At Los Angeles Jewish Health, Short-Term Rehab Delivers Long-Term Results

Home / News & Events / Newsletter

At Los Angeles Jewish Health, Short-Term Rehab Delivers Long-Term Results

Mar 1, 2023

In the world of short-term rehabilitation for seniors, not all programs or facilities are created equal. Given its breadth of services, depth of experience, and track record of results, Los Angeles Jewish Health's high-impact short-term rehab is in a class by itself.

Under the supervision of Director of Rehabilitation Services Daniel Persichetti, the offerings are robust. "We have seven distinct short-term rehab operations at Los Angeles Jewish Health, each one geared to meet diverse seniors' needs," he says. "It's terrific because it means we're able to help with a wide range of challenges, getting people back on their feet and ready to reclaim mobility and function that may have been compromised due to a recent hospital stay or illness."

The programs include short-term, skilled nursing facility-based rehab at Los Angeles Jewish Health's Grancell Village campus; a PACE (Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly) clinic at the Brandman Centers for Senior Care, also located in Grancell Village; and outpatient services on the Eisenberg Village campus and at Fountainview at Gonda Westside, in Playa Vista.

"When older adults are released from the hospital, they may not be quite ready to return home, so they come stay with us for a bit, instead," Daniel says. "Maybe they can't walk very far or have difficulty climbing out of bed. Perhaps they've just had a hip or knee replacement, or they've suffered a stroke. We equip them with the right tools to build up their strength and recover their independence."

The outpatient clinic at Eisenberg Village is also open to members of the general public, who can come to campus to leverage Los Angeles Jewish Health's renowned expertise in senior care. "Our speech therapists and physical therapists are available for things like memory and cognition training, improving balance and gait, and refining overall strength and function," Daniel says. "As those in need of these services discover just how good our care is, more and more people from the greater community are relying on us every day."

In addition to having access to an outpatient clinic, seniors participating in PACE at the Brandman Centers may benefit from home visits, as well. "Sometimes, our therapy staff will go to a participant's home to make sure they have the tools they need to help in their recovery. For instance, they may evaluate if a grab bar is in the right spot for the shower, or ensure the person has the appropriate ramp to make their house accessible—essentially, making equipment recommendations to help seniors live in their homes for a longer period of time," Daniel says.

He and his team of about 30 full-time therapists (plus 20 or so per diem staff) also treat longer-term Los Angeles Jewish Health residents. "Sometimes, folks in assisted living may experience a decline—say after a fall. Our caring team provides them with therapy two or three days a week to help them improve," he says. "One of the things that makes our therapy so successful is that, because it's in-house, we develop good collaborative relationships with nurses and other Los Angeles Jewish Health staff, so we can work together as a team to get residents better in a timely manner."

As Daniel sees it, these partnerships are a key distinguishing feature of rehab services at Los Angeles Jewish Health. "I've worked for many companies over the past 17 years, starting out in acute care and then moving on to aquatic therapy, outpatient care, and acute rehab. But working for Los Angeles Jewish Health is like night and day. Not only is there a real family atmosphere here, but also, the primary focus is different: It is about serving people and the community, rather than solely on generating financial gain."

For Daniel, one of the most gratifying parts of the job is watching people start to feel empowered when they realize they can do things on their own. "We see so many success stories," he says, "and I'm proud of the gains our seniors make with our support."

Among Los Angeles Jewish Health's satisfied short-term rehab customers is David Goldstein, who sought intensive physical therapy after fracturing his humerus (upper arm bone). "Los Angeles Jewish Health staff are responsive, they know what they're doing, and they make you feel like you're in your own home," he says. "Although being here is only temporary, they've done everything possible to make me comfortable and happy. I chose the right place, and I would highly recommend it."

Prev Page Next Page

Share

Sign up for the Los Angeles Jewish Health newsletter, Connections.

First Name

Last Name

Email

Recent Articles

Oct 2

Los Angeles Jewish Health Receives $1 Million Gift from Alfred E. Mann Charities

Leading foundation supports Southern California’s premier senior healthcare provider(LOS ANGELES, CA – October 2, 2024) Los Angeles Jewish Health has received a $1 million donation from the Alfred E. Mann Charities Inc., a prominent Los Angeles-based charitable foundation that supports scientific advancement, education, community development, and cultural initiatives. The gift will support the newest location of LAJH’s Brandman Centers for Senior Care, a Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE).Situated in the heart of L.A.’s Pico-Robertson neighborhood, the new Westside BCSC is a full-service adult day care center offering head-to-toe medical assistance, social activities, transportation, and home care services to eligible seniors. Through its 5,000-square-foot Wellness Center, the Westside BCSC’s coordinated team orchestrates comprehensive health services including medical and specialty care, behavioral health services, social work services, physical and occupational therapy services, home care services, prescription medications, and delicious meals. The Wellness Center is being named in the Alfred E. Mann Charities’ honor in recognition of its landmark gift, which will help advance the Westside BCSC’s work and play an important role in enabling the facility to serve more than 400 area seniors.“We are tremendously grateful to the Alfred E. Mann Charities for helping to further LAJH’s mission to provide excellence in senior care reflective of Jewish values for all,” said Dale Surowitz, LAJH’s president and chief executive officer. “Thanks to this gift, our newest Brandman Center will have critical resources to make a meaningful difference in seniors’ lives.”Each day, BCSC PACE offers a vital lifeline for frail, elderly adults still living in the community (more than 95% of program participants live outside of a nursing home). Most participants are dually eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid. Once they enroll, the BCSC becomes their exclusive provider for all medical needs—coordinating their appointments and care and eliminating the need for them to pay medical bills.For the Alfred E. Mann Charities, investing in the vision of the BCSC continues a longstanding partnership with Los Angeles Jewish Health.“We are proud supporters of LAJH, a community where every individual is valued and treated with kindness,” said Michael Dreyer, president of the Alfred E. Mann Charities, and Anoosheh Bostani, the organization’s chief financial officer. “The team is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for seniors by providing exceptional medical care rooted in compassion, respect, and dignity.” The Alfred E. Mann Wellness Center in the Brandman Centers for Senior Care West Los Angeles LocationExam room at the Mann Wellness CenterTreatment room at the Mann Wellness CenterDental Exam room at the Mann Wellness Center

Los Angeles Jewish Health Receives $1 Million Gift from Alfred E. Mann Charities

Helping seniors stay in their own homes for as long as possible—while remaining as independent as possible—is a central goal of Los Angeles Jewish Health’s (LAJH) Brandman Centers for Senior Care (BCSC), a Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE). This fall, the Alfred E. Mann Charities Inc., a charitable foundation dedicated to improving healthcare and accelerating medical innovation, demonstrated its support for the program with an extraordinary $1 million donation to benefit LAJH’s newest PACE facility on L.A.’s Westside.Located in the heart of the Pico-Robertson neighborhood, the Westside BCSC is a full-service adult day care center offering head-to-toe medical assistance, social activities, transportation, and home care services to eligible seniors. Through its 5,000-square-foot Wellness Center, the Westside BCSC’s coordinated team orchestrates comprehensive health services including medical and specialty care, behavioral health services, social work services, physical and occupational therapy services, home care services, prescription medications, and delicious meals. The Wellness Center is being named in the Alfred E. Mann Charities’ honor in recognition of its landmark gift, which will help advance the Westside BCSC’s work and play an important role in enabling the facility to serve more than 400 area seniors.“We are tremendously grateful to the Alfred E. Mann Charities for helping to further LAJH’s mission to provide excellence in senior care reflective of Jewish values for all,” says Dale Surowitz, LAJH’s president and chief executive officer. “Thanks to this gift, our newest Brandman Center will have critical resources to make a meaningful difference in seniors’ lives.”Brandman Centers for Senior CARE PACE in West Los Angeles (left) and the Alfred E. Mann Charities Wellness Center Each day, BCSC PACE offers a vital lifeline for frail, elderly adults still living in the community. Most participants are dually eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid. Once they enroll, BCSC becomes their exclusive provider for all medical needs—coordinating their appointments and care and eliminating the need for them to pay medical bills.For the Alfred E. Mann Charities, investing in the vision of the BCSC continues a longstanding partnership with Los Angeles Jewish Health.“We are proud supporters of LAJH, a community where every individual is valued and treated with kindness,” says Michael Dreyer, president of the Alfred E. Mann Charities, and Anoosheh Bostani, the organization’s chief financial officer. “The team is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for seniors by providing exceptional medical care rooted in compassion, respect, and dignity.” Treatment room in the Alfred E. Mann Charities Wellness CenterDental Exam room in the Alfred E. Mann Charities Wellness Center

Seniors and the Benefits of Social Connections

Los Angeles Jewish Health is dedicated to ensuring the wellbeing of thousands of seniors each year. Physical health is just one indicator of how older adults are faring; mental and social health are also critical markers. This was the focus of a recent event held at LAJH’s Fountainview at Eisenberg Village featuring noted scholar Lené Levy-Storms, PhD.An associate professor of social welfare and medicine/geriatrics at UCLA, Dr. Levy-Storms addressed a near capacity crowd in the Fountainview Theatre about the importance of nurturing and maintaining social connections. It’s a topic that is drawing more attention as researchers deepen their understanding of the ways in which social health impacts human lives.“It’s programmed in our DNA to be social,” Dr. Levy-Storms said. “In fact, scientific literature shows that not having adequate social connections can yield the same adverse health effects as obesity and smoking.”Dr. Levy-Storms addresses the crowd at the Fountainview TheatreThis year, the U.S. Surgeon General released a report detailing what he called the country’s current “epidemic of loneliness.” According to the report, too many Americans feel an acute sense of social isolation. Dr. Levy-Storms noted that shining a light on the problem is essential to fixing it, since lack of awareness has prevented the development of vital resources.“We don’t have a healthcare system designed to give us remedies when we’re ailing from social health issues,” she said. “Beyond the healthcare arena, there’s also a big emphasis in our society on building up financial capital, and especially saving for retirement and older age. But where’s our social capital? What’s going to sustain us to feel connected as we get older and start to lose some of the people in our lives?”Dr. Levy-Storms’ talk was part of LAJH’s larger efforts around assessing urgent community needs. “Part of being a licensed nonprofit hospital means continually gauging how best to serve the people who rely on our care,” says Ilana Springer, the CEO and administrator of LAJH’s Joyce Eisenberg Keefer Medical Center. “Our most recent assessment revealed that seniors are particularly susceptible to isolation and loneliness, with 20%-40% reporting feeling lonely at any given point in time.”The solution, in Dr. Levy-Storms’ view, is not just building new relationships throughout our lives—it’s also making sure they are meaningful ones.“What is a meaningful relationship? The key is to establish emotional connections,” she said. “This requires us to get into a mindset of finding common ground with other people. It’s easy to say, ‘I don’t have anything in common with this person,’ but we can change that through listening and connecting with them. Then, hopefully, we experience reciprocity, where the listening goes both ways.”At the conclusion of Dr. Levy-Storm’s talk, the audience moved outside to chat over brownies and lemonade, giving them a chance to forge new connections and put her advice into practice.