Hebrew SeniorLife, a Harvard Medical School affiliate, one of Boston’s Top Places to Work, and New England’s largest nonprofit provider of senior health care and living communities, honored its nursing staff at its annual Academic Program Celebration on Wednesday, May 17th. Judith Eyma, LPN, was selected as nurse of the year and Ruth Cineas was named nursing assistant of the year.

Eyma is a staff nurse, LPN, at Hebrew Rehabilitation Center in Roslindale. She started in 2003 as a nurse assistant on weekends.

“The nurse of the year is a person who consistently demonstrates the highest standards in their nursing practice, outstanding assessment skills, is a patient advocate, and consistently provides person-centered care,” said Tammy Retalic, DNP, M.S., R.N., chief nursing officer and the vice president of Patient Care Services for Hebrew Rehabilitation Center. “Patients and their families trust Judith, and come to her with any concerns and then walk away with a smile knowing that they or their loved ones are safe and well cared for.”

Cineas is a patient care associate at the Hebrew Rehabilitation Center in Roslindale. She began her career at Hebrew SeniorLife in 2012 as a nurse assistant. 
 
“The nursing assistant of the year is a person who consistently goes beyond and leads the way in providing person-centered care while also demonstrating personal and professional accountability and being an integral part of the nursing team. Ruth is a strong patient advocate, demonstrates personal and professional accountability, and is an important part of our nursing team,” said Retalic. “Ruth cares for all patients like they are her family. In one example of her dedication, Ruth came to work on her day off to sit with a patient in their final moments because they had no family.”

The Nursing Excellence Celebration, held last month, recognized recent graduates of the Certified Nursing Assistant Training Program based at Hebrew Rehabilitation Center - Boston. This five-week, fully paid program combines classroom time, lab skill training, and supervised time with patients. This year, nine persons from across our Hebrew SeniorLife sites graduated from the program. 

The event also celebrated outstanding nurses and nursing assistants who achieved professional milestones, including those who were honored in the Boston Globe 2023 Salute to Nurses. Thirteen nurses working at Hebrew SeniorLife campuses across the Boston area were listed, and more than 30 were nominated for their dedication and caring that have saved lives, soothed fears, and eased the pain of countless patients and their families.

Additionally, at the event, Hebrew SeniorLife identified Eyma and seven other participants in its Nurse Excellence Program, which selects nurses to receive individually-crafted learning opportunities to deepen their skills in specific areas. Previous participants attended conferences and meetings, participated in policy or educational programming development, and helped in special projects to expand their skills in wound management, dementia care, or end of life, to name a few. 

The event is also an opportunity to recognize the donors who provide critical funding for scholarships, career development opportunities, and professional growth for our nursing team. 

“The donors’ generosity makes these programs viable and helps our nurses provide the best possible care for their patients,” Retalic said.

Hebrew SeniorLife serves as a clinical training site for students seeking R.N., LPN, or CNA degrees or certifications, and trains nursing students in inpatient (long-term care and short-term care) settings from partner schools, including Academy Health Care, Regis College, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, MGH Institute of Health Professions, and Labouré College. 

The organization was recently designated as an Age-Friendly Health System by the Institute of Healthcare Improvement. If you are interested in joining our team for a fulfilling career, please visit our careers page.

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 3,000 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 $63 million, making it the largest gerontological research facility in the U.S. in a clinical setting. It also trains more than 1,000 geriatric care providers each year. For more information about Hebrew SeniorLife, visit our website or follow us on our blog, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

Hebrew SeniorLife’s Center for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and Neglect is co-sponsoring the World Elder Abuse Awareness Day Walk in Boston on June 15, 2023, along with Central Boston Elder Services and other partners. The walk will take place from 10:00 a.m. to noon at the Boston Common, beginning at the Parkman Bandstand.

Scheduled speakers include Massachusetts Elder Affairs Secretary Elizabeth Chen, Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell, and Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden. Find more information about the CBES event here. 

The Center for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and Neglect at Hebrew SeniorLife (CPEAN) provides safe shelter and services for seniors suffering from abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation, focusing on:

• Physical shelter for older adults who are in an unsafe situation due to abuse
• Supportive services to seniors experiencing abuse
• Training and education
• Community awareness building

The CPEAN emergency shelter, located in the Greater Boston area, meets a critical need for those who are in danger, providing them with a safe place to stay and the supportive services and resources necessary for them to begin to heal.

To make a referral, inquire about services, or explore education and programming opportunities, call CPEAN at 617-363-8423 or email us at ElderAbusePrevention@hsl.harvard.edu.

Report Elder Abuse and Neglect 

If you’re concerned about the safety of an older adult, use the 24/7 Massachusetts state hotline at 800-922-2275 to report suspected elder abuse or neglect. You can file a report online at https://www.mass.gov/reporting-elder-abuse-neglect

In the U.S., one in 10, or approximately five million older adults, are subject to abuse every year, according to the National Institutes on Aging. The types of abuse include physical, emotional, neglect and self-neglect, abandonment, sexual, and financial abuse.  Read our blog post: 11 Signs and Symptoms of Elder Abuse.

UN World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) 

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, designated as 15 June, was initiated by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (INPEA) in 2006, and recognized as a United Nations Day by the General Assembly in its resolution A/RES/66/127 adopted in 2011.

The resolution invites all member states, organizations of the United Nations system, and other international and regional organizations, as well as civil society, including non-governmental organizations and individuals to observe this day in an appropriate manner.

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 3,000 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 1,000 geriatric care providers each year. For more information about Hebrew SeniorLife, visit our website or follow us on our blog, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

CANTON, Mass. — Hebrew SeniorLife and MEDITECH have partnered to provide a new system that allows patients, families and caregivers to share information.

Hebrew SeniorLife recently implemented MEDITECH Expanse as part of its transformation strategy to consolidate four separate electronic health records and clinical systems. There is now one ecosystem for a more complete and integrated view of their elderly patients’ health, while also strengthening communication with families.  

According to Chief Information Officer Eric Rogers, the organization selected Expanse for its ability to connect care across their various care settings, including long-term chronic care, post-acute care, outpatient services, home care, and hospice. Following the launch, staff reported smoother transitions between settings, as patient information was integrated on a single system and the need for reentering data was eliminated.

“With Expanse, the impact on medication reconciliation has been significant, as many of our patients have 15-20 different prescriptions they are taking. Today we have confidence that this information is all captured in one medical record that can be accessed at any of our facilities,” said Rogers. In addition, “there has been better movement through the continuum and less expenditure of employee time with tasks such as registration,” he said.

Unlike other health care organizations, which patients may visit a few times a year, the relationships Hebrew SeniorLife has with its patients can last decades. For that reason, it was important that their EHR could capture an extended medical history as well as a variety of personal information important to patients and their families.

“Health goals for those we care for may be different than for other patients,” said Rogers. “Instead of having a goal to lower blood pressure, our patients may just be hoping to gain mobility so they can travel to their grandchild’s upcoming wedding. We want this information to be reflected in the EHR so that the entire care team can work with the patient to make it happen.”

Hebrew SeniorLife plans to introduce the patient and family portal in its next phase, with input from their Family Advisory Committee to improve communication and encourage family engagement in patient care.

“A traditional patient portal falls short of what patients and families need in the world of senior care,” said Tammy Retalic, chief nursing officer and chair of the Family Advisory Council. “Having the ability for family members to see what activities their loved ones have attended in addition to having access to the medical information is a unique feature of this initiative. Partnering with MEDITECH in the development and early adoption of a reimagined patient and family portal ensures that the features are user friendly for family and patients. Our Family Advisory Council is very excited about this pioneering insight into important social determinants of health for their loved ones.”
 
The patient portal enables care providers to add regular reports on a resident’s activities. Changes in a patient’s routines or social activities will be noted along with medical information to tell a more complete story about their overall wellbeing. 

“Our view of health care must encompass a wider social lens, especially for seniors still living at home or with family,” Rogers said. “These patients often need more assistance, so interacting with family and monitoring their activities are important indicators of health. With the EHR, we can track this information in a way that is accessible and meaningful, to create a clearer picture of how the patient is doing and how we can best support them.” 

Rogers added that the organization looks forward to leveraging functionality like business and clinical analytics to advance their financial, clinical, and quality improvement initiatives.

MEDITECH Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Helen Waters believes that EHRs will play a crucial role as patients age and their care becomes more complex. “It is so important that clinicians and family members have the ability to help seniors manage their health, as it has such a big influence on their quality of life,” said Waters. “With its integrated set of tools for collaboration and patient engagement, Expanse will support Hebrew SeniorLife in doing just that.”

About MEDITECH

MEDITECH empowers health care organizations to expand their vision of what’s possible with Expanse, the world’s most intuitive and interoperable EHR. Expanse lays the foundation for the next digital era, enabling care across delivery settings, designing cloud-based systems to drive better outcomes, and providing mobile, personalized solutions to improve efficiency for an overburdened workforce. Expand your possibilities. Visit ehr.meditech.com, find MEDITECH Podcasts on your favorite platform, and follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

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 3,000 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 1,000 geriatric care providers each year. For more information about Hebrew SeniorLife, visit our website or follow us on our blog, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

BOSTON – Harvard Medical School affiliate Hebrew SeniorLife, dedicated to improving the lives of older adults, today announced that Linda Thompson has joined the organization as Chief People Officer. In this role, she brings her human resources expertise to the challenges of talent acquisition and management, employee relations, professional and organizational development, and more. Thompson replaced Deb Lemmerman, who retired earlier this month after almost eight years of service.

Thompson is a seasoned executive, with more than 35 years of employee engagement and human resource management experience, including her most recent 20 years+ at the New England Baptist Hospital. There, Thompson was an ambassador for service excellence, diversity, equity, and inclusion along with employee well-being. Her many accomplishments included: Introducing on-site fitness for employees and medical insurance premium incentives; launching listening sessions and a self-study Anti-Racism Module to build understanding of the history and impacts of race and racism; becoming the driving force behind the creation and nurturing of the “Baptist Way” culture of excellence, service to patients, quality, and safety for all patients, staff, and visitors to the Baptist; and implementing workforce development pipeline programs to overcome high turnover and create stability.

“Throughout my years at the Baptist, I felt a deep commitment to fostering trust, inspiring confidence, and building collaborative and diverse relationships with executives, physicians, board members, and frontline staff,” Thompson said. “I bring that commitment to Hebrew SeniorLife and look forward to collaborating across the organization to maintain and enhance the employee culture and value proposition that staff have come to expect at Hebrew SeniorLife.”

Thompson earned her master’s degree in health care administration from New Hampshire College and a bachelor’s in management from Simmons College. She also received certificates in HR from Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations, Villanova University, Brown University, and other academic and industry organizations.

“Linda clearly rose to the top of an intensive interview process that engaged more than 50 staff members,” said Lou Woolf, president and CEO of Hebrew SeniorLife. “What came through during the interviews is that Linda is a person who has extraordinary respect and empathy for the entire workforce as they fulfill our mission, and is someone who lives and breathes our foundational and cultural beliefs, particularly Respect, Build Trust, Succeeding Together, Ask What Matters, and Grow Professionally – qualities that have helped us be recognized as a Top Place to Work in Massachusetts for the fourth time in the most current ranking.”

Woolf added, “I’d also like to thank Deb Lemmerman for her service and accomplishments and who, with our talented and hard-working HR team, helped us be, and get rightful recognition as, a top place to work in the state.”

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 3,000 seniors a day across six campuses throughout Greater Boston. Our 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 $63 million, making it the largest gerontological research facility in the U.S. in a clinical setting. It also trains more than 1,000 geriatric care providers each year. For more information about Hebrew SeniorLife, visit https://www.hebrewseniorlife.org or follow us on our blog, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

BOSTON  – Hebrew SeniorLife, New England’s largest nonprofit provider of senior health care and living communities, and the only senior care organization affiliated with Harvard Medical School, announced that its two Hebrew Rehabilitation Center campuses have been recognized by the Institute of Healthcare Improvement (IHI) as an Age-Friendly Health System.

Hebrew Rehabilitation Center – Boston, in Roslindale, and Hebrew Rehabilitation Center – NewBridge, in Dedham, both meet IHI’s rigorous standards for Long-Term Chronic Care Services as well as Rehabilitation Services. Health systems receiving the Age-Friendly designation are noted for expertly designed care for older adults, with a proven commitment to each patient’s needs, values, preferences, and beliefs as they age.

IHI’s 4M quality framework is comprised of four components: What Matters, Medication, Mentation, and Mobility. The goals of an Age-Friendly Health System are to follow key evidence-based practices; cause no harm; and align with What Matters to seniors and their caregivers. 

“You can easily see the parallels between IHI’s goals and the mission and cultural beliefs of Hebrew SeniorLife,” said Mary Moscato, FACHE, President, Hebrew SeniorLife Health Care Services and Hebrew Rehabilitation Center. “I truly appreciate our employees who worked closely with IHI to achieve this recognition and especially want to thank our many employees who care for our seniors and made this recognition possible.”

Over the course of four months, Hebrew SeniorLife interviewed 14 teams across the organization to document the many ways its approach to caring for seniors aligned with IHI’s 4M quality framework. Next, the organization assessed and validated data on the many patients across each setting who were being touched by these practices. Best Age-Friendly practices were brought to the forefront and elevated, particularly in the Long-Term Chronic Care area.

“Being named an Age-Friendly Health System is a national honor and validates what we have known all along: We are a leader in the Age-Friendly Health System movement,” said Jennifer Wall, D.N.P., R.N., A.N.P.-B.C., C.E.N.P., Chief Quality Officer at Hebrew SeniorLife.

About Hebrew SeniorLife
Hebrew SeniorLife is a national senior services leader uniquely dedicated to rethinking, researching, and redefining the possibilities of aging. Hebrew SeniorLife cares for more than 3,000 seniors a day across six campuses throughout Greater Boston. Our 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 and trains more than 1,000 geriatric care providers each year. For more information about Hebrew SeniorLife, visit https://www.hebrewseniorlife.org or follow us on our blog, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

BOSTON – Hebrew SeniorLife announced it has received the Hospice Award of Distinction for the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS), part of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), a federal agency. It has also been named a national best practice agency.

Hebrew SeniorLife Hospice Care works to bring meaning and fulfillment during the final stages of life, in addition to providing comfort and management of symptoms related to a patient’s illness. It provides care wherever a patient calls home, including private homes, congregate housing sites, skilled nursing and assisted living facilities, and in some cases acute care hospitals across more than 16 communities in Massachusetts. Service is provided at consistent regardless of location. For instance, a patient in a skilled nursing facility can expect to receive the same amount of support from the hospice team as if they were in a private home or assisted living facility. 

Hospice care continues for families and caregivers for a minimum of 13 months after a patient has passed. Hebrew SeniorLife’s multidisciplinary bereavement team consists of chaplains, social workers, and volunteers who meet regularly to review and discuss the difficulties that the bereaved are experiencing. 

Agencies named as national best practice agencies are proven leaders and have excelled in one of the most important measures of an agency’s quality program– caregiver experience. 

The CAHPS program works closely with a consortium of research organizations to conduct research on patient experience and develop surveys that ask consumers and patients to report on and evaluate their experiences with health plans, providers, and health care facilities. The survey for hospices was handled by Fazzi Associates, a best practice research and consulting firm specializing in home care, palliative care, and hospices.

“This recognition speaks volumes for our bereavement program,” said Maureen Bannan, Executive Director of Home and Community Based Services at Hebrew SeniorLife. “The team has done an exemplary job by ensuring that our bereaved are well supported in their grief process, which is why we’re proud we have earned this recognition.”

For nearly a decade, Hebrew SeniorLife Hospice Care has been providing end-of-life care that honors the dignity, comfort, and spiritual well-being of patients and families.

During COVID-19, Hebrew SeniorLife Hospice Care offered virtual Memorial Services to allow bereaved loved ones to join from all over the continental United States and Israel. Because Hospice Care operates within Hebrew SeniorLife, hospice staff received the latest guidelines and access to personal protective equipment supplies so they could continue to operate safely and comfortably care for patients and their families throughout the public health emergency. 

“Hospice team members realize that end of life care can be the most physically and emotionally challenging time for a patient and their family. Help can be needed in many ways, and our multidisciplinary care team honors the diversity of sensibilities and spiritual perspectives around life and death while caring for patients of all faiths,” said Matthew Smith, Hebrew SeniorLife’s Director of Hospice Clinical Services. 

About Hebrew SeniorLife
Hebrew SeniorLife is a national senior services leader uniquely dedicated to rethinking, researching, and redefining the possibilities of aging. Hebrew SeniorLife cares for more than 3,000 seniors a day across six campuses throughout Greater Boston. Our 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 and trains more than 1,000 geriatric care providers each year. For more information about Hebrew SeniorLife, visit  https://www.hebrewseniorlife.org or follow us on our blog, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

BOSTON – Hebrew SeniorLife, New England’s largest nonprofit provider of senior health care and living communities, and the only senior care organization affiliated with Harvard Medical School, announced that it has received $500,000 as part of the 2021-2022 Senator Kenneth J. Donnelly Workforce Success Grants for Expanded Training Capacity & Employment Program Performance. 

Hebrew SeniorLife will use the funds to provide a work-and-earn training and placement service to prepare 105 unemployed and underemployed participants for Certified Nursing Assistant positions. The organization will team with Sherrill House, Legacy Lifecare, The Boston Home, Boston Career Center, Downtown Boston Career Center, More Than Words, and Immigrant Family Services Institute.

“These funds will help us train 105 people to go into new or better jobs as CNAs,” said Tammy Retalic, D.N.P., M.S.N., R.N., Chief Nursing Officer and VP of Patient Care Services, Hebrew SeniorLife. “We’ve been increasing our capacity to train and place CNAs in the community, filling an important need as the demand for caregivers continues to increase. We are grateful to the state for providing funds that will help people get necessary training to get new jobs that will in turn enable them to help others.”

The grant is part of a Workforce Skills Cabinet program to support additional capacity in ongoing sector-based employment programs that provide job training, placement, and retention services to unemployed and underemployed Massachusetts residents. In total, WSC provided $5.4 million in grants to 12 organizations, including Hebrew SeniorLife, to help train people in careers for which there are vacancies. The grant awards are named for the late Senator Kenneth J. Donnelly, who was a steadfast champion of promoting workforce opportunities for people who might otherwise lack a pathway to economic stability.  

About Hebrew SeniorLife
Hebrew SeniorLife is a national senior services leader uniquely dedicated to rethinking, researching, and redefining the possibilities of aging. Hebrew SeniorLife cares for more than 3,000 seniors a day across six campuses throughout Greater Boston. Our 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 and trains more than 1,000 geriatric care providers each year. 

Hebrew SeniorLife was again named to the Boston Globe’s Top Places to Work, and offers fulfilling career opportunities. For more information about Hebrew SeniorLife, visit https://www.hebrewseniorlife.org or follow us on our blog, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

BOSTON - At its annual Academic Program Celebration, Hebrew SeniorLife, a Harvard Medical School affiliate, one of Boston’s Top Places to Work, and New England’s largest nonprofit provider of senior health care and living communities, named Carline Cenat, Registered Nurse, as R.N. of the Year and Dadie Petit-Frere, P.C.A., as Personal Care Associate of the Year. Cenat, who lives in Randolph, is a Staff Registered Nurse at Hebrew Rehabilitation Center – Boston and has been employed by Hebrew SeniorLife since 2004, starting as a C.N.A. before becoming a nurse. Petit-Frere, who lives in Brockton and is a Senior Patient Care Associate at Hebrew Rehabilitation Center at NewBridge on the Charles in Dedham, has worked at Hebrew SeniorLife since 2012.

The ceremony, held May 4, also recognized recent C.N.A.s who graduated from the Certified Nursing Assistant training program based at Hebrew Rehabilitation Center - Boston. This five-week, fully paid program combines classroom time, lab skill training, and supervised time with patients. This year, 10 graduated from the program. 

As part of its effort to recognize the special role that nurses play on the care team, Hebrew SeniorLife also named three nurses as part of its Nurse Excellence Program: Debra Dunlap, staff registered nurse at Hebrew Rehabilitation Center at NewBridge on the Charles in Dedham, who lives in North Easton; Laura Hunt, R.N., Nurse Manager at Hebrew Rehabilitation Center at NewBridge on the Charles in Dedham, who lives in Norwood; and Jacquelyn Mello, Staff Registered Nurse at Hebrew Rehabilitation Center – Boston, who lives in Hyde Park. Drawn from throughout the organization, these nurses will receive individually crafted learning opportunities to deepen their knowledge base for a particular area of interest. Participants of the program attend conferences and meetings, participate in policy or educational programming development, and help in special projects to expand their skills in wound management, dementia care, or end of life, to name a few. 

Senior Staff Chaplain Hali Diecidue delivered the invocation and Susan Graff, M.S.N., R.N., Director, Professional Practice and Education, issued welcoming remarks and Jean Roberson, M.S.N., R.N., Clinical Nurse Specialist, provided an overview of nursing programs. Other speakers included Melissa Bayer Tearney, Board Chair of Hebrew SeniorLife and Louis J. Woolf, President and Chief Executive Officer, Hebrew SeniorLife. Margie Lunder, a Hebrew SeniorLife donor, introduced the night’s honorees. The evening concluded with a presentation from Tammy Retalic, D.N.P., M.S., R.N., Chief Nursing Officer and Vice President, Patient Care Services, Hebrew Rehabilitation Center.

National Nurses Month
As part of National Nurses Month, nearly three dozen nurses from Hebrew SeniorLife were nominated for their impeccable work for the annual “Salute to Nurses” supplement published in the Boston Globe.  Nominees range from newly minted nurses to some with decades of experience, and from home health aides to day and night charge nurses to hospice care – showcasing the organization’s continuum of care.

According to Retalic, “Hebrew SeniorLife is committed to delivering world-class clinical quality to our patients. and we support that by offering many opportunities for ongoing education and professional development that can position nurses to advance their careers.” 

Hebrew SeniorLife serves as a clinical training site for students seeking R.N., L.P.N., or C.N.A. degrees, and trains nursing students in inpatient and outpatient settings from partner schools, including Academy Health Care, Regis College, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Massachusetts General Institute for Health Professionals, and Labouré College. 

The organization was recently designated as an Age-Friendly Health System by the Institute of Healthcare Improvement. If you are interested in joining our team for a fulfilling career, please visit our careers page.

About Hebrew SeniorLife
Hebrew SeniorLife is a national senior services leader uniquely dedicated to rethinking, researching, and redefining the possibilities of aging. Hebrew SeniorLife cares for more than 3,000 seniors a day across six campuses throughout Greater Boston. Our 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 and trains more than 1,000 geriatric care providers each year. For more information about Hebrew SeniorLife, visit https://www.hebrewseniorlife.org or follow us on our blog, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

BOSTON – Hebrew SeniorLife, New England’s largest nonprofit provider of senior health care and living communities, and the only senior care organization affiliated with Harvard Medical School, announced the appointment of Matthew Shuster, M.D., as Medical Director of Hebrew Rehabilitation Center at NewBridge on the Charles in Dedham. 

In this vital position, Dr. Shuster will oversee geriatric specialty care that meets the chronic and acute medical needs of older adult patients. Patient care at HRC at NewBridge on the Charles includes long-term chronic care hospital services, post-acute rehabilitative care, and outpatient services. Dr. Shuster will focus on cultivating teams to deliver compassionate, coordinated patient care across all levels of care. 

Dr. Shuster brings more than 30 years of clinical, teaching, and leadership experience as primary care physician and geriatrician at Atrius Health/Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates, and most recently as Associate Medical Director for VNA Care Hospice and Palliative Care. He also served as initial Medical Co-Director for Seasons Hospice and Palliative Care. His first experience with HRC and its care model was from his previous work with Atrius Health at the HRC-NewBridge on the Charles Rehabilitative Services Unit.

“Dr. Shuster is a highly talented and experienced geriatrician, having worked in both inpatient and outpatient settings as well as home care,” said Helen Chen, M.D., Chief Medical Officer for Hebrew SeniorLife. “The thoughtful effort behind the creation and recruitment of this Medical Director position reflects our goal to better integrate health care services across the broader NewBridge on the Charles community.”

A Newton, Mass. resident, Dr. Shuster received his medical degree from the University of Maryland and completed his residency training at George Washington University Hospital in Washington, D.C. He is board certified in Internal Medicine, Geriatric Medicine, and Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Since 1987, he has served as a Lecturer in Medicine for Harvard Medical School and an Affiliate Staff Physician at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center since 2010. He has been recognized for his contributions five times over his career by Harvard Community Health Plan and was named Physician of the Year by the Home Care Alliance of Massachusetts.

Recently Hebrew Rehabilitation Center – NewBridge, and Hebrew Rehabilitation Center – Boston were recognized by the Institute of Healthcare Improvement (IHI) as an Age-Friendly Health System based on IHI’s rigorous standards for Long-Term Chronic Care Services and Rehabilitation Services. Health systems receiving the Age-Friendly designation are noted for expertly designed care for older adults, with a proven commitment to each patient’s needs, values, preferences, and beliefs as they age.

About NewBridge on the Charles 
NewBridge on the Charles offers independent living, assisted living, memory care assisted living and health care services in luxurious surroundings with exceptional amenities, first-class educational and cultural programming, and a complete continuum of care on a lush 162-acre intergenerational campus.

About Hebrew SeniorLife
Hebrew SeniorLife is a national senior services leader uniquely dedicated to rethinking, researching, and redefining the possibilities of aging. Hebrew SeniorLife cares for more than 3,000 seniors a day across six campuses throughout Greater Boston. Our 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 and trains more than 1,000 geriatric care providers each year. For more information about Hebrew SeniorLife, visit our website or follow us on our blog, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

BOSTON – The May 9 edition of the Boston Globe featured the annual “Salute to Nurses” special report that recognizes nurses whose dedication and caring have saved lives, soothed fears, and eased the pain of countless patients and their families. More than 35 nurses from Hebrew Rehabilitation Center - Boston, Hebrew Rehabilitation Center - NewBridge in Dedham, Orchard Cove’s Skilled Nursing Facility in Canton, as well as nurses from In-Home Senior Care, and  Hospice Care were nominated by their colleagues for their ability to work as a team, lead the way in infection control, and sacrifice time away from their own families during the pandemic to care for patients physically and emotionally. 

“We have a nursing staff of 1,200 people who truly represent and live Hebrew SeniorLife’s core values,” said Tammy Retalic, M.S., R.N., Chief Nursing Officer and Vice President, Patient Care Services, Hebrew Rehabilitation Center. “Every day, they go above and beyond to provide world-class clinical care and to make a difference in the lives of our patients and their families."

"We all know that 2020 was a challenging year. I’m incredibly proud of the way our nurses led the way in protecting and caring for our patients, while providing comfort and solace during some of the most challenging days in their own lives, too.”  

Hebrew SeniorLife offers many opportunities for nurses to advance their careers through professional development, tuition assistance, scholarships, and leadership opportunities. Hebrew SeniorLife recently launched a paid training program for those interested in beginning a career in nursing as a Certified Nursing Assistant. The next paid training session will run in August and is intended for those who have not already been working in this role. Please email nurseaidtraining@hsl.harvard.edu for details.

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 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://hebrewseniorlife.org and follow us on our blog, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.