Turning Dreams Into Reality at Los Angeles Jewish Health Leads to Prestigious AJAS Award

Home / News & Events / Newsletter

Turning Dreams Into Reality at Los Angeles Jewish Health Leads to Prestigious AJAS Award

Mar 5, 2024

Seniors move to Los Angeles Jewish Health for a wide variety of reasons. Many have specific medical needs; some are isolated and seeking community; others require skilled nursing care. Whatever the reason, members of the compassionate Los Angeles Jewish Health team are dedicated to fostering an environment where older adults don’t simply survive – they thrive.

“Someone might arrive at Los Angeles Jewish Health thinking, ‘I have come here to die,’ but we believe just the opposite: They have come here to live!” says Chief Mission Officer Rabbi Karen Bender. “We challenge residents to think that it’s entirely possible that the most meaningful moment of their life has not yet happened, and, that it’s going to happen here at LAJH. They might also touch someone else’s life, get to know them, and build the closest friendships and relationships they’ve ever had. Los Angeles Jewish Health is a place to find fulfillment and make new memories.”

To that end, last year Rabbi Bender and Ilana Springer, CEO/administrator at Los Angeles Jewish Health’s Joyce Eisenberg Keefer (JEK) Medical Center, launched Achieve a Dream, a pilot program focused on helping residents look forward to a future-oriented goal, inspiring a sense of growth, and enabling them to reach for something beautiful.

“We asked ourselves, ‘What would we want for our residents if they were our own mothers and fathers?’” Ilana says. “The idea was to create experiences that would bring them joy.”

In partnership with an with interdisciplinary staff including Susan Leitch, Claudia Crespo, Katie Abelson, Stacy Orbach, and Julie Lockman-Gold, the two piloted the program in the Joyce Eisenberg Keefer Medical Center, Los Angeles Jewish Health’s 239-bed skilled nursing facility, where the average resident age is 91.

“We felt the greatest need was with residents who require the highest level of care because they may be the least able to make dreams come true for themselves,” Ilana says.

First on the list was Elaine. One morning, Rabbi Bender visited her room and asked whether there was anything she dreamed about doing. Elaine immediately pointed to the photographs of horses hanging on her bedroom wall.

“She said, ‘Every single day of my life I was with horses, until 10 years ago. I haven’t even seen a horse since. I know I can’t ride, but I just want to spend quiet time with a horse.’” Rabbi Bender recalls. “So, we arranged to have a horse brought to one of the beautiful courtyards at Los Angeles Jewish Health, and Elaine enjoyed 90 minutes of one-on-one time. For an hour and a half, this was her horse; she had space to have a beautiful moment with an animal that meant the world to her.”

Since then, many more dreams have come to fruition:

Efraim, a rabbi living in the JEK Medical Center, had a dream of leading one last service. He was able to do so while also providing amazing musical accompaniment. Toward the end of the service, he poignantly said to his congregation of peers, “Look, I’m just like you. I can no longer walk or sing or do many important things I was once able to do, but we make do! And I couldn’t have done it without the encouragement of my best friends Joe and Richard” – friends he made at Los Angeles Jewish Health.

Andy had been in a rock band back when he attended an Ivy League college. He wanted nothing more than to jam on a bass guitar like he once did, though as a stroke survivor he couldn’t fully play anymore. Working with the care team, Rabbi Bender and Ilana found a college student who was a music major. The young man brought several electric instruments and electronic equipment and enabled Andy to experience “playing” the bass while his wife looked on adoringly. She later said it was one of the most meaningful experiences of their marriage.

Harriet, who had a love for chocolate, requested a chocolate tasting for the campus community. The Office of Volunteers went above and beyond arranging for a personal visit by three renowned chocolatiers, including a former White House chef, followed by a demonstration and tasting where the rest of the skilled nursing community was invited to enjoy the sweet treats.

In recognition of the program’s success, the Association of Jewish Aging Services (AJAS) announced Achieve a Dream as this year’s recipient of its prestigious Programming Award. Rabbi Bender and Ilana accepted the honor in person at AJAS’ national conference, which took place in late February in San Diego. Los Angeles Jewish Health Chief Executive Officer and President, Dale Surowitz, Board Member, Judy Friedman-Rudzki and Board Chair, Andrew Berman joined in the celebration.

“We are proud of this award but even more proud that Los Angeles Jewish Health is empowering seniors to come here and live with as much – if not more – fullness and purpose as they had before,” Rabbi Bender says. “This is a place where dreams really can come true.”

The Association of Jewish Aging Services (AJAS) awards Los Angeles Jewish Health's Achieve a Dream initiative as this year’s recipient of its prestigious Programming Award.

Prev Page Next Page

Share

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

First Name

Last Name

Email

Recent Articles

Apr 1

The Power of Passover at Los Angeles Jewish Health

In the Jewish tradition, Passover represents many things: the liberation of the ancient Israelites from Egyptian slavery, the beginning of a long journey to self-determination and freedom in a promised land, and the rebirth and renewal that accompany the start of spring. At Los Angeles Jewish Health, Passover celebrates all of these themes—as well as LAJH’s establishment nearly 115 years ago.In 1912, five older adults experiencing homelessness men in Los Angeles needed a place to observe Seder. They found a welcome home and a willing host in Polish immigrant and Boyle Heights grocery store owner Simon Lewis. He invited them in to share the holiday, thus paving the way for what would soon become the Los Angeles Jewish Home.Lewis and the hard-working women who cooked and prepared for that Seder could never have imagined how their generosity would reverberate for generations of Angelenos. For more than a century, LAJH has served as a vital refuge for seniors, offering critical programs and services that set a national standard for exceptional, high-quality care. Today, the tradition continues, and LAJH reaches seniors throughout the San Fernando Valley, L.A.’s Westside, and beyond.At LAJH, Passover is an opportunity both to celebrate its legacy and to marvel at the institution’s daily impact on thousands of lives. Whether through skilled nursing care, memory care, adult day care, or independent living, LAJH plays a crucial role in strengthening the social fabric of Los Angeles—giving seniors the support they so greatly deserve.Passover is also an occasion for excitement, merriment, and delight at LAJH. Each year, the organization welcomes residents to experience the holiday with a range of hands-on activities including music- and food-filled Seders.“Passover comes alive at Los Angeles Jewish Health, awakening all five senses and inspiring the spirits of our residents,” says Chief Mission Officer Rabbi Karen Bender. “Our goal is to stimulate memories of the past for each of our beloved residents, while also providing Seders that are extraordinarily interactive and memorable themselves.” As they eat their fill of matzah, sip grape juice, sing traditional melodies, and tell the story of the four children, residents gain strength from—and find meaning in—participating as part of a cohesive community.“When we come together to share happy occasions, all of our lives are enriched,” says Dale Surowitz, Los Angeles Jewish Health’s CEO and president. “It’s amazing to be at the Seder and see our residents sharing this special occasion. The sense of fulfillment and joy on their faces—it’s what LAJH is all about.”Los Angeles Jewish Home for the Aged - Bungalow at 325 S Boyle AveMeal at Eisenberg Village Dining Room - Date UnknownPassover Seder at Grancell Village 2025

At Los Angeles Jewish Health, Social Services Department Elevates Care and Improves Residents’ Lives

The staff at Los Angeles Jewish Health is the secret ingredient that makes it one of the city’s most sought-after destinations for residential senior care. Among the many teams central to LAJH’s reputation and impact is the Social Services Department, which sets a high bar for professionalism and touches nearly every aspect of residents’ lives.From their very first encounter with LAJH, residents and families look to the Social Services Department for guidance. With dedicated teams at every location, staff provide specialized support tailored to each program. This structure allows staff to build personal connections and address the specific circumstances of everyone in their care.“I help individuals who have been hospitalized navigate the admissions process as they assess options for rehabilitation after discharge,” says Jared Hutchings, a resident services coordinator at the Mark Taper Building on the Grancell Village campus. “It’s my job to hold their hands and answer their questions about everything from the services we provide, to the daily schedule here, to the role insurance will play in covering the cost of their care.”Hutchings, who has worked at LAJH for 13 years, says that allaying prospective residents’ anxieties is a task he takes seriously.“Families come in experiencing a huge mix of emotions, and my colleagues and I reassure them—providing a window into the expert care their loved ones will receive and explaining how their conditions are likely to improve by the time they leave,” he says. “They come away feeling empowered and so much better about the journey ahead, and I love being part of that process.”Thelma Mata is a Social Services case aide in LAJH’s Newman Building, located at the Eisenberg Village campus. She started her career at LAJH in 1991 working in the kitchen, and gradually rose through the ranks, eventually becoming a certified nursing assistant and transitioning to the Social Services team.“I’m responsible for ensuring that our residents’ quality of life is good, which involves things like doing evaluations of their needs, coordinating their care plans, and seeing that their emotional wellbeing is attended to,” Mata says. “I interact with residents and families every day, and I also collaborate with vendors to source equipment like walkers and diabetic shoes, and with doctors’ offices to schedule vision, hearing, podiatry, and dental appointments. I absolutely love my job.”The responsibilities of Social Services staff are vast: They monitor residents’ cognition, mood, and behavior, and they also distribute mail, keep inventories of residents’ belongings, coordinate virtual calls with families who live out of town, and undertake other essential tasks. Their work is integral to LAJH’s success—and it is why Director of Social Services Kimberlee Marsh refers to the department as “the glue that keeps the organization running smoothly.”“We are the conduit between departments at LAJH, facilitating communication to keep everybody on the same page,” Marsh says. “Beyond the logistics, the most important part of our job is the bond, rapport, and trust we build with residents and families.”Based in the Joyce Eisenberg-Keefer Medical Center on the Grancell Village campus, Marsh—a licensed clinical social worker—oversees three full-time social workers and three full-time Social Services case aides. Her team partners with other LAJH colleagues to create an environment that is truly special.“The core values of service, social justice, dignity and worth of the person, importance of human relationships, integrity, and competence are all reflected every day here at LAJH, by all staff,” Marsh says. “I am especially proud of our Social Services teams, which excel at providing person-centered care. It’s an approach that fuels our sense of purpose and showcases our deep commitment to serving our community.”Social Services Staff - Joyce Eisenberg-Keefer BuildingThelma Mata - Eisenberg Village Social Services

Reaching the Century Mark in West LA

The Brandman Centers for Senior Care (BCSC) PACE West Los Angeles location achieved a significant milestone by enrolling the program’s 100th participant. “Reaching our 100th participant at BCSC PACE West Los Angeles is more than a milestone, it’s a testament to the trust our community places in our person-centered, comprehensive care," says Jasmine Young, Senior Vice President of BCSC PACE. "We are proud to support seniors in living with dignity, independence, and connection right here in West LA, and we look forward to extending that support to even more older adults and their families.”"Our 100th enrollment is a celebration of 100 seniors gaining access to reliable transportation, engaging activities that reduce isolation, and an interdisciplinary care team that truly knows them," says West LA Center Director Marilyn Stoch. "Through PACE, we’re helping older adults stay active, connected, and supported while managing complex health needs in a coordinated, proactive way — preventing unnecessary emergency room visits and improving outcomes. It’s more than healthcare; it’s about enhancing daily life — helping someone feel stronger through therapy, rediscover joy in social programs, or simply have consistent support they can count on. Just as importantly, PACE provides much-needed respite and peace of mind for family caregivers."