Dispelling myths about hospice care
Dispelling myths about hospice care
Jul 21, 2016
Although hospice and death are inextricably linked in many people’s minds, hospice experts insist that it is life — not death — on which their work centers. Specifically, the goal of hospice is to improve a patient’s quality of life, even though, and especially when, that life is nearing its end. Hospice care has been available in the United States for nearly half a century, yet there are still many misconceptions about what it entails. We’ve checked in with several local experts to address some of the most common fallacies and fears about hospice. Read more ›
Author: Lakshna Mehta · Publication: Jewish Journal · Date: July 21, 2016
Latest News
May
2
Andrew Berman Celebrated at Los Angeles Jewish Health Circle of Life Gala
Proceeds from Event Expected to Raise $325,000
LOS ANGELES, CA – May 1, 2023) Andrew Berman, Chair of the Board for Los
Angeles Jewish Health (LAJH), formerly Los Angeles Jewish Home, was honored
recently by The Executives, a Support Group of Los Angeles Jewish Health at
their Circle of Life Gala. The evening event held at the Stephen Wise Temple,
April 30, included a crowd of community and religious leaders, his loving family
and LAJH residents and staff. The tribute celebrated Berman's active
participation and numerous contributions to Los Angeles Jewish Health over the
years and highlighted his two terms as Chair of the leading non-profit
organization where 4,000 seniors are cared for each year.
Berman, an entertainment executive, is credited with working to ensure the
growth and sustainability of LAJH at a time when many senior care facilities
across the country were forced to go out of business over recent years. He was
instrumental in helping to ensure LAJH remained on the forefront of excellent
care throughout the COVID pandemic taking all measures to keep residents and
participants healthy. His efforts helped to quickly start to rebuild the numbers
of those served by LAJH as soon as admissions were able to reopen. To ensure the
future growth and sustainability of the organization, Berman led the charge for
the century old organization to enhance their marketing efforts. This included
taking the bold step to update the name from Los Angeles Jewish Home to Los
Angeles Jewish Health, a name that better reflects the vast selection of
programs, services, and living options offered to older adults from throughout
the community.
In commenting on Berman's special recognition Dale Surowitz, Chief Executive
Officer and President of Los Angeles Jewish Health shared, "I have had the
pleasure of working with many volunteer leaders over the years. Andy sets the
bar for all who take on the role of Chair for any non-profit organization. He is
hands on and his energy and commitment bring out the best in all of us. I
consider him a great leader, partner and friend."
Andrew Berman with Danny Rosett and Ira Halpern, Gala Co-Chairs.
The special evening premiered a new LAJH video showcasing all of the many
living options, services and programs available. Then, the highlight of the
evening was a tribute video about Berman where staff, volunteer leadership,
family members and Rabbi David Woznica of Stephen Wise Temple spoke of the
extraordinary contributions of time and talent Berman has made, not only at Los
Angele Jewish Health, but throughout the Los Angeles Community throughout his
life.
Proceeds from the evening are expected to reach $325,000.
Apr
30
From Generation to Generation at Los Angeles Jewish Health
As a leading national expert in the provision of senior care, Los Angeles Jewish
Health has found a secret to graceful aging: youth. Through an expanded focus on
intergenerational programming, the organization is bringing diverse groups of young
people to its San Fernando Valley campuses to lift seniors' spirits and allow them
to see the world through new eyes again.
It's all part of an ongoing focus at Los Angeles Jewish Health to identify innovative
ways to enhance residents' lives. Commenting on the successful program, Chief Executive
Officer and President Dale Surowitz says that "The goal is to inspire our seniors
and to give them a reason to get excited about each day. I've seen first-hand how
interactions with young people can light up our residents and fill them with enthusiasm.
It is truly a wonderful thing to behold."
The benefit, Dale notes, is mutual. "Our residents get so much from being
with younger folks—and the younger folks are also enriched in so many ways,"
he says. "Hearing about seniors' experiences, and sharing in their wisdom,
adds meaning to their lives, as well."
Now that many of the pandemic health regulations have lifted, intergenerational
in-person events are coming back to Los Angeles Jewish Health in a big way. "We're
scheduling visits from youth groups, preschoolers, synagogues, primary schools,
and more," says Stacy Orbach, the organization's director of volunteer services. "There's
so much going on here; we've never had so many wonderful programs happening on both
campuses at once!"
Examples of these intergenerational programs abound: In February, to celebrate
Sweetheart's Day (Los Angeles Jewish Health's version of Valentine's Day), fifth
graders and parents from Brentwood School stopped by to sing to residents and join
them in arts and crafts projects. At Purim, preschoolers from a nearby Israeli gan
(daycare) came to celebrate, arriving in costume and dancing for residents. Over
Passover, a seventh-grade class from Temple Judea visited, chatting with residents
and engaging them in activities. That same class returned a few weeks later, for
Yom Ha'atzmaut (Israeli Independence Day), playing Israeli bingo with residents
and continuing conversations they started during their first visit.
"I saw one of the residents hugging a boy from Temple Judea. When I asked
her about it later, she said, ‘He remembered me from last time! It made me feel
so good, I had to give him a hug.' Those are the moments we're trying to create,
helping spark joy for our seniors that brightens up their days," says Julie
Lockman-Gold, special programs coordinator.
Those moments are also powerful for visiting students. "We had an elementary
school class come from Heschel Day School. As the students were leaving, one of
them said to me, ‘Don't be surprised when you see me here volunteering when I'm
older, because I loved this!'" Stacy says. Members of a music
club from Taft High School recently stopped by to perform swing and jazz numbers
for the residents. "One of our seniors was just dancing in her chair like crazy,"
Julie recalls. "She came up to the students afterward and told them, ‘I'm 98,
and I'm blind, but I can hear. Many years ago, I was a singer. Your songs are bringing
me back, and this is such a treat.' It was incredibly moving."
Not all visitors to Los Angeles Jewish Health are part of the under-18 set. The
organization's own board chair, Andrew Berman, has launched a weekly program called
the Men's Club—a discussion group that enables him to spend time with, and
get to know, residents of the skilled nursing facility on Los Angeles Jewish Health's
Grancell Village campus.
"We talk about a range of subjects, from food to politics to cars. Everyone
gets to share their different perspectives, which is so healthy and energizing and
therapeutic," Andy says. "It's also really gratifying for me because I
learn so much from these guys. I'm just thrilled to be able to do it."
Building on our vision of enriching our residents each day, the staff at Los
Angeles Jewish Health is committed to ramping up intergenerational programming even
more in the near future. "We're doing everything we can to bring enrichment
to the lives of our residents," Stacy says. "This is one of the things
that differentiates us from every other facility in Los Angeles—we've taken
it to a higher level." Reaching that "higher level" has
been made possible through gifts from donors and foundations such as the Steven
Ohren Foundation, which helps fund the music therapy program and certified therapy
dog program at Los Angeles Jewish Health. "People in our community recognize
the importance of intergenerational programming and want to contribute to it,"
says Corey Slavin, senior vice president of the Los Angeles Jewish Health Foundation. "We
are grateful for our donors' partnership—and, of course, additional support
is always welcome."
Apr
30
A Prescription for Senior Health
On the national landscape of senior care facilities, Los Angeles Jewish
Health stands apart. It distinguishes itself on multiple levels: through the
quality of its care, the breadth and depth of its expertise, and the warmth and
compassion of its dedicated staff. There is also another key differentiator:
Unlike most of its peer institutions, Los Angeles Jewish Health has a
full-service, on-site pharmacy, raising the bar on excellence in senior health
across our community.
Located in the Joyce Eisenberg Keefer (JEK) Medical Center on Los Angeles
Jewish Health's Grancell Village campus, the pharmacy was licensed in 2007 and
can dispense medication to residents in JEK's skilled nursing facility, as well
as to individuals in the Auerbach Geriatric Psychiatry Unit (AGPU). Pharmacy
director Aida Oganesyan oversees one other pharmacist and four pharmacy
technicians, as well as a pharmacy resident in conjunction with Western University of Health
Sciences College of Pharmacy (WesternU).
"We're a devoted team, and we take pride in our commitment to going above
and beyond to meet a broad range of residents' needs," Aida says. "We make it
our goal to get to know our patients so we can be active partners in their
care."
Value of care is a major priority for Aida and her colleagues. "It's
something we really emphasize: developing good relationships with providers
(whether they're primary care, nurse practitioners, or nurses) and learning the
backgrounds of our patients to ensure we're providing the same quality of care
we would give our own loved ones," she says.
As part of their effort to understand Los Angeles Jewish Health residents'
needs, the pharmacy team often interacts with patients and their families. "We
do comprehensive medication reviews with residents;
we talk to family members if they have questions about residents' medications;
and we interact with seniors in the AGPU," Aida says. "We all work
collaboratively to advance Los Angeles Jewish Health's signature focus on
patient-centered care."
This high level of personal attention is a key point of distinction between
Los Angeles Jewish Health and other senior care organizations. "Most skilled
nursing facilities solely rely on a contracted pharmacist who reviews the
residents' medications monthly. At Los Angeles Jewish Health, our pharmacists
and pharmacy technicians monitor our residents' medications daily," says Chief
Medical Officer Noah Marco, MD. "Aida and her team help our physicians prescribe
the right medication, at the right dose, at the right time—all the time."
The AHSP-accredited pharmacy residency program is another unique feature of
Los Angeles Jewish Health's pharmacy services. "Each year, we precept a yearlong pharmacy resident through our collaboration with WesternU for a year of hands-on learning and mentoring,
and they get licensed during their time with us," Aida says. "We're proud to
help nurture the next generation of pharmacists."
Aida, who became the interim director of pharmacy in 2020 and then took the
position permanently in 2021, served as Los Angeles Jewish Health's first
pharmacy resident in 2013. "Los Angeles Jewish Health has been my home since the
very beginning of my career, and I can say with absolute certainty that this
place is truly exceptional," she says.
In addition to its role as a training ground for young pharmacy talent, Los
Angeles Jewish Health is also a launching pad for innovative initiatives that
are advancing the field of pharmacy writ large. "We've developed an antibiotic
stewardship program with our providers, and we have a pharmacist-led
hypertension management program," Aida says. "Now, we're developing a
transitions of care program with the Taper building, where we review medications
for short-term rehab patients."
These innovations, in conjunction with published research conducted by Los
Angeles Jewish Health pharmacists, are expanding the tools pharmacists can use
to increase the health and wellness of seniors both locally and nationwide.
The bottom line, according to Dr. Marco? "Our pharmacists are making the
lives of our residents better and improving outcomes for countless older adults
around the country," he says.