Hebrew Rehabilitation Center Rolls Out No-Cost Accommodations to Direct Care Staff

BOSTON – Hebrew SeniorLife (HSL), a nonprofit organization committed to improving the lives of older adults, is offering hotel accommodations for all direct care staff at Hebrew Rehabilitation Center in Boston and Dedham effective immediately. This effort comes on the heels of other measures implemented by HSL to support the health and safety of its direct care workers, including aggressive efforts to secure Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

Mary Moscato, President, Hebrew SeniorLife Health Care Services and Hebrew Rehabilitation Center (HRC), said, “Our direct care team is the foundation of Hebrew Rehabilitation Center. Many have been with us for decades, and we truly appreciate the long hours they are putting in to ensure seniors are safe and living their best quality of life under these very difficult circumstances.

“Since the pandemic began, our first priority has been safety, and we have given our very best effort to equip all direct care staff members with PPE, such as masks and gloves. We are now working to address as many of their housing, clothing, and nutritional needs in recognition of their intense focus on patient care during the pandemic.”

HRC reserved a block of hotel rooms at Island Hospitality Management’s Residence Inn by Marriott-Dedham for direct care staff who work at HRC-Boston (Roslindale) or HRC-Dedham. HRC’s direct care staff numbers around 820 and includes: physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, PCAs/CNAs, and a range of therapy positions. Staff members who want to remain close to work, have back-to-back shifts, or want to stay in a hotel apart from their families can do so through a simple request process. HRC is covering the full cost for the accommodations. Each room has a kitchenette and laundry, and a daily complimentary light breakfast is available from the hotel. Daily roundtrip transportation is being provided by HRC for staffers who don’t have a car or who rely on public transportation to get to work.

In addition to offering accommodations, HRC is proactively providing other benefits to direct care staff. All direct care staff are being provided with healthy meals delivered to their floors and HRC households, so they don’t have to leave their floors during their shifts and can remain nutritionally strong. Additionally, there are free healthy meals in HRC vending machines on both campuses as well as free coffee/tea stations. HRC is also ordering two sets of designer scrubs for each member of the direct care team.

“The health, well-being, and safety of our direct care providers are top priorities for Hebrew Rehabilitation Center. We will continue to look for ways to support direct care staff during the COVID-19 pandemic, and show deep appreciation for the commitment and hard work they deliver 24/7,” Moscato said.

Staff welcomed this latest move. According to Julie, an employee of HRC-Boston, “I think this is amazing. I can tell that management is doing everything in its power to support us, thinking creatively, and working around the clock. It really makes a difference. So thank you.”

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 3000 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.