BOSTON — Hebrew SeniorLife (HSL), a Massachusetts senior services provider, has been awarded the grand prize in Pioneer Institute’s annual Better Government Competition in recognition of the “Right Care, Right Place, Right Time” (R3) housing model for seniors.

The R3 initiative is currently being implemented at two HSL communities—Center Communities of Brookline and Simon C. Fireman Community—as well as WinnCompanies’ The Village at Brookline and two Milton Residences for the Elderly sites. R3 provides coordinated, person-centered services to vulnerable seniors with the aim of enabling them to live independently in the community for as long as possible - receiving the right care in the right place at the right time. The project’s long-term vision is to create a replicable, scalable and sustainable model of housing with supportive services for seniors.

R3 works by embedding enhanced wellness teams into elderly housing complexes to serve as links between housing and health care, establishing relationships with residents and collaborating on wellness and prevention efforts. The primary aim of R3 is to reduce the incidence of unnecessary transfers of seniors from their homes to hospitals, emergency rooms and nursing homes, as well as to reduce costs while focusing on improving seniors’ quality of life and ability to live independently.

“We appreciate Pioneer Institute’s recognition of the intent and opportunity inherent in our R3 housing model,” said Lou Woolf, President and CEO of HSL. “This model, and our ongoing analysis as we measure its performance, will not only benefit seniors in our communities today, but provide insight that should change the way the entire country approaches affordable housing for seniors.”

R3 is funded by a grant from the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission through the Health Care Innovation Investment (HCII) Program. Additional funding is provided by MassHousing, Department of Housing and Community Development, Enterprise, and Beacon Communities.

Pioneer Institutes’ Better Government Competition is an annual citizen’s idea contest that seeks out and rewards innovative public policy proposals. The 2017 contest sought to identify and promote those ideas that ensure a better future for aging citizens in Massachusetts through programs for housing, health care and public health - as well as unique partnerships between government agencies and care providers.

Kim Brooks, Chief Operating Officer, Senior Living at HSL will accept the Better Government grand prize of $10,000 at an award ceremony on Monday, June 19 at the Boston Harbor Hotel. Brooks will speak at the event, alongside Jim Stergios, Executive Director, Pioneer Institute, Charles D. Baker, Governor of Massachusetts, and several others.

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 http://www.hebrewseniorlife.org, follow us on Twitter @H_SeniorLife, like us on Facebook or read our blog.

BOSTON — Hebrew SeniorLife, a national senior services provider in Boston has been recognized as a 2017 CareerSTAT Frontline Healthcare Worker Champion. The program recognizes health care organizations for their exemplary investments in the skills and careers of their frontline workers. Champions meet all of CareerSTAT's recognition criteria, including making skill and career development accessible, offering programs at a significant scale, measuring program business impact, and building sustainable programs. CareerSTAT is an employer-led initiative of the National Fund for Workforce Solutions.

“Hebrew SeniorLife understands that the more opportunities we offer our employees to expand their professional education and deepen their skill sets, the more consistently we can provide the high¬est possible care for seniors throughout HSL’s continuum of care. HSL is committed to supporting professional advancement for all of our employees, including our 600 Patient Care Associates (PCAs) who serve as the primary point of contact for our seniors,” said CEO Lou Woolf.

Hebrew SeniorLife has a deep, long-standing relationship with Jewish Vocational Services (JVS) of Boston, the region’s largest workforce development agency. Through their partnership, HSL can offer its frontline staff a broad array of services, including instruction in English as a Second Language, weekly drop-in career and academic coaching, and computer courses. Together, HSL and JVS are leveraging their respective expertise to create innovative programming that helps build an engaged frontline workforce with the skills to deliver high quality geriatric care.

HSL is considered a leader in the senior care culture change movement. HSL teaches staff to provide individualized care to seniors by encouraging them to take a patient-centered approach to all interactions and care activities. HSL also trains its Senior Patient Care Associates in the principles of LEAN and process im¬provement to continually improve quality of care. All Senior PCAs have worked on projects to improve processes on their units, enhance provision of care to seniors and build team spirit. In 2016, 25 Senior PCAs were recognized for mean¬ingful care and changes they brought to individual patients or their care units as part of HSL’s Culture Change Champions” Recognition Program.

A representative from HSL will be presented with the Frontline Healthcare Worker Champion award during a conference and award ceremony in Philadelphia Penn. on Friday, June 16.

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 http://www.hebrewseniorlife.org, follow us on Twitter @H_SeniorLife, like us on Facebook or read our blog.

BOSTON – Patients who would like to be treated at home for the symptoms and stress of a serious or chronic illness have a new option through a new palliative care program offered by Hebrew SeniorLife Home Care.

Palliative care, which is appropriate at any stage of an illness, is delivered by a multi-disciplinary team that treats the “whole” patient by providing medical, psychological and spiritual care. It also offers guidance for both the patient and family.

Unlike hospice care, which is meant specifically for those in the final stages of life, palliative care is appropriate for any stage of illness – even if curative treatment is also being sought. This is often the best choice for older patients, who find it difficult to leave their homes.

“It made sense to offer this program for patients who are not ready for hospice care, but don’t want to continue making multiple trips to the hospital each month,” said Maureen Bannan, Executive Director of Hebrew SeniorLife Home and Community Based Health Services. “The goal of our home-based palliative care program is to fill a critical gap in the care of patients with chronic illness who want to prevent frequent hospitalizations and enjoy a better quality of life.”

Patients who would like to receive home-based palliative care can be referred by their physician, and are able to receive this service while also receiving other home health care services. HSL offers home care and palliative care in Boston, Brookline, Newton, Wellesley, Needham, Dedham, Dover, Westwood, Norwood, Walpole, Sharon, Canton Stoughton, Randolph, Milton and Braintree. Please see the Hebrew SeniorLife website for more information.

About Hebrew SeniorLife and Home and Community Based Services

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. Hebrew SeniorLife’s home-based care services are part of the HSL continuum of services making it the best choice when transitioning from an acute care hospital or a Hebrew SeniorLife post-acute care unit. HSL’s home-based services will ensure that each move from one care setting to another is seamless and comfortable.

BOSTON – Hebrew SeniorLife has been named one of the Top Places to Work in Massachusetts—for the second year in a row—in the ninth annual employee-based survey project from The Boston Globe. The Top Places to Work 2016 issue was published in the November 20 Boston Globe Magazine and is online at BostonGlobe.com.

Hebrew SeniorLife, an affiliate of Harvard Medical School, has provided services for seniors in the Boston area since 1903. Today, the organization provides health care, senior living communities, research into aging, and education for geriatric care providers. The organization has 2,600 employees, who serve 3,000 seniors each day, at its nine locations in Boston, Brookline, Canton, Dedham, Randolph, and Revere.

Hebrew SeniorLife president and CEO Lou Woolf said of the news, “This wonderful achievement honors HSL’s ongoing commitment to be a great place for all of our 2,600 employees to work.”

Top Places to Work recognizes the most admired workplaces in the state voted on by the people who know them the best—their employees. The survey measures employee opinions about their company’s direction, execution, connection, management, work, pay and benefits, and engagement. The employers are placed into one of four groups: small, with 50 to 99 employees; medium, with 100 to 249 workers; large, with 250 to 999; and largest, with 1,000 or more.

Hebrew SeniorLife was ranked number 19 of the top 25 largest companies with 1,000+ employees. "In today's tight job market, competition for the best workers is intense," said Larry Edelman, the Globe's business editor. "Our winning companies know that creating a motivating and supportive environment is key to finding and keeping talent."

The rankings in the Top Places to Work are based on confidential survey information collected by WorkplaceDynamics, an independent company specializing in employee engagement and retention, from nearly 70,500 individuals at 366 Massachusetts organizations. The winners share a few key traits, including offering progressive benefits, giving their employees a voice, and encouraging them to have some fun while they’re at it.

About Hebrew SeniorLife and Hebrew Rehabilitation Center

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 non-profit, non-sectarian organization today provides communities and health care for seniors, research into aging, and education for geriatric care providers.

Hebrew Rehabilitation Center, an integral part of Hebrew SeniorLife, provides both post-acute rehabilitative care and long-term care at two locations: Boston and Dedham. For more information about Hebrew SeniorLife and Hebrew Rehabilitation Center, visit https://www.hebrewseniorlife.org, follow us on Twitter @H_SeniorLife, like us on Facebook or read our blog.

Click here to hear directly from HSL employees about why HSL is a top place to work.

BOSTON — Harvard Medical School- affiliated Hebrew SeniorLife (HSL), a nonprofit organization committed to improving the lives of older adults, announced today the launch of a pilot program for seniors in affordable housing to improve quality of life and reduce medical costs. This effort is the latest step in a 50-year history of innovation in senior housing for HSL, including pioneering the concept of housing with supportive services for elders. The Right Care, Right Place, Right Time: Effectively Integrating Senior Care and Housing initiative (R3 Project) is funded by a $421,742 grant from the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission through the Health Care Innovation Investment (HCII) Program.

In 1965, HSL’s Dr. Sylvia Sherwood and her team conducted a study that indicated congregate housing with services could enrich the lives of the elderly and disabled, preventing or delaying permanent institutional placement. Their study was the first to empirically demonstrate that vulnerable older adults could remain independent and thrive in a supportive community setting. The study sparked the development of what are now known as independent supportive senior housing and continuing care retirement communities.

The R3 Project aims to combat a more specific elder issue: reducing transfers of seniors from home to hospitals, emergency rooms, and long-term care. Many seniors who live in affordable housing endure unnecessary transfers for health issues that could be prevented with focused efforts up front. The project will be piloted at two HSL locations.

By creating an effective partnership between housing and healthcare and reducing these unnecessary transfers, the R3 Project could generate cost savings of approximately $1,800 per beneficiary per year and significantly improve the health and quality of life for seniors. The pilot also will measure increased utilization of wellness programs, linkages to mental health services, and life satisfaction.

“The R3 Project is a major step forward in HSL’s mission to improve the lives of all seniors, and a natural next step to build on our legacy in elder housing,” said Lou Woolf, President and CEO of HSL. “This pilot, and our ongoing analysis as we measure its performance, will not only benefit seniors in our communities today, but provide insight that should change the way the entire country approaches affordable housing for seniors.”

“The R3 Project will have a tremendous impact on our residents and their families, but its ultimate reach will be so much broader,” said Kim Brooks, Vice President of Senior Living at HSL. “Our vision is to create a replicable, scalable, and sustainable model of housing with supportive services to enable seniors to live independently as long as possible, receiving the right care in the right place at the right time, while reducing health care costs for this growing population.”

The Massachusetts Health Policy Commission (HPC) is an independent state agency that develops policy to reduce health care cost growth and improve the quality of patient care. The HPC's mission is to advance a more transparent, accountable, and innovative health care system through its independent policy leadership and investment programs. Its goal is better health and better care at a lower cost across the Commonwealth.

“The Health Policy Commission is excited to fund Hebrew SeniorLife in its proposal focused on the connection between housing and health care for older adults. This award will assist Hebrew SeniorLife in its innovative approach to bringing health care and self-care into the home through embedded coordinated care teams,” said David Seltz, Health Policy Commission Executive Director. “The Health Policy Commission offers its sincere congratulations to Hebrew SeniorLife for an outstanding proposal and we look forward to our work together.”

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 non-profit, 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 https://www.hebrewseniorlife.org, follow us on Twitter @H_SeniorLife, like us on Facebook or read our blog.

BOSTON – Hebrew Rehabilitation Center has been named one of the “Top 100 women-led businesses in Massachusetts for 2016” by The Commonwealth Institute. Headed by President Mary Moscato, Hebrew Rehabilitation Center, with nearly 1,000 employees at locations in Boston and Dedham, is a major component of parent company Hebrew SeniorLife’s continuum of health care and senior living communities providing services to seniors in the Greater Boston area.

Says Moscato, “It is truly an honor to be recognized by The Commonwealth Institute and a privilege to share this recognition with the exceptional staff I have the pleasure of working with every day. Together, we take tremendous pride in improving the lives of our residents, patients and their families. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to all of the employees who make Hebrew Rehabilitation Center a compassionate and caring place for our seniors to receive care. “

Hebrew Rehabilitation Center will be recognized at an award breakfast at the Seaport Hotel Boston on October 28. In addition, the Top 100 ranked list will appear in the Women and Power edition of The Boston Globe Magazine on October 30.

About Hebrew SeniorLife and Hebrew Rehabilitation Center

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 non-profit, non-sectarian organization has provided communities and health care for seniors, research into aging, and education for geriatric care providers since 1903. Hebrew Rehabilitation Center, an integral part of Hebrew SeniorLife, provides both post-acute rehabilitative care and long-term care at two locations: Boston and Dedham. For more information about Hebrew SeniorLife and Hebrew Rehabilitation Center, visit https://www.hebrewseniorlife.org, follow us on Twitter @H_SeniorLife, like us on Facebook or read our blog.

BOSTON – Harvard Medical School affiliate Hebrew SeniorLife, a nonprofit organization committed to improving the lives of older adults, today announced that Susan L. Mitchell, M.D., M.P.H., Director, Palliative Care and Clinical Trials Research, and Senior Scientist, Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research, and a Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, has been selected as a recipient of the A. Clifford Barger Excellence in Mentoring Award from Harvard Medical School.

Lewis A. Lipsitz, M.D., Director, the Marcus Institute & Chief Academic Officer, Hebrew SeniorLife, said, “Susan is doing groundbreaking research for people nearing the end of life and living with dementia. At the same time, she is a stellar role model for junior scientists and students entering the geriatrics field today. With geriatricians in such short supply across the United States and with the growing number of older Americans, having such a brilliant and approachable scientist nurturing and cultivating the next generation of researchers is an invaluable asset to Hebrew SeniorLife, the medical community, and the seniors with whom we work every day.”

The Excellence in Mentoring Awards were established to recognize the value of quality mentoring relationships and the impact they have on professional development and career advancement in clinical medicine, teaching, research, and administration. A total of 20 recipients were selected across three categories in 2019: the William Silen Lifetime Achievement in Mentoring Award, the A. Clifford Barger Excellence in Mentoring Award, and the Young Mentor Award.

Award winners were selected through a nomination process among Harvard Medical School/Harvard School of Dental Medicine faculty members, house officers, fellows, and students.

A celebration honoring all Excellence in Mentoring Award recipients will be held on Tuesday, May 21, 2019 from 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. in the Carl Walter Amphitheater, Tosteson Medical Education Center, Harvard Medical School. An informal reception will immediately follow the ceremony.

About Susan L. Mitchell, M.D., M.P.H.

Susan L. Mitchell, M.D., M.P.H., Director, Palliative Care and Clinical Trials Research, and Senior Scientist at the Marcus Institute, is a Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. She is a geriatrician and health services researcher. Dr. Mitchell's research interests focus on decision-making, health outcomes, and resource utilization for older people with advanced illness, particularly those with dementia. She is the principal investigator on several large research projects funded by the National Institutes of Health and has authored many articles in top peer-reviewed journals related to this topic.

Dr. Mitchell is active in the mentorship of young investigators and is the recipient of a NIH-NIA K24 Mid-Career Investigator Award. She is also an attending geriatrician at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical. She earned her medical degree at the University of Ottawa, and her master’s of public health at Harvard University.

About Hebrew SeniorLife

Hebrew SeniorLife, a Harvard Medical School affiliate, is a national senior services leader dedicated to rethinking, researching, and redefining the possibilities of aging. The Boston-based nonprofit, founded in 1903, provides communities and health care for seniors, research into aging, and education for geriatric care providers. Visit http://www.hebrewseniorlife.org, follow us on Twitter @H_SeniorLife, like us on Facebook, or read our blog.

BOSTON – The new Center for Memory Health at Harvard Medical School affiliate Hebrew SeniorLife (HSL) is tackling Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) in ways not seen at other health care organizations across the nation. Uniquely, the Center for Memory Health at Hebrew SeniorLife serves not only people living with dementia at all stages of memory loss, but also their families, caregivers, and other loved ones. The Center for Memory Health includes the first and only evidence-based, nurse-led comprehensive care management for Alzheimer’s and dementias in New England.

“Alzheimer’s is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, and its impact is projected to more than double by 2050, rising to 13.8 million Americans age 65 or older from 5.8 million today,” said Louis J. Woolf, President & CEO, Hebrew SeniorLife, a national senior services leader uniquely dedicated to rethinking, researching, and redefining the possibilities of aging.

“That Goliath must be stopped, and HSL is bringing its 116+ years of experience caring exclusively for seniors to the battle, fighting the progression of the disease, supporting patients and their caregivers, and collaborating with like-minded experts on evidence-based approaches to treatment,” Woolf continued.

The Center for Memory Health applies a holistic, comprehensive, and evidence-based approach to Alzheimer’s and related dementias that maximizes the functional capacity of older adults at all stages of memory loss - early undiagnosed symptoms; moderate to severe cognitive symptoms; and advanced symptoms at end of life - and provides essential services to their families. Led by Medical Director Gary Epstein-Lubow, M.D., the Center for Memory Health offers clinical care, research, education, and advocacy. The Center for Memory Health serves everyone, regardless of where they live.

The human cost of Alzheimer’s is high: In 2017 alone, 127,000 Americans died due to Alzheimer’s. The financial impact of Alzheimer’s is also staggering. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) projects that $290 billion will be spent on Alzheimer’s and dementia services, long-term care, and hospice in 2019. Another estimated $234 billion will be spent as the result of lost wages and other costs for caregivers and their families. While there are some treatments today, there is no cure.

According to Ian Kremer, Executive Director, Leaders Engaged on Alzheimer’s Disease, “Addressing Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia with unprecedented urgency, vision, and determination is a national priority, an economic and budgetary necessity, and a health and moral imperative. We applaud Hebrew SeniorLife and the Center for Memory Health, which aim both to deliver better care and quality of life for older adults living with the disease and to build evidence-based programs that can pave the way for a consistent, best practice approach to Alzheimer’s treatment for others to follow.”

Center for Memory Health Services

The Center for Memory Health is initially offering four core outpatient programs, either individually or in combination, to provide customized support.

• Consultation: This program is designed to determine a path forward for each person with a memory or caregiver concern.
• Memory Assessment: This program facilitates advanced diagnostic testing for patients who have experienced an observable change in cognition and/or functioning, or who have already “screened positive” on a standard cognitive assessment tool.
• Care Management: Comprehensive care coordination brings together a Center for Memory Health nurse practitioner dementia specialist with a patient’s primary care provider as an integrated care team. Care management ranges from comprehensive assessments and personalized care plans to round-the-clock access to assistance and advice.
• Family Care: All family members and caregivers of Alzheimer’s patients have access to a comprehensive family care program that focuses on their well-being. This program includes a variety of counseling options, as well as personalized supports and referrals, to help family members and caregivers make informed decisions and cope with the stress of their loved one’s condition.

According to Dr. Epstein-Lubow, “While some organizations may offer some of these services, no other program has the breadth and depth of our person-centered approach for both patients and family members, especially as we deliver it in a holistic and integrated way, including components led by nursing and social work. As the Center for Memory Health grows, we anticipate continued demand from older adults and their families searching for early answers, and from people living with moderate or advanced symptoms and their caregivers who are seeking answers for how to cope over time with the many challenges that come up in diseases like Alzheimer’s.”

The Center for Memory Health Collaborations

The Center for Memory Health works with experts around the world to discover new ways to ease the effects of dementia. Through the work of HSL’s Harvard Medical School-affiliated Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research, the Center for Memory Health will continually assess the programs it delivers, as well as develop and evaluate new approaches in the diagnosis and care of older adults with memory loss in collaboration with institutional partners. Through these partnerships, patients have the opportunity to participate in clinical trials if they choose. In addition, Center for Memory Health staff is actively involved in training the next generation of clinicians and service providers.

The Center for Memory Health partners with the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and has been selected as the first adopter site for the UCLA Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care Program. The spread of this evidence-based, cost-effective program to more patients and their families living with Alzheimer’s is supported by a grant from The John A. Hartford Foundation, a national organization dedicated to improving care for older adults. For more information on this program, please see this press release.

About Hebrew SeniorLife

Hebrew SeniorLife, a Harvard Medical School affiliate, is a national senior services leader uniquely dedicated to rethinking, researching, and redefining the possibilities of aging. Based in Boston, the non-profit, non-sectarian organization, founded in 1903, provides communities and health care for seniors, research into aging, and education for geriatric care providers . 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.

BOSTON – Hebrew SeniorLife (HSL), a national senior services leader uniquely dedicated to rethinking, researching, and redefining the possibilities of aging, has been selected as the first adopter of the innovative Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care Program created at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). The UCLA program underpins the evidence-based services of the Center for Memory Health at Hebrew SeniorLife, which opens today at the non-profit’s flagship campus in Boston. The spread of the UCLA program to more patients and families living with Alzheimer’s is supported by a grant from The John A. Hartford Foundation.

“Alzheimer’s is the cancer of the 21st century,” said Lewis A. Lipsitz, M.D., Director, Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research & Chief Academic Officer at Harvard Medical School affiliated Hebrew SeniorLife. “It not only affects the individuals with the disease, but also their families and caregivers. The UCLA program is focused on a multi-layered approach to critical care, social services, and caregiver needs that complements the vision, goals, research, and services we offer through the Center for Memory Health. Being selected as the first adopter in the United States is an honor that will advance the Center for Memory Health and serve as a model for other memory care providers in the United States.”

David B. Reuben, M.D., Director, UCLA Multicampus Program in Geriatrics Medicine and Gerontology and head of the UCLA Alzheimer's and Dementia Care program, said, “Hebrew SeniorLife’s exclusive focus on the health and well-being of older adults helps them live their best lives, regardless of physical or cognitive limitations. Many older adults struggle with dementia and other mental health issues; so it is critical to properly diagnose and manage these conditions, and recognize the difficult, stressful role that family members and caregivers serve. Collaborating with the Center for Memory Health at Hebrew SeniorLife will enable us to extend the health benefits we have achieved at UCLA to older persons residing in Boston. In turn, we will learn from Hebrew SeniorLife about how best to disseminate the UCLA program.”

About the UCLA Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care Program Grant

The UCLA Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care Program has demonstrated remarkable results in improving health outcomes without raising health care costs. In a new three-year program, funded by a $1.5M grant from The John A. Hartford Foundation, UCLA is partnering to make the program more widely available with first adopter Hebrew SeniorLife and several other organizations, including the Education Development Center, the Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association, the Alzheimer’s Association, and the American Geriatrics Society. The program’s key elements include supporting nurse practitioners to become dementia care specialists, educating patients and their families, building and monitoring customized care plans; and 24/7 access every day for advice and assistance to avoid unexpected emergency room visits.

Terry Fulmer, PhD, RN, FAAN, President of The John A. Hartford Foundation, said, “The nearly six million people living with Alzheimer's in this country urgently need help, as do the family members, clinicians, and health systems that provide care for them. We see the partnership between UCLA and Hebrew SeniorLife as a critical step in making sure that all people living with dementia and their caregivers get the support they need. We will learn from Hebrew SeniorLife’s adoption of UCLA’s proven program and share that learning with other organizations so that anyone who experiences dementia receives the highest quality care and can focus on what truly matters in their lives.”

Added Joanne Pike, DrPH, Chief Program Officer at the Alzheimer’s Association, “We are proud of our involvement with UCLA, The John A. Hartford Foundation, and Hebrew SeniorLife as we join forces to pilot the proven UCLA Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care Program at the Center of Memory Health in Boston.”

The Center for Memory Health at Hebrew SeniorLife applies a holistic, comprehensive, and evidence-based approach to Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias that maximizes the functional capacity of older adults at all stages of memory loss and provides essential services to their families. Led by Medical Director Gary Epstein-Lubow, M.D., the Center for Memory Health offers clinical care, research, education, and advocacy. The Center for Memory Health serves everyone, regardless of where they live.

Dr. Epstein-Lubow said, “The opportunity to work with UCLA is core to our approach to team with fellow Alzheimer’s research and service leaders to dig deep into the causes, treatments, and supports that people living with dementia and their caregivers need as this deadly disease takes hold in their lives. Our UCLA partnership is already seeding new learnings and treatment approaches that all people with Alzheimer’s can benefit from today and in the future.”

About Hebrew SeniorLife

Hebrew SeniorLife, a Harvard Medical School affiliate, is a national senior services leader uniquely dedicated to rethinking, researching, and redefining the possibilities of aging. Based in Boston, the non-profit, non-sectarian organization, founded in 1903, provides communities and health care for seniors, research into aging, and education for geriatric care providers. 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.

BOSTON – Harvard Medical School affiliate Hebrew SeniorLife, a nonprofit organization committed to improving the lives of older adults, today announced that Douglas P. Kiel, M.D., M.P.H., Director, Musculoskeletal Research Center and Senior Scientist, Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research, and a Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, has been selected as the recipient of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR) 2019 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. 

“Throughout his 25 years with Hebrew SeniorLife and the Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research, Doug has conducted multiple randomized controlled clinical trials to test the efficacy of treatments for osteoporosis and falls as well as starting the Framingham Osteoporosis Study,” said Lewis A. Lipsitz, M.D., Director, the Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research & Chief Academic Officer, Hebrew SeniorLife. “He is a true leader who collaborates with others worldwide to understand how osteoporosis and loss of muscle mass and strength occur with aging. We are proud to have Doug working on this crucial research and congratulate him on this award.”

“Frederic C. Bartter, M.D., was one of the finest scientists and clinical investigators in academic medicine,” said, Bart L. Clarke, M.D., President, ASBMR. “Since 1986 we have annually recognized scientists and clinical investigators who demonstrate outstanding clinical investigation in disorders of bone and mineral metabolism. We are pleased to recognize Douglas P. Kiel as this year’s esteemed award recipient.”

A celebration honoring award recipients will be held during the ASBMR 2019 Annual Meeting on Saturday, September 21, 2019 from 8:00 – 8:30 a.m. in the Valencia Ballroom B-D at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida.

About Douglas P. Kiel, M.D., M.P.H.

Dr. Kiel's research focuses on the epidemiology of osteoporosis and related fractures, including lifestyle factors, biomarkers, and genetic factors. He is also interested in sarcopenia and its consequences, including falls and disability. Dr. Kiel has conducted multiple clinical trials targeting the musculoskeletal system. He leads the Framingham Osteoporosis Study, and serves in leadership roles for many organizations including the NIH, American Society for Bone and Mineral Research, National Osteoporosis Foundation, and the Joint Commission. Dr. Kiel also heads the Geriomics program as a part of the Musculoskeletal Research Center at the Marcus Institute. The program includes faculty and post-doctoral fellows appointed through Harvard Medical School who study the "omics" of age-related disease, primarily diseases of the musculoskeletal system, as well as the aging process itself. 

About Hebrew SeniorLife

Hebrew SeniorLife, a Harvard Medical School affiliate, is a national senior services leader dedicated to rethinking, researching, and redefining the possibilities of aging. The Boston-based nonprofit, founded in 1903, provides communities and health care for seniors, research into aging, and education for geriatric care providers. Visit http://www.hebrewseniorlife.org, follow us on Twitter @H_SeniorLife, like us on Facebook, or read our blog.

Hebrew SeniorLife’s Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research is committed to the conduct of high-quality research that discovers the mechanisms of age-related disease and disability; leads to the prevention, treatment and cure of disease; advances the standard of care for older people; and informs public decision making.