorLife’s Orchard Cove senior living community.

Hebrew SeniorLife’s Orchard Cove community has an endless list of reasons why our residents love living there: a great variety of apartment styles, a full array of wellness, exercise, social, and art programs, beautiful grounds with walking trails, gardens, a...

Keep Reading

Community Life Highlights

19,500

cups of coffee or tea shared yearly at daily coffee klatch

74+

live musical performances and events each year

16

resident-led committees in our resident association

37+

resident artists featured in our community art gallery

What People are saying about Hebrew SeniorLife

  • "The environment at Orchard Cove is very relaxing, very upbeat, and very pleasant, and so are the people and the staff."

    Headshot of Frim Field

    Frim Field

  • "I liked it from the minute I walked in the door. I just think it is the warmest, most comfortable place and people that I’ve ever met. The people that work here are unbelievable, and the people that live here are so kind and so smart."

    Terri Gamer headshot

    Terry Gamer

    Resident

  • "There is a culture of happiness at Orchard Cove. We are both overwhelmed by the friendliness of our new neighbors as well as the staff."

    Milton and Iona Levenfeld embrace and smile for the camera.

    Milton & Iona Levenfeld

    Residents

At Center Communities of Brookline, we offer much more than a place to stay — it’s a place to live healthy and well. We have everything seniors need to enjoy an active, fit, and healthy life. A vibrant environment, a full range of services and amenities, and a convenient location in the heart of Brookline.

Schedule a Tour

Life at Center Communities of Brookline

Residents looking at painting with staff member

Never Stop Growing

Programming

Life at Center Communities of Brookline is filled with opportunities for lifelong learning, social interaction, and intergenerational connections.

Explore Programmming
Fitness instructor with residents doing exercises

A Healthy Environment

Community Amenities

Our buildings feature amenities designed to make each day as convenient and comfortable as possible, including inviting common areas, state-of-the art fitness spaces, dining venues, beauty salons, and wellness programming.

Explore Our Amenities
A staff member and resident talk at Center Communities of Brookline in Brookline, MA

A Team Dedicated to You

Our leadership team is committed to the well-being of every resident. We look forward to getting to know you.

Meet Our Staff

What People are saying about Hebrew SeniorLife

  • "Everyone is friendly; there's lots to do; I love not worrying about bad winters."

    judith-juster

    Judith Juster

    Resident

  • "My life is never one of boredom as each day I try to engage in the variety of programs and activities that CCB offers. Life is good! Can't think of any areas that need to be changed. Would rate the staff an A+."

    Resident

  • "The programming of a variety of activities, bus trips, and transportation to local shopping is excellent. Especially commendable is the multiculturalism of the resident population which makes living here so much more interesting."

    Resident

“Community” refers to two things: the group of people you live, work, play, and share experiences with; and it’s the physical location you inhabit. In both senses of the word, community life at NewBridge on the Charles on the Dr. Miriam and Sheldon G. Adelson Campus is hard to beat.

Life here is about so much more than the beautiful campus, it is about the people and the activities. A full schedule of cultural, political, social, and wellness programming gives you the opportunity to tap into all your interests, existing or new at NewBridge.

In addition to the daily calendar of programming, there are outings and scheduled trips to a variety of performance arts venues and structured classes available.

The daily schedule is further enhanced by a full list of active groups and committees where our residents truly shape the daily life on campus. When you make NewBridge your home, you bring all your interests and passions and enrich the community by contributing in whatever way you choose.

Many NewBridge residents have become involved in local politics and give back in a number of community outreach and charitable endeavors.

Live Where There’s Always Something New

A man playing an upright acoustic bass and a man playing trumpet perform.

Explore New Horizons Daily

Programming

Each day, you’ll will be steps away from performances by professional musicians, visits from notable authors and artists, and lectures and presentations by respected historians and scientists.

Explore Programming
Woman enjoys a swim in the resident aquatic center.

Choices that Let You Live Your Best Life

Campus Amenities

Living at NewBridge means being part of a larger campus that includes additional dining options, common spaces, natural beauty, a K-8 independent school, and a full continuum of Harvard Medical School-affiliated health care services. 

Explore Campus Amenities

What You Can Expect

100+

classes, performances, and programs each month, on average

21

resident-driven clubs and committees

500+

students participate in intergenerational programs each year

What People are saying about Hebrew SeniorLife

  • "The daily programming—morning to night—has been outstanding with lectures, classes, TED Talks, movies, music and much more. Please share my gratitude and appreciation with your staff. I cannot think of a better place to live than NewBridge."

    Terri U.

    Resident

Blog Related Links