BOSTON – Harvard Medical School affiliate Hebrew SeniorLife, a national senior services and academic leader uniquely dedicated to investigating, understanding, and enhancing the experience of aging, has announced a generous gift to support patients and caregivers affected by Alzheimer’s disease, dementias, and other memory care issues. As a result of this $5M donation, Hebrew SeniorLife has named its growing Center for Memory Health in honor of Deanna and Sidney Wolk of Boston.

Today, five million Americans age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s. With the onset of the Coronavirus pandemic, the needs of Alzheimer’s and other memory care patients, as well as their caregivers, have only increased. The newly named Deanna and Sidney Wolk Center for Memory Health at Hebrew SeniorLife has seen a strong uptick in the number of patients and family members needing additional support during this crisis.

Mary Moscato, President, Hebrew SeniorLife Health Care Services and Hebrew Rehabilitation Center, said, “Families and patients living with dementias are increasingly at risk for the stress, isolation, and loneliness that dementia can bring. The services of the Wolk Center are already proving beneficial to patients and their families and will only be in more demand in the future as people age. We thank the Wolks for their acknowledgement of this tremendous need.”

Sidney Wolk said, “As Bostonians, we are proud to give back to the community where we have deep roots. When we learned of the increasing need for community-based services in brain disorders and cognition, for both patients as well as their caregivers, we knew that our gift towards memory care services would definitely fill a void here in this area.” 

Added Deanna Wolk, “From my volunteer work at Hebrew SeniorLife, I have seen first-hand the expert care that the organization delivers. With this gift, we are happy to support that level of excellence, helping people with memory care issues access the right experts, supports, tools, and services to help them live their best lives possible.”

Lou Woolf, President and CEO of Hebrew SeniorLife, said, “We are grateful to Deanna and Sidney Wolk, who have been leaders in giving to Hebrew SeniorLife for many years. They have stepped up in a time like no other, in an area, Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, that is expected to triple in size in the coming years. The Deanna and Sidney Wolk Center for Memory Health is becoming a vital go-to memory care resource for the community.”

The Wolk Center provides Harvard Medical School-affiliated outpatient memory care services, in person and virtually, for people living with cognitive symptoms or disorders at any stage — and for their families and caregivers. Based in Roslindale, the Wolk Center offers services such as behavioral and cognitive neurology, assessing cognitive function, identifying early signs of dementia, addressing behavioral changes, and recommending personalized interventions and lifestyles.

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, or follow us on our blog, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

BOSTON – Hebrew SeniorLife has been recognized as one of the Healthiest Employers of Massachusetts. The awards program, powered by Springbuk and hosted by First Person, was created to honor people-first organizations that recognize the importance of their employees’ well-being. Companies are recognized because of their commitment to workplace wellness and their exceptional health and benefits offerings.

Award applicants were evaluated across six key categories: Culture and Leadership, Foundational Components, Strategic Planning, Communication and Marketing, Programming and Interventions, and Reporting and Analytics. Assessments were ranked with a Healthiest Employers Index, a 1-100 scoring for wellness programming.

“Hebrew SeniorLife is totally committed to keeping its employees safe and healthy,” said Dawn Damiano, Employee Wellness Program Manager. “Our LiveWELL program includes everything from virtual yoga, mindfulness, and Zumba classes to helping our employees with fun, innovative ways to lose weight and manage their stress. With the COVID-19 pandemic, we have gone virtual with our classes instead of in-person, but we also have increased our offerings knowing how critical it is for our staff to maintain both their physical and mental health.”

As a finalist in the Healthiest Employers Award program, Hebrew SeniorLife prides itself in caring about its employees and ensuring their health and their families’ health. Its LiveWELL program has been in place for seven years, and continues to be even more popular this year during these challenging times.

About Springbuk and Healthiest Employers®
Springbuk’s Health Intelligence platform extends beyond traditional data warehousing and analytics to help you unlock your data and maximize the value of your employee health investments. Each year, Springbuk administers the Healthiest Employers Awards Program across the country to honor the nation’s most dedicated employers in bettering their worksite health and wellness programs. To date, over 10,000 employers across 40+ U.S. cities have participated in the awards program.

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

BOSTON – Hebrew SeniorLife (HSL) and the Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research are being regularly sought out to provide guidance to older adults during the COVID-19 health care crisis. While we all are still learning about this virus, as occurrence begins to lessen in states like Massachusetts, seniors and their families want to know how they can begin to resume activities safely.

Dr. Lisa Samelson, member of the Newton Council on Aging and epidemiologist at HSL’s Marcus Institute and Harvard Medical School, recently moderated a panel discussion on Zoom co-sponsored by the Office of Mayor Ruthanne Fuller and the City of Newton Department of Health and Human Services. Dr. Michael Mina, an epidemiologist, immunologist, and physician at the Harvard School of Public Health and Harvard Medical School, explored the concerns of older adults about re-engaging with the community as the state of Massachusetts begins to reopen. Dr. Mina has played a key role in COVID-19 test processing and in efforts to reduce risk in nursing homes for the state.

“Since older adults are at high risk for COVID-19, seniors and their families want to better understand how they can re-engage in the community while staying safe and healthy,” said Dr. Samelson. “This panel and others like it can inform seniors and families on ways to reduce their risk and ultimately participate again in the community with healthy outcomes.”

Since the COVID-19 health care crisis started, inquiries, requests for information, and questions from senior care organizations have come into HSL daily. In addition to consulting on important questions via phone and email, HSL has been freely sharing best practices in a dedicated section on its website, Resources for Senior Care Organizations, which includes materials, tools, protocols, and sample documents specifically aimed toward senior care organizations addressing COVID-19. 

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.

BOSTON – Alvaro Pascual-Leone, M.D., Ph.D., Senior Scientist at the Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research, Medical Director for Hebrew SeniorLife’s (HSL) Center for Memory Health, and a Professor in Neurology at Harvard Medical School, recently participated in a National Council on Aging conference panel discussion: “Socialize, Think, Move, Eat: A Community-Based, Comprehensive Lifestyle-Enriching Program to Reduce Alzheimer’s Risk.”

This brain and body healthy-aging symposium was designed to discuss an evidence-based program that can promote well-being while reducing an individual’s risk for cognitive decline and dementia. The symposium introduced attendees to the “new science of the aging brain” and the six important lifestyle components involved: social engagement, mental stimulation, physical activity, healthful nutrition, stress management, and memory-enhancing sleep practices.

Dr. Pascual-Leone is a clinical neurologist who specializes in cognitive and behavioral neurology. A major focus of his work is to characterize and promote brain health across the lifespan and minimize disability in patients with neuropsychiatric disorders while gaining fundamental insights into human brain function. HSL’s Center for Memory Health offers personalized and comprehensive care by an interdisciplinary team of health care professionals to those with both emerging cognitive concerns and established medical diagnoses, as well as their caregivers and families. Access to cutting-edge scientific advances and the latest therapeutic interventions is ensured through the close collaboration with the Marcus Institute.

“Brain health is something we can’t take for granted,” said Dr. Pascual-Leone. “We need to start much earlier looking at brain function and how to prevent diseases like Alzheimer’s disease. Symposiums like this help us look at ways to identify and promote interventions to sustain brain health and reduce a person’s risk of cognitive decline.” 

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 and our blog, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

BOSTON – Harvard Medical School Affiliate Hebrew SeniorLife (HSL), a national leader in senior care and services, continues to be called upon to help educate and advise organizations that are in the senior care industry. Tammy Retalic, HSL Chief Nursing Officer and Vice President, Patient Care Services, will speak on “Managing People and Change: What We Can Learn from the Pandemic” at Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association’s (MHA) virtual webcast: “Optimizing Hospital Patient Flow & Throughput in the COVID-19 Era.”

The program looks at how hospitals are managing in new ways in the COVID-19 era, examining patient flow from all aspects of the hospital’s operations and showing various innovations that can make all the difference from admissions to discharge. The webcast, on Tuesday, July 14 and Wednesday, July 15, from to 3 to 5 p.m. EDT, is geared toward clinicians, process improvement staff, and leaders seeking ideas for improving patient flow in an every-changing environment. (Register here).

Another MHA educational program, an on-demand webinar, “Diagnosis, Treatment & Care of Persons with Alzheimer’s & Related Dementias in the Healthcare Setting,” features HSL Geriatric Nurse Practitioner and Dementia Care Manager Anne Carr as a faculty member for the course. Carr works at HSL’s Center for Memory Health, which offers a range of memory care services and support to help seniors with memory loss as well as their families and caregivers. The webinar reviews guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with Alzheimer’s disease as well as care management best practices. It also discusses highlights of the Massachusetts law related to Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, including the continuing education requirement for clinicians who serve adult populations. (Register here). 

Also, HSL was recently awarded a Certificate of Appreciation for its participation in the national Hospital Improvement Innovation Network (HIIN). Ten Massachusetts hospitals received certificates to thank them for their participation and for their success in reducing patient harm. More than 4,000 hospitals were part of this nationwide effort. Nationally, the HIIN program has contributed to 16,075 lives saved, 151,734 fewer patient harms, and $1.233 billion in cost savings. 

“Our innovative staff is our most valuable asset,” said Mary Moscato, President, HSL Health Care Services and Hebrew Rehabilitation Center. “As an organization, we all always looking at new and innovative ways to provide patient-centered care. We also want to share our knowledge and experience with everyone who works with older adults.” 

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 and our blog, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

BOSTON - HealthInAging.org recently published a synopsis of an essay by Lewis A. Lipsitz, M.D., Director of the Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research and Chief Academic Officer for Hebrew SeniorLife, and Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. This website is a trusted source for up-to-date information and advice on health and aging, created by the American Geriatrics Society’s Health in Aging Foundation.

In his essay, published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, Dr. Lipsitz provided his vision of life at 84 and described what’s needed to optimize quality of life for older people as they age. His insight is gleaned from a distinguished career devoted to geriatric medicine and leadership in the field of aging research.  

Dr. Lipsitz identifies four areas critical to promoting healthy aging:

• Housing
  • Affordable
  • Easy to maintain
  • Safe
  • Accessible to nutritional services, housekeeping, maintenance, and transportation
• Engagement
  • Opportunity to remain engaged in meaningful, productive work (paid or unpaid), which provides a sense of purpose, intellectual stimulation, and social interaction
• Security
  • Food
  • Housing
  • Financial 
  • Health care 
  • Physical 
• Health Care
  • Centered in the home and community 
    • Home visits would be routine and technology would enable health care to be delivered safely and effectively at home. 
    • Wearable and/or at-home monitors could signal health care professionals of your personal risks so that they could step in to prevent problems
  • Access to services for vaccinations and treatment for chronic diseases would be provided in neighborhood settings.

To learn more about optimizing life at 84 read the full essay.

About the Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research
Scientists at the Hinda and Arthur 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. For further information on the Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research at Hebrew SeniorLife, please visit https://www.marcusinstituteforaging.org/.

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

BOSTON – In a letter to the editor in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, Harvard Medical School Affiliate Hebrew SeniorLife (HSL) medical staff Innokentiy Bakaev, M.D., Tammy Retalic, M.S., R.N., and Helen Chen, M.D., outlined the need for universal testing to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in post-acute and long-term chronic care hospitals.

Hebrew Rehabilitation Center (HRC), part of Hebrew SeniorLife, is a 723-bed multi-campus organization that provides both long-term chronic care and post-acute rehabilitation services. In many ways, HRC is not a typical long-term chronic care organization as it operates within an integrated senior health care organization with a continuum of care that includes home health services, assisted living, and independent living units. The average age of HRC’s patients is 89 years, which increases their risk for worse outcomes from COVID-19 infections.

In February 2020, after confirmed cases were reported at a Washington state nursing home, HRC began taking steps to prepare. Clinical and operational leaders convened with two major goals – avoidance or delay in emergence of COVID-19 infections and preparedness for possible outbreaks at any of its sites. HSL closely followed recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, building on already strict infection control procedures. Within two weeks, visitors were restricted from all campuses, nonclinical staff began working remotely, daily staff temperatures and symptom screenings were performed, and social distancing procedures were instituted at all sites.

Although strong infection protocols were helpful in delaying the first case, what was critical in mitigating the spread of the virus was the development of testing protocols in partnership with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, a major acute-care Boston teaching hospital. This partnership enabled HSL to deploy universal testing in its inpatient facilities. This allowed HSL to assess the penetration of infection on each unit, which helped our decisions moving forward. Identification of asymptomatic COVID-19 positive cases was a major advantage delivered by the universal testing approach.

“Our rapid implementation of extensive testing procedures enabled appropriate clinical management, cohorting of patients, and education of staff,” said Dr. Chen, HSL Chief Medical Officer. “Our experience highlights the importance of careful planning, universal testing, cohorting, and an acute hospital and long-term care facility partnership to limit the effects of disease outbreaks during a pandemic.” 

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

BOSTON – Since March 2020, Harvard Medical School Affiliate Hebrew SeniorLife has been on the front lines of fighting COVID-19 to protect the most vulnerable people this virus affects – seniors. To help with the procurement of much-needed personal protection equipment as well as initially building a dedicated COVID-19 unit at its Boston campus, Hebrew SeniorLife established the COVID-19 Senior Response Fund.

In less than six months, with donations from organizations, individual donors, and employees, the COVID-19 Senior Response Fund raised over $2 million. In addition to continuing to purchase personal protection equipment, the fund is helping Hebrew SeniorLife meet its increased staffing and equipment needs as its campuses begin the slow, safe reopening phase. Many activities for patients are slowly being reintroduced on a smaller scale, such as small-group activities, with both patients and staff wearing masks and staying six feet apart. Other activities, such as music therapy, have been re-introduced using Zoom.

“We so appreciate the support for Hebrew SeniorLife’s COVID-19 Senior Response Fund,” says Katelyn Quynn, Chief Development Officer and Vice President, Board Relations. “As we were all responding to the crisis, our donors, our employees, and many of our residents, some for the first time, contributed to our fund, which continues to help us fight the virus and reopen in a safe, phased-in way. Additionally, we had amazing volunteer donors offer to make calls on our behalf to raise money for the fund. We are extremely grateful, and we know that together, we will get through this.”

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

BOSTON - Hebrew SeniorLife (HSL) continues to be a valued resource and mentor for senior communities during the COVID-19 health care crisis. As Massachusetts and other states begin to reopen, HSL has been a sought-after expert and advisor, speaking virtually to small teams and larger groups on best practices around safety and quality of life for senior living organizations.

“Helping seniors as they age is the fundamental mission of HSL, and when fellow organizations come to us for advice and best practices in this area, it is important to share what we know and what we have learned,” said Kim Brooks, HSL’s Chief Operating Officer for Senior Living. “We are all in this together, ensuring that seniors can move into senior living confident that their health and safety are top priority.”

For example, Brooks recently presented on best practices at a virtual LeadingAge Massachusetts meeting for leaders of continuing care retirement communities. She also was invited by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs, LeadingAge Massachusetts, the Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation, the Department of Housing and Community Development, and MassHousing to speak recently on a conference call on the topic of “What Does Opening up Look Like for Affordable Senior Housing.” More than 100 senior living providers across the Commonwealth participated in this event.

Other members of Brooks’ senior living team are also guest speakers at association and community meetings. Matt Hollingshead, Executive Director of Assisted Living, NewBridge on the Charles, will speak on June 18 at the Massachusetts Assisted Living Association’s annual regulations training on “Operational Challenges in the COVID-19 Environment.” This panel will address the many facets of providing the best possible living environment for assisted living residents amidst the concerns and threat of communicable disease. Items to be discussed include how to safely have activities; dietary/food issues; maintenance/housekeeping concerns; staffing issues; family visitation; move-ins; and more. More than 260 participants are slated to attend.

Since the COVID-19 health care crisis started, requests for information and questions from senior care organizations have come in daily. HSL has made its expertise available via phone, email, and virtual events, and has been sharing best practices in a dedicated section on its website, Resources for Senior Care Organizations, which includes materials, tools, protocols, and sample documents specifically aimed toward senior care organizations addressing COVID-19.

About Hebrew SeniorLife
Hebrew SeniorLife is a national senior services leader dedicated to rethinking, researching, and redefining the possibilities of aging. As New England’s largest nonprofit provider of senior health care and living communities, and the only one affiliated with Harvard Medical School, HSL cares for more than 3,000 seniors a day across six campuses throughout Greater Boston. Our locations include: Hebrew Rehabilitation Center, Boston and 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, HSL also conducts influential research into aging and trains more than 1,000 students in geriatric care each year. Visit https://www.hebrewseniorlife.org, follow us on Twitter @H_SeniorLife, like us on Facebook, or read our blog.

BOSTON — Susan Mitchell, MD, MPH of Needham Massachusetts was recently presented with the 2016 UCLA David H. Solomon award. The award was named in honor of the former chair of medicine at University of California, Los Angeles and is awarded annually to an influential leader in the field of geriatrics.

Dr. Mitchell is Senior Scientist and Director of Palliative Care Research at Hebrew SeniorLife’s Institute for Aging Research and a Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School in Boston. She is a clinical epidemiologist and board certified geriatrician and internist in Canada and the United States. Dr. Mitchell's research interests focus on decision-making, health outcomes, and resource utilization for older people near the end-of-life, particularly those with dementia. She is the principal investigator on several large research projects funded by the National Institutes of Health to study the end-stages of dementia and has been a lead author on 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 a primary care provider for frail nursing home residents at Hebrew Senior Life and attending geriatrician at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.