Non‐Profit Los Angeles Jewish Home Plans Rapid Expansion to Serve 10,000 Seniors Throughout Los Angeles County by 2025

Jul 6, 2020

Aging in Place in the Rapidly Changing Landscape of Elder Care/Living is Focus of One of the Nation’s Leading Senior Healthcare Systems

LOS ANGELES — July 6, 2020 — For Immediate Release — The Los Angeles Jewish Home, one of the nation’s largest, single‐source providers of comprehensive senior care, plans rapid expansion of services throughout Los Angeles County with a goal of serving 10,000 seniors by 2025. Los Angeles Jewish Health, which has previously offered services primarily in the San Fernando Valley, provides healthcare and living options; community‐based programs; in‐resident services; professional training; and research on frequently overlooked issues that affect senior healthcare and living.

Leading Los Angeles Jewish Health’s expansion will be newly appointed CEO and President Dale Surowitz, who has served as CEO of Providence Cedars‐Sinai Tarzana Medical Center since 1997. Dale brings broad‐based relationships and expertise in furthering partnerships with external healthcare providers.

Molly Forrest, who has led Los Angeles Jewish Health’s dynamic growth and direction as CEO and President for 24 years, will now focus on growing advocacy efforts, community advancement and fundraising as president of the Jewish Home Foundation.

Recognized internationally, Los Angeles Jewish Health has taken a guiding role in the rapidly evolving future of senior healthcare with innovative, broad‐based initiatives to promote aging in place and develop programs for individualized and person-centered senior healthcare/living. During the recent COVID‐19 crisis, the Home led the way with less than .025% of more than 1,200 seniors in residence having been diagnosed with the virus to date.

Founded in 1912 as a haven for five elderly Jewish men in need of shelter during Passover, the non‐profit Los Angeles Jewish Health has evolved into a comprehensive, non‐denominational, senior healthcare system. Today, Los Angeles Jewish Health—with a staff of over 1,600 and annual budget of $160 million—provides nearly 4,000 seniors annually with care in‐residence on five SoCal campuses or through a wide array of in‐home and community services. As a major provider, Los Angeles Jewish Health is a significant contributor to the L.A. economy.

Los Angeles Jewish Health, which has operated primarily through facilities and partnerships in the San Fernando Valley, will continue expansion to serve all of Los Angeles. Its expansion began in 2017 with the opening of its fifth campus, Fountainview at Gonda Healthy Aging Westside Campus in Playa Vista. Additional plans call for the 2021 expansion to the westside of Los Angeles with the opening of the Brandman Centers for Senior Care PACE Program, which will provide comprehensive healthcare services to seniors living in the community.

“With 108 years of experience in supporting seniors, it provides insights for a very different approach,” comments Forrest. “These moves will allow us to continue to bridge outside our walls and serve more and more seniors. Community outreach is where senior healthcare is going. We are looking at every opportunity to provide excellence of care at home, with a goal of people aging in place and avoiding, as much as possible, the need to move into a facility. It’s where we see ourselves as a major force. With 12 million baby boomers aging, these needs will continue to increase tremendously. We are positioning ourselves to address those demands in SoCal and as a progressive model for U.S. elder care.”

Says Surowitz, “I join Los Angeles Jewish Health with a background in hospital care and programs and the vision of expanding our institutional relationships throughout the Los Angeles community as we significantly grow our capabilities to serve more seniors. Remaining at home for as long as possible is a goal each of us wants for ourselves, our family and our friends. The Los Angeles Jewish Home is an innovator and cutting‐edge model for best practices. I am excited to lead this outstanding team and work to further the Home’s already stellar accomplishments as we address the rapidly changing landscape of senior healthcare and living. I look forward to working with Molly and the officers, board leadership, staff and volunteers.”

Adds Andrew Berman, chairman of the Los Angeles Jewish Health Board of Directors, “I am thrilled that we have been able to hire someone of Dale’s caliber with the depth of experience and knowledge he brings with him. Molly has been an amazing leader and visionary and I know will accomplish extraordinary things as president of the Jewish Home Foundation. Under the leadership of Dale Surowitz and with Molly in her new role, we can be assured that we will not only maintain but expand our standing as one of the leading and innovative senior health‐care providers in the country.”

About Dale Surowitz: As CEO of Providence Cedars‐Sinai Tarzana Medical Center, Surowitz led the respected hospital’s transition from an investor‐owned, for‐profit institution, to a not‐for‐profit, faith‐based facility. He piloted the launch of a $600 million campus replacement project to be completed in 2022. Additionally, he was instrumental in establishing a joint venture relationship with Cedars‐Sinai Medical Center for the Tarzana campus. Under Dale’s leadership, the medical center has received national recognition for overall quality and a variety of clinical services.

About Molly Forrest: Under Forrest’s exceptional leadership, Los Angeles Jewish Health underwent the most ambitious expansion in its history, becoming a nationally recognized leader and innovator in all aspects of senior health care and living. In July, Forrest became President of the California Chapter of Leading Age. She is a frequent guest speaker.

Full bios, headshots and other artwork available at: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/hwqp3ydv5d7dp9i/AAAlrVphTdn7LGWutXjT5YWDa?dl=0

Los Angeles Jewish Health programs and services include:

Connections to Care Program (C2C): Through C2C, seniors and their families gain timely referrals to services tailored to meet their specific needs, regardless of religion, ethnicity or ability to pay.
Home/Community Care: Each year, thousands of seniors benefit from Los Angeles Jewish Health’s community‐based services. Services include, hospice; home health; palliative medicine; community clinics; short‐term rehabilitation; acute psychiatric care, through its Brandman Centers for Senior Care, a Program of All‐inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE); Skirball Hospice; and Care Transitions program.
Senior Housing: As the largest, single‐source provider of senior housing in Los Angeles, Los Angeles Jewish Health is home to more than 1,200 women and men who live on four campuses covering 21 acres. Housing options include independent living, residential care, skilled nursing care, short‐term rehabilitation and Alzheimer’s disease and dementia care. Locations include the Reseda‐based Eisenberg Village; Grancell Village; Fountainview at Eisenberg Village; and Fountainview at Gonda Healthy Aging Westside Campus in Playa Vista.
Best Practices Research: Los Angeles Jewish Health’s Brandman Research Institute, under the leadership of Chief Medical Officer and Executive Director Dr. Noah Marco, focuses on research on effective models for post‐acute care which improve and enhance medical, social, psychiatric and psychological services for seniors. The institute was founded in March 2019 to fill the gap in clinical studies, which often exclude older people.
Annenberg School of Nursing: An intimate center of learning on Los Angeles Jewish Health’s Hirsch Family Campus, preparing vocational nursing students for the state licensing exam, the NCLEX‐PN®. The School also trains home health aides, medication technicians and nurse assistant students to earn certification through the California Department of Public Health.
Philanthropy: The home’s dedication to serving needy seniors is reflected in its annual commitment of philanthropic support to serve those dependent upon the state Medi‐Cal (welfare) program, with 75% of those served in‐residence rely upon the Medi‐Cal program and social security.

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Jun 3

Los Angeles Jewish Health Awarded $28 Million From California Department of Health Care Services

Los Angeles Jewish Health (LAJH) has long worked in close partnership with the state of California in helping to set the standard for comprehensive senior care. This spring, California Governor Gavin Newsom and the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) announced an extension of this work by awarding LAJH $28 million to support the expansion of inpatient behavioral health services.The grant is funded through Proposition 1, a bond initiative passed by voters in 2024 to establish the state’s Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program (BHCIP). The award to LAJH is a vital step in addressing California’s growing senior behavioral health crisis at a time of intensifying need: California’ senior population is projected to double by 2040, and with it, the number of older adults experiencing behavioral health challenges (particularly those who are low-income, medically complex, or socially isolated) is rising sharply.This funding will support the expansion of inpatient behavioral health services for seniors“This grant is a transformational investment in improving the mental health of our community’s seniors, empowering us to expand access to high-quality, compassionate inpatient care for seniors in acute psychiatric distress,” said LAJH President and CEO Dale Surowitz. “We are tremendously proud of our past successes meeting seniors’ most critical healthcare needs, and we look forward to extending that track record of achievement in ways that will strengthen the fabric of our entire community.”Governor Newsom underscored the importance of Proposition 1 in his remarks announcing the awards.“Californians demanded swift action to address our state’s behavioral health crisis when they voted for Prop 1 in March 2024…and we’re delivering our biggest win yet,” he said. “Whether it’s crisis stabilization, inpatient services, or long-term treatment, we’re ensuring that individuals can access the right care at the right time.”This funding is part of California’s broader strategy to modernize the behavioral health system—increasing transparency, broadening access, and building the infrastructure necessary to provide a full continuum of care for individuals living with mental illness and substance use disorders. Through Proposition 1 and BHCIP, the state aims to create more than 6,800 new residential treatment beds and 26,700 outpatient treatment slots, addressing urgent gaps in care across every region of California.“Our seniors require the very best mental health care possible,” Dale said, “and this new grant helps ensure we will continue to deliver the care and compassion they deserve.”The expansion will take place in the Mark Taper Building on the Grancell Village campus

Los Angeles Jewish Health Teams With USC on Groundbreaking New Study Featuring the Popular Mediterranean Diet

Extensive scientific research continues to demonstrate the medical benefits of healthy eating. A new collaboration between Los Angeles Jewish Health (LAJH) and the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology (USC) is deepening that body of evidence with a study looking at the effects of diet on older adults who reside in a senior living facility.USC Associate Professor Roberto Vicinanza, MD, PhD, a noted specialist in geriatric medicine, led the eight-week study, which was designed to gauge the impact of a modified Mediterranean diet on LAJH residents’ health. The Mediterranean diet emphasizes plant-based, whole foods, including those from all five food groups. Featured in the diet are select fruits and vegetables; fish, lentils, and beans for protein, while limiting red meat and poultry; nuts and olive oil, which provide healthy fats; and opting for whole versus refined grains. “The Mediterranean diet and its health effects are well documented, but older adults are often overlooked,” Dr. Vicinanza says. “To design this dietary intervention, I was inspired by the traditional eating habits of a long-lived community in southern Italy known as Cilento—a longevity hotspot that I have explored extensively in the last three years. Based on this experience, in our study we adjusted the Mediterranean diet to meet the unique needs and limitations of older adults, many of whom experience challenges in the digestion of certain foods.”LAJH residents enrolled in the study ate their meals together to help foster a sense of community. In addition, they increased their physical exercise, incorporating activities like walking into their daily routines.LAJH Residents Participated in the Mediterranean Diet StudyAccording to Noah Marco, MD, LAJH’s chief medical officer and executive director of the Brandman Research Institute, researchers evaluated study participants based on three core components measured prior to the introduction of the diet: their ability to walk, their muscle strength, and their biological markers of health as indicated through blood tests. Results are still pending, but Dr. Marco notes that preliminary data are highly encouraging.“We wanted to know, going into the study, whether someone in their later stages of life could, by modifying their diet and adding a little exercise, change markers of longevity, frailty, and health, even in a short period of time,” Dr. Marco says. “Based on our findings, the answer is clearly ‘yes!’”He points to one example as anecdotal evidence of the study’s success.“We had a participant who has been diabetic most of her adult life; for 20 years, she was on three different medications. As a result of this study, she now has better control of her disease and is down to one medicine,” he says. “We saw lots of things like this: improvement in people’s cholesterol and blood sugar levels, significant weight loss, weight gain in one instance where the resident needed it. The benefits were clear.”Some of these benefits seem to have stemmed from the study’s social aspects, Dr. Vicinanza says.“Seniors sometimes feel isolated and lonely,” he says. “But we saw something amazing during the study, which was that participants were supporting and encouraging each other, which provided a sense of community and purpose—both things that have been associated with longevity.”LAJH resident Marcia Mass, 83, was one of the study’s enthusiastic participants. She says it has transformed her physical health.“I’ve lost weight, and I feel better—more energized and alert,” she says. “I play a word game on the computer, and before the diet, I was getting to level 15 or 20. Now, I’m at level 64! Everything seems easier.”LAJH resident Marcia Mass (center) receives a certificate of completion, with Noah Marco, MD (left), LAJH Chief Medical Officer, and USC Associate Professor Roberto Vicinanza, MD, PhDThe study was made possible through generous funding from the Anita and William Jeung Estate Research Grant and the Simon Nutrition and Alzheimer’s Research Fund.In addition to Dr. Marco and Dr. Vicinanza, other key investigators from the USC School of Gerontology included Pinchas Cohen, MD, dean of the school, for the aging biomarkers; Cary Kreutzer, EdD, RDN, who played a critical role in developing tools to improve diet adherence; Julie Pollard, a part-time lecturer, who helped establish protocols for physical activity; and Adam Hughes, Shirley Liu, and Chiara Pomari—students from USC’s Master of Science in Nutrition, Healthspan, and Longevity Program—who served as study coordinators.Once the study’s results have been finalized, Dr. Marco and Dr. Vicinanza hope to replicate it with a larger cohort of residents.“We’ll be applying for a grant from the National Institutes of Health, and we think this falls directly in line with its priorities: leveraging lifestyle changes to increase health dramatically among seniors while potentially reducing costs,” Dr. Marco says. “It’s win-win!” Sample food eaten during studyDuring the study, residents complete a form following mealsUSC and LAJH worked together to complete the studyResearchers made sure residents were well informed during the study

Los Angeles Jewish Health Awarded $28 Million from California Department of Health Care Services

Major Investment Will Dramatically Expand Inpatient Mental Health Services for Seniors in Need (LOS ANGELES, CA – May 15, 2025) — As one of California’s leading providers of coordinated senior health services, Los Angeles Jewish Health (LAJHealth) is proud to announce it has been awarded $28 million by the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) as part of Proposition 1’s Bond Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program (BHCIP) Round 1: Launch Ready initiative. The funding, announced by Governor Gavin Newsom, is part of an historic $3.3 billion investment in behavioral health infrastructure, supporting 124 projects statewide.At LAJHealth, this funding will support the expansion of inpatient behavioral health services for seniors, a critical step in addressing California’s growing senior behavioral health crisis. This expansion comes at a time of intensifying need. California’s senior population is projected to double by 2040, and with it, the number of older adults experiencing behavioral health challenges—particularly those who are low-income, medically complex, or socially isolated—is rising sharply.“California is facing a senior behavioral health crisis,” said Dale Surowitz, President and CEO of Los Angeles Jewish Health. “This transformative investment allows us to act urgently and proactively by expanding access to high-quality, compassionate inpatient care for seniors in acute psychiatric distress. We are deeply grateful to Governor Newsom and DHCS for recognizing the urgency of this need and investing in a more sustainable, responsive future for our aging population.”Governor Newsom underscored the importance of Proposition 1 in his remarks announcing the awards:“Californians demanded swift action to address our state’s behavioral health crisis when they voted for Prop 1 in March 2024. Today, we’re delivering our biggest win yet. Whether it’s crisis stabilization, inpatient services, or long-term treatment, we’re ensuring that individuals can access the right care at the right time.”This funding is part of California’s broader strategy to modernize the behavioral health system—increasing transparency, expanding access, and building the infrastructure necessary to provide a full continuum of care for individuals living with mental illness and substance use disorders.Through Proposition 1 and BHCIP, the state aims to create more than 6,800 new residential treatment beds and 26,700 outpatient treatment slots, addressing urgent gaps in care across every region of California.