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If you're on Facebook, you've likely seen your friends raising money for their favorite charities on their personal pages. Jacques Soriano recently set up a fundraiser that benefited the Jewish Home so that his Facebook friends could donate to the Home. "My maternal grandfather spent his last years there and loved living at the Home," says Soriano, who is a past president of The Executives, one of the Home's major support groups. "I've been involved with fundraising efforts for the Home. It is near and dear to my heart." He knew that a Facebook fundraiser would be easy and effective. "One of the benefits to sharing my fundraiser on Facebook was that my friends who don't know much about the Home could see how the Home helps to enrich the lives of the residents," he says. Within two weeks, he had exceeded his goal, raising nearly $1100. Would he do it again? "Absolutely!" Soriano says. Soriano's not the only one to use Facebook as a fundraiser. Since 2015, more than $5 billion has been raised on the social media platform—$1 billion in birthday fundraisers alone! Now the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the strain on the Home's resources. To provide for the most vulnerable seniors in our care, we need to meet heightened costs for staffing, special supplies and equipment, materials, as well as digital technology so our residents can stay in touch with friends and family. Which means our fundraising efforts are more critical than ever. Here is how to create your own fundraiser for the Jewish Home: Tips: Invite your friends to participate.Make the post public and tag the Jewish Home.Donate to your own fundraiser. Other people are more likely to donate when they see someone they know has already contributed. Plus, it demonstrates your commitment to the Jewish Home.Increase your goal if you achieve it before your fundraiser deadline has passed.Thank your friends when they donate. Benefits to starting a Facebook fundraiser: It's free. No fees are charged, which means every dollar goes directly to support the residents at the Home.It's easy. Your friends don't even have to leave Facebook in order to donate.It's shareable. By clicking "Share" your Facebook friends can also spread the news about your fundraiser.It's safe. Donations are encrypted and Facebook has strict security measures in place. Create your own Facebook fundraiser.

In Capital & Main, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Noah Marco and Eisenberg Village Medical Director Dr. Michael Wasserman discuss the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health’s preparation for an uptick of COVID-19 cases. They also note the ongoing concern of COVID-19 testing deficiencies in nursing homes. Read more › Author: Dan Ross · Publication: Capital & Main · Date: June 16, 2020

(Reseda, CA — June 23, 2020) Molly Forrest, CEO-President of the Los Angeles Jewish Home, has been inducted into the Hall of Honor in the McKnight's Women of Distinction awards, a joint program of McKnight's Long-Term Care News and McKnight's Senior Living. The program, in its second year, recognizes women who have made significant contributions to the senior living and skilled nursing professions or who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to the fields. Forrest joined the Los Angeles Jewish Home as CEO-president in 1996. Forrest—a nationally prominent advocate for equity and excellence in senior care—led the Home through its most ambitious expansion in its history, developing a broad diversified healthcare system of its programs and services for today's seniors. Forrest's involvement with the issues of senior care extend well beyond the Los Angeles Jewish Home. Widely recognized for her expertise in this area, she has served on state and national boards dealing with senior health care, and testified before Congressional Committees in Washington, D.C. The Home serves more than 4,000 seniors annually on campuses in the San Fernando Valley and on L.A.'s Westside, providing award-winning independent and assisted living, specialized memory care, short-term rehabilitative care, hospice care and groundbreaking community-based services. "I am honored by this recognition. As we at the Home navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, I am grateful for the courage and hard-work of my colleagues at the Jewish Home," said Forrest. "Our staff, donors and volunteers all share a deeply held commitment to ensure the health and safety of our residents and clients. Those we serve are the most vulnerable in our society. It is my privilege to have worked alongside them all of these years. I share this honor with each of them." "Molly's commitment to the Jewish Home has elevated us to become a global leader in providing nurturing and the highest quality of care for seniors," said Andy Berman, chair of the Los Angeles Jewish Home's board of directors. "Her hard work, dedication, vision, and extraordinary leadership have been priceless assets during the course of over two decades of running the organization." "The dedication and commitment shown by our Hall of Honor recipients truly sets them apart," said McKnight's Editorial Director John O'Connor. Forrest is part of a class of 22 Hall of Honor inductees. Nominations were judged by an external panel of industry experts. All winners will be honored July 28 during an online celebration. An educational forum will follow on July 29. To see the full list of inductees, and for more information about the program and to register for the events, visit www.mcknightswomenofdistinction.com. The Diamond sponsor for the McKnight's Women of Distinction program is PointClickCare. The Silver sponsors are OnShift and PharMerica.

Ingenuity during a crisis can yield innovative results. That's what Rabbi Karen Bender, Skirball Director of Spiritual Life and the residents of the Los Angeles Jewish Home have discovered as they maintain social distancing during the COVID-19 lockdown. As Rabbi Bender began to consider how to convey her weekly in-person Shabbat services, she realized the most formidable challenge was how to lead the service without interacting with residents. Bender serves as the rabbi for the Home's Grancell Village (GV) campus, which includes the Joyce Eisenberg-Keefer Medical Center and Mark Taper Skilled Nursing Building. "If I'm just sitting in front of a camera praying at residents, I'm going to lose their interest," she says. To effectively engage Jewish Home residents, Bender recalls asking herself, "What if I tried to convey the essence of Shabbat, Shabbat's spirit?" Earlier in the year, she had successfully led the annual Seder service via video broadcast on closed circuit television from her office. "The fact that the Seder went fine, led me to see the possibilities of how to provide our services during lockdown," she says. "If we can do this, what else can we do?" "For Shabbat evenings, I decided to show the residents something different and record the videos from my house and outside in my yard with my kids," she says. "I'm bringing the residents into my home so they feel like they are in my living room or baking challah in my kitchen. The hope is to trigger memories for them." Before she knew it, Bender had become a director-writer-editor-producer—a big leap for someone who lacks professional video production experience. In addition, she also serves as the on-camera host, with staff, her children Holden and Shoshie, and dog Minnie as occasional featured guests. She records her Shabbat messages via her iPhone on Wednesday afternoon, often editing them late into the evening. Bender says she's learning as she goes, coming up with solutions as each new challenge emerges. For instance, how to get the residents to feel that they are part of the services? "No one is gathering now," Bender says. "No one receives a compliment on how they read a prayer. No one gets to hold the Torah. They see me, but I can't see them while I record." Bender notes that while she still meets with individual residents in-person, wearing PPE and remaining at a safe distance, the communal experience had disappeared. One remedy was to create the "Spirit of Shabbat" videos, with the goal to reach everyone at the same time. To generate a feeling of inclusiveness, Bender has opened up the process and recorded videos of individual residents saying, "Shabbat shalom." Another resident offered to sing the Jewish hymn, "Heenay Ma Tov" and Bender recorded her six feet apart in her room at JEK. She merges these videos into her Friday "Spirit of Shabbat" episodes. In future videos, she hopes to include staff and residents more frequently to help "create community." Bender also plans to record a tour of the GV kitchen and even prepare chicken soup "with the residents." "I'm able to include more voices and experiences now," she says. "But overall, I'm trying to encourage a feeling of closeness. I'm seeking closeness when we can't be close, we can't hold prayer services or share a hug. The residents need joy so badly right now. We are observing and celebrating Shabbat every week because I want them to smile." Watch Rabbi Bender's "Spirit of Shabbat" episodes.

We are profiling the McKnight’s 2020 Women of Distinction honorees daily through the program’s July 28 online awards ceremony. Read more › Author: Lois A. Bowers · Publication: McKnight's Senior Living · Date: June 29, 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.

Jeanette Crane is a fighter. At age 100, she beat the odds and fully recovered from COVID-19. "She's tough," says her son Jeff. "Day-by-day she just keeps getting better!" Jeff Crane attributes Jeanette's recovery to her overall resilience and also to the doctors and nurses who care for her at the Jewish Home's Max Factor Family Foundation Nursing Building on the Eisenberg Village campus. "They all love my mother," Jeff says. "They were with her throughout her recovery." He specifically credits Dr. Hangnga Vu with getting his mother to "slowly come back" from the virus. "Dr. Vu is my mother's best friend," Jeff says. "That's true!" Dr. Vu says with a laugh. "But all of the nurses are her friends too. Everyone loves her." Vu, who is a geriatrician, says that she got to know Jeanette when Jeanette was living in residential care at Eisenberg Village. Jeanette moved to the Jewish Home at age 93, when son Jeff says his mother began to feel unsafe living on her own. "We became friends," Vu recalls. "We used to talk about her childhood. She always told me how much she loved life." "One day I learned that Jeanette had generalized weakness and lost her sense of taste," says Vu. "Then she tested positive for COVID-19." Jeanette was moved into a room where she was isolated from the other residents. "I wanted to cry when I saw her," Dr. Vu recalls. "We thought we were going to lose her. She wasn't eating. At age 100, to get COVID, can be a death sentence." But Dr. Vu and the nursing staff didn't give up on Jeanette. "My gut told me that she wanted to live," says Dr. Vu. Through their layers of PPE, Dr. Vu and her team sang to Jeanette to get her to eat and drink. "She recognized us despite all of the PPE! I visited her every day," Dr. Vu says. "We took turns offering her food and drink, even throughout the night. When we got her to take a teaspoon of food or a drop of juice, it felt like a triumph." Slowly, Dr. Vu and the nurses began to notice that Jeanette's eyes were open wider. Then, one day Jeanette had the strength to blow a kiss to Dr. Vu. "She beat the odds," says Dr. Vu. "After a month in isolation, we graduated her so she could receive physical and occupational therapy." "She was almost gone," says son Jeff. "But now she's able to call us via Zoom and talk to us." In fact, on a recent Zoom call with both of her sons and their spouses, Jeanette was asked if she had any good Jewish Home gossip to share. "There's always something!" she replied with a sly smile. "One day at a time, she's getting better," Jeff says. "We're so grateful she's doing so well." "Jeanette was our first victory!" says Dr. Vu. "We were so happy that Jeanette recovered, that we threw her a party!" To ensure that everyone on the team is recognized for helping Jeanette Crane recover, Dr. Vu requested that their names be listed: Luisa Lacson, Olivia Matusalem, Editha Andrada, Daisy Estrada, Johanna Duncan, Elsy Rivas, Lupita Cedillo, Marife Bautista, Ingrid Lemus, Kusum Kapoor, Sydelle Aquino.

After 24 years as president and CEO of the Los Angeles Jewish Home, Molly Forrest is stepping down and making a lateral move, to become president of the Jewish Home Foundation. Dale Surowitz, CEO of Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Medical Center will replace Forrest beginning Oct. 1. Read more › Author: Leslee Komaiko · Publication: Jewish Journal · Date: July 12, 2020

For months, families have pined to see their loved ones who live in California’s skilled nursing facilities, which have been shut down to outside visitors to keep the coronavirus from spreading. California health authorities recently issued guidance for visits to resume, but few are happening as infection rates surge in many communities. Facilities are being cautious after many suffered severe outbreaks earlier in the pandemic. Read more › Author: Associated Press · Publication: Los Angeles Times · Date: July 12, 2020

Throughout the years, the Jewish Home has benefitted from wonderful partnerships with companies in our community. During this time of COVID-19, the need has never been greater, and in addition to monetary donations, companies such as the Ford Motor Company and Harbor Freight have stepped up with in-kind donations of masks, gloves and face shields. All of this personal protective equipment (PPE) remains in high demand by the Home care teams. The PPE provided by these companies, and so many others, has played a major role in enabling the Jewish Home to keep our residents safe and healthy during this time. This outpouring of support exemplifies the essence of the Jewish Home's Corporate Partnership Program. Companies across the region and country have stepped forward to demonstrate their support of the Jewish Home and the quality of care we are providing to nearly 4,000 people annually. Everyone at the Home is grateful for this outstanding support from the corporate community. Contributions from our Corporate Partners support the Jewish Home's ability to provide a broad spectrum of elderly care services to meet the growing needs of our senior population. Corporate partners giving levels range from $10,000 to $100,000 annually. One of our most steadfast corporate sponsors is Torrey Pines Bank. "As our communities continue to face extraordinary health and economic challenges due to COVID-19, Torrey Pines Bank is steadfastly committed to standing by nonprofits, particularly those that are helping the most vulnerable and underserved populations in our communities," shares Monika Suarez, managing director of public, nonprofit and affordable housing finance at Torrey Pines Bank. "We are proud to contribute to Los Angeles Jewish Home as they continue their longstanding mission of providing seniors with access to the vital care and resources that they need, especially during these challenging times." Torrey Pines Bank is among numerous Corporate Partners who provide annual financial support to the Home. They join with many corporations from around the city and the country who have stepped up to partner with the Los Angeles Jewish Home during these challenging times. For more information on how you can become a corporate sponsor with a monetary or in-kind donation, please contact Lesley Plachta, Director of Development of the L.A. Jewish Home Foundation, at [email protected] or 818.774.3282.