Helping Seniors and Communities Thrive

Jan 18, 2023

Compassionate senior care is key at Los Angeles Jewish Health, where caring healthcare teams keep communities happy, healthy, and well.

Having the right help is crucial when caring for older adults, ensuring each individual is treated with compassion and respect. That’s why Los Angeles Jewish Health’s top-tier healthcare professionals treat our seniors like family.

Formerly the Los Angeles Jewish Home, Los Angeles Jewish Health was founded over a century ago on a simple act of care and compassion. “Our story began in 1912 when a small group of neighbors gave shelter to five homeless Jewish men during Passover holiday,” says Dale Surowitz, CEO and president. “Our founder Simon Lewis recognized a vital opportunity to provide respite and resources to the community, and that remains our commitment today.”

Now the largest nonprofit, single-source senior healthcare provider in Los Angeles, Los Angeles Jewish Health is a leading name in comprehensive senior living and care. From adult day care activities and residential living to short-term rehabilitation and skilled nursing, the award-winning organization serves more than 4,000 seniors throughout Greater Los Angeles.

“I’m proud of the best-in-class care we provide to the community. Without organizations like ours, we know many seniors would go without,” Surowitz says. “We have a long-standing reputation of delivering excellence in care and services for vulnerable members of the community who need us the most, especially seniors living near or below the poverty line.”

The nonprofit is funded in part with government support as well as a dynamic network of support groups, individuals, corporations, and foundations. Los Angeles Jewish Health is a vital community resource for all, rooted in Jewish values. Charity, quality, dignity, and fiscal responsibility drive programs and care designed to help seniors thrive.

“We take a holistic approach to healthy aging focused on mind, body, and spirit,” says Surowitz. “That starts with comprehensive care tailored to support seniors’ physical and mental health.”

Enhancing Health and Longevity
“Many seniors live in settings that don’t offer the socialization they need,” Surowitz says. “Caring for psychological needs is an important part of helping seniors keep happy, healthy, and well, so we offer a variety of programs that do just that.”

Among those are music therapy, pet therapy, and intergenerational volunteer programming that brings children and seniors together. With a growing list of activities, classes, and clubs, there’s something for everyone at Los Angeles Jewish Health.

“Our responsibility goes beyond just providing care. We’re committed to providing every senior their highest quality of life possible,” says Surowitz.

At Los Angeles Jewish Health, a broad spectrum of in-residence and community-based services ensure healthcare needs are met and help patients remain independent and active for as long as possible. Across the campuses, compassionate physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, and therapists deliver personalized care that supports the individualized needs of those they care for each day.

“We’re there each step of the way as care needs increase, whether patients reside at home or on one of our campuses,” Surowitz says. With two independent living campuses, state-of-the-art assisted living centers, and multiple skilled nursing facilities, Los Angeles Jewish Health provides in-residence options that meet the diverse needs of residents and patients.

“Other vital services that reach out to the community include palliative medicine, hospice, dementia care, and short-term rehabilitation. Additionally, the all-inclusive Brandman Centers for Senior Care provide a myriad of coordinated services and care management to our participants, all designed to enhance longevity and quality of life,” adds Surowitz.

“From senior housing to short-term nursing facilities, we care for over 1,000 adults on-site. Now, we’re expanding our services throughout the community to help seniors stay safe, productive, and happy at home, which remarkably reduces hospitalizations,” he continues.

That’s one reason why the health system recently rebranded to Los Angeles Jewish Health, a name that better reflects its broad spectrum of senior healthcare services. And with the senior population anticipated to double over the next two decades, the timing couldn’t be better.

“Our goal is to continue providing outstanding services across our campuses while reaching deeper into our communities,” Surowitz says. “Many seniors want to enjoy their golden years at home, and our programs allow them to age in place while enhancing their quality of life with services designed to keep them healthy.”

Compassionate Care and Respect
Behind Los Angeles Jewish Health’s centurylong legacy is a tenured team committed to compassionate patient care. “The word ‘mitzvah’ in Hebrew represents a responsibility to care for others, and we take that very seriously,” says Surowitz. “As seniors age, they aren’t always afforded the dignity and respect they deserve. We bend over backward to provide that. It really is heartening to see our staff treat residents like family.”

Located at Los Angeles Jewish Health’s Hirsch Family Campus, the Annenberg School of Nursing instills that passion in the next generation of healthcare providers. At this
award-winning nursing school, the one-of-a kind program combines a comprehensive curriculum with hands-on clinical experience. Altogether, the school graduates roughly 150 vocational nurses, Certified Nursing Assistants, and home health aides each year and often hires alums to work across Los Angeles Jewish Health’s campuses.

“Many of our students come from underprivileged backgrounds,” Surowitz says. “Our programs provide the education they need to advance while also providing vital medical care throughout underserved communities.”

As Los Angeles Jewish Health evolves, the organization plans to expand educational opportunities and programs, yet its dedication to patients remains unchanged. “We’re committed to continuing to deliver the high level of care and services the community has come to know us for, especially as we grow,” says Surowitz. “That’s our hallmark. It’s who we are—and who we’ll always be.”

Los Angeles Jewish Health Article in Good Housekeeping

Prev Page Next Page

Share

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

First Name

Last Name

Email

Latest News

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."