ISSUE 2, SPRING Age like a New Yorker

Transcription

1 ISSUE 2, SPRING 2017 Age like a New Yorker

2 CEO CORNER AUDREY WEINER In this issue, we highlight community-based programs where care takes place in one s home, and where caregivers get to know the individual and their needs on an even deeper level within their own environment. When patients come to us, they are at a fragile moment in their lives. We have a responsibility to serve them with the care they want, how they want it. Providing the much needed care at one s home allows us to help even the frailest among us live and age where they please. INVESTING IN THE CLIENT EXPERIENCE I often liken our organization to a three-legged stool. The three legs represent clinical excellence, financial stability and client experience. As you know, that third leg client experience is very important to us. We have invested systemwide to understand and improve the experience for everyone we touch. To support this commitment, we are implementing hospitality and empathy training throughout the system this year. We believe the training will increase the levels of self-awareness of staff leading to more empathic and meaningful engagements with the elders we serve. It will teach us to become better listeners and ask more questions to support the clients as the goal is to enhance the human experience of those we care for. The New Jewish Home is investing $1 million, thanks to funds raised from last year s 8 over 80 Gala to support this initiative. In all, 2,500 staff members will be engaged in two days of hospitality and empathy training. We have launched this training program at our Westchester campus, Sarah Neuman, and then we will roll it out throughout the system. COMFORT MATTERS TM ACROSS THE SYSTEM On our Manhattan campus, we have been applying a new approach to the care of people with advanced dementia called Comfort Matters. The dementia-care education and research offered through Comfort Matters improves the quality of life and care for people affected by dementia as it focuses not only on medical and physical needs of individuals, but also their social, spiritual and emotional needs. Staff empowerment is what makes the program successful as staff become the voice for individuals with dementia and learn to anticipate their needs. The program has a positive impact on the individual s experience and encourages the provision of palliative care during the end stages of the disease. Through Comfort Matters, we are fine tuning our ability to understand how our patients with dementia communicate discomfort and the best ways to respond. Two years ago, we embarked on a Comfort Matters accreditation program with the support of our partners at CaringKind, the Beatitudes Campus and our colleagues at Isabella and Cobble Hill Nursing Homes. Today, we are delighted to be the first New York facility to be accredited for Comfort Matters. Since then, we have extended training into our Community Services program as well as our Westchester campus, Sarah Neuman. STRATEGIC PLANNING UPDATE In 2016, I spent 6 months traveling throughout the U.S. to visit with experts in aging, policy and economics to understand their vision for eldercare. After this extensive research, I brought the insights of these respected experts back to our Board who approved a vision and overall direction for the next 5-7 years. We are excited about what lies ahead and look forward to sharing our plans in the months to come. Warm regards, Audrey S. Weiner, DSW, MPH President and CEO, The New Jewish Home WHAT YOU LL SEE IN THIS ISSUE 02 CEO CORNER 03 RELIEVING CAREGIVER WORRY: ADULT DAY AND NIGHT CARE PROGRAMS 04 PHOTO GALLERY 05 MEET OUR CARE PARTNERS RAVES 06 THERE S NO PLACE LIKE HOME FOR REHAB MILESTONES 07 BERMAN EDUCATION FUND INSPIRES HAPI AIDES 08 TNJH RECEIVES CAUSE AWARD STATE-OF-THE-ART ADULT DAY PROGRAM EVENTS 02 #AGELIKEANEWYORKER SPRING 2017

3 RELIEVING CAREGIVER WORRY: ADULT DAY AND NIGHT CARE PROGRAMS Josephine L., 61, who lives in Manhattan, spent over a year of extensive rehab at The New Jewish Home following a vascular bypass in her leg. When she was strong enough to live on her own again, she reluctantly went home but soon realized she needed on-going rehab. Today she spends three days a week at The New Jewish Home s Adult Day Program in Manhattan receiving physical therapy in addition to occupational therapy for her carpal tunnel syndrome. In between therapy sessions she is engaged in a series of activities. Her favorites include bingo, arts and crafts, guitar lessons, needlepoint and yoga. I m a hands-on person who likes to stay active. Sitting all day doing nothing that s not for me, explains Josephine. Our Manhattan Adult Day Program, New York City s first, was launched in 1974 as an alternative to a nursing home. The program offers the same services and staff found in nursing homes including nurses, rehab therapists and dieticians, but clients live at home. Currently, we have about 200 clients in our Manhattan location and we serve 600 clients annually at our Bronx and Westchester programs. ENHANCED REHAB Through our Enhanced Rehab program, clients receive occupational or physical therapy services based on their needs. With Enhanced Rehab, we play an important role in the continuum of care as we provide much needed restorative therapies, says Susan Holodak, Vice President of Adult Day Programs. Thomas W. s social worker referred him to the program this past August. Thomas was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2014, and as the disease progressed, it became difficult to move the right side of his body without assistance. With lack of medical support, his condition worsened. Today, a van takes Thomas to the program 3-5 days a week where he receives occupational and physical therapy as well as two meals and medication reminders. When he started the program, he could only walk a half a block. Today at 46, Thomas reports, he can reach two blocks without stopping. On Saturdays, Thomas enjoys the social offerings at the center such as shopping, movies, and live music and has taken advantage of the art and computer classes. In March of 2015, The Manhattan Adult Day Program was awarded a Balancing Incentive grant by New York State to renovate existing rehab space and offer restorative rehab therapies. Current rehab space was expanded another 300 square feet to add a model kitchen much like a client s home where occupational therapists can work with clients to relearn skills lost due to a stroke or other physical debilitating event. In addition, the new space was equipped with state-of-the-art computerized exercise and Telehealth equipment. NIGHT CARE When we developed the Night Care program, the whole idea was fairly new, says Holodak. Launched in March of 2015, our Night Care program at Sarah Neuman campus in Westchester was designed for people with dementia and sundowning, a sleep pattern that includes night time wakefulness and agitation. Clients maintain residence within the community but their family and caregivers receive some respite. It s a much-needed break and the relatives know their loved ones are safe and well taken care of, said Social Worker Amy Brandwene. Indeed, many of our clients arrive Wednesday morning and leave Friday afternoon for an Adult Day Program/Night Care combo. Participants can sleep overnight from 7 p.m. 7 a.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Terry G. s 92-year-old mother has severe dementia and sleeps two nights a week at Sarah Neuman. Knowing I have those two nights to look forward to, it really makes life a lot better, said Terry. She s very happy when she comes home. When Mom s happy; everyone s happy. Brandwene also leads a Caregiver Support Group at Sarah Neuman on the first Friday of every month. A range of topics is covered including the stages of dementia and techniques to deal with caregiver stress, guilt, the holidays and loss. Sarah Neuman is a certified site for the Alzheimer s Association s caregiver support groups. Most families are concerned with leaving their loved ones overnight and anticipate difficulties. We reassure them that we can address their relatives needs. They will be in good hands and are always a phone call away. - Amy Brandwene Our Adult Day and Night Care programs help individuals stay safe and independent in their own home and give families peace of mind. For information about the Night Care program or to register for the Caregiver Support Group, call (914) For the Adult Day Program, call (800) or Connections@JewishHome.org. 03

4 PHOTO GALLERY BIG ANNIVERSARY: Mr. and Mrs. Day, who live together in one of The New Jewish Home s Small Houses in Westchester, celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary. Congratulations to a wonderful couple! COLORING & MEDITATION ART EXHIBIT IN MANHATTAN: Artists in the weekly Coloring and Meditation class displayed their works of brilliant colors and painstaking detail in an art exhibit. The pride and admiration for all the artists created a great buzz in the room. Congratulations on an amazing show. We can t wait for the next one. HALLOWEEN: Who says Halloween is just for kids? Our staff and residents show off their stylish and creative costumes. DOG NIGHT: Twice a month, New York Cares volunteers, dogs from The Good Dog Foundation, staff, residents and their family members gather for a whole lot of doggone fun! GRANDPARENTS DAY AT SARAH NEUMAN IN WESTCHESTER: In September, families across several generations visited clients to celebrate a special occasion Grandparents Day! ANNUAL SUKKAH DECORATING AT KITTAY SENIOR APARTMENTS: We were joined by the wonderful members of the Scarsdale Synagogue, Temple Tremont and Temple Emanu-El for this year s Sukkah decorating. DUELING WITH DOMINOS: Clients in the Manhattan Adult Day Program gather for a round of dominos. LUNCH WITH A VIEW: Our Manhattan residents take a trip to Brooklyn Bridge Park to enjoy an outdoor lunch on a beautiful day #AGELIKEANEWYORKER SPRING 2017

5 OUR CARE PARTNERS The New Jewish Home is creating a self-directed workforce that empowers staff and encourages deep knowing of the elders. We refer to everyone on our staff as a care partner because we re all partners caring for those who need our help. Deborah Ratner - Geriatric Care Manager* Deborah Ratner is a Geriatric Care Manager with The New Jewish Home s Solutions at Home program. Her end goal: ensuring her clients have a safe home environment by meeting her clients daily needs, such as attending doctor s appointments and managing medication. No stone is left unturned as she coordinates with Home Health Aides and communicates with family members. She goes above and beyond by arranging for doctors to make house calls. There is a certain level of intuition that comes with assessments and care management, says Deborah. That intuition is key to creating the safest environment for a client. Her scheduled visits are weekly, semi-monthly or as needed. Yet, a Geriatric Care Manager is considered a 24-hour service, which means Deborah is always on call. She has received calls in the middle of the night from family members and rushed for meetings at a client s home, hospital or other location. It is comforting for the family to know that someone is there during an emergency, Deborah explains. Most of her clients are in the five boroughs of New York City and Westchester County, and she is in the field 90% of the time. Geriatric Care Managers constantly work to improve their clients lives. Deborah once planned a birthday surprise for a client and his twin both World War II veterans. A New York Newsday reporter and videographer interviewed the twins for a Veterans Day story. According to Deborah, The pleasure they had seeing the printed article and online video was priceless. *Geriatric Care Manager is a licensed Social Worker or Registered Nurse who helps you and your family to connect with the resources you need to stay safe and independent at home. For information on Solutions at Home program, call (800) or Connections@JewishHome.org. Zenaida Kumar - Home Health Aide Ever since she was young, Zenaida Kumar knew she wanted to care for people. She achieved that dream when she became a Home Health Aide. Having worked in healthcare for 20 years (15 of them with The New Jewish Home), the Bronx resident has a packed schedule. She spends weekdays working as an Aide to a resident at a nursing home and spends every other Saturday from 10 a.m. 7 p.m. at her other client s home. It means a lot to me when I get up in the morning and know that someone is waiting for me. My clients are depending on me and, not only that, I enjoy being there for them, explains Zenaida. At the end of the day when I leave my job, I know I made someone s day. For almost three years, Zenaida has been traveling from her home to her current client s apartment. She assists with meal preparation and with many of the daily tasks of living including laundry, and, if needed, assisting with showers and getting dressed. She also escorts her client on neighborhood walks, errands and doctor visits. Her dedication and commitment to her clients are so strong, even Mother Nature couldn t keep her away. Last year, she walked several miles on foot amid a snowstorm because the public buses had shut down. I still find a way to get to my patients homes because I know they are counting on me, she said. It is worth it to know I put a smile on their faces. RAVES We love hearing from clients and families! It s been absolutely wonderful. Within a few hours, the Geriatric Care Manager called me, and life got organized. She is caring, she is professional. She does whatever is needed and they will listen to her in ways that they won t listen to me. I don t want to worry every time the phone rings that my aunt and uncle need help; I need some backup. And she s the extraordinary backup. She is proactive, which is even better than backup. Geriatric Care Managers are the best kept secret. Solutions at Home is wonderful. People should know about it. - Friend and caretaker of Florence and David I think [the home healthcare aides] are great. They really look at all the details that someone of my mother s age needs. They have a home buddy system where she has to answer a bunch of questions with a machine. They gave her a life alert necklace and bracelet. They have nursing that comes in once a week to check her vitals and everything. I like how they re very detailed. - Daughter of Mona R. We wanted to take the time to express our thanks for the work that Home Health Aide Madeline has shown to my mother. While we are saddened of our mother s passing, we can take comfort as Madeline truly cared for mom and went out of her way to make mom s life better. Madeline has been a true gem this past year when it came to the care of our mom. - Children of Carolina M. I work with many senior citizens in New York City who have private aides but having seen Bernice with Sandra on a weekly basis since she began with her, I can say that I have never encountered an aide as wonderful or as professional as Bernice. The level of care and empathy Bernice showed Sandra, and the gentleness and patience she exhibited when Sandra was having a hard time due to her advanced age and memory difficulties, was extraordinary and very touching. Bernice is the finest home aide I have ever encountered and I wanted you to know that, in her, you have someone very unique and special. - Physician to Sandra S. She entered our home, and I knew immediately that my sister was in the very best hands! She assessed her range of motion, performed exercises, and made detailed notes. Moreover, her calm and cheerful demeanor calmed my sister s anxieties about her condition. I have never seen anyone so meticulous and dedicated to her job, willing to go above and beyond her duties. The warmth, compassion, and encouragement from Mitali were a major factor in giving my sister the strength to regain her mobility. - Sister of Natalie L. JEWISHHOME.ORG/RAVES 05

6 THERE S NO PLACE LIKE HOME FOR REHAB After surgery, all you want to do is return home. But first you must regain your strength through physical rehabilitation. Rehab sessions used to take place at a specialized hospital unit, but increasingly therapy sessions are taking place at home. Fortunately, physical therapists at The New Jewish Home s Certified Home Health Agency (CHHA) can help patients regain independence after surgery, injury or illness no matter the location. Patients make strong connections with their therapists during inpatient rehab. Back home, however, some lose their motivation when the therapist is someone new. Some patients are hesitant to accept a new person into their home. They feel vulnerable and a stranger is a disruption to them, says Jaybee Cejudo, Director of The New Jewish Home s Certified Home Health Agency. We thought, if their previous therapist continues rehab with them at home, patients can pick up exactly where they left off. In collaboration with *HealthPRO/Heritage we created Rehab Transitions, a pilot program, to keep the patient-therapist relationship intact from our rehabilitation unit to the home. The program launched in September of 2016 as part of the rehabilitation services provided at our Sarah Neuman campus in Westchester. Physicians believe patients get better more quickly at home, says Jaybee Cejudo. Director of Rehab at The New Jewish Home s Sarah Neuman campus, Ameya Dorsatwar attests to the benefits of a seamless transition from short-term rehab to home. He worked one-onone with the program s first two patients who received rehab services first at Sarah Neuman and then in their homes. When I appeared at one of my patient s homes, she was really happy to see it was me and felt very comfortable continuing our sessions together there, says Dorsatwar. During rehab sessions at Sarah Neuman, Dorsatwar and his patient built a physical strength program based on walking from her room to the dining room at her home. From a facility picture, he estimated 75 feet, but after arriving on location he soon realized the actual distance was twice his original estimate 150 feet. We can always make estimates but not until we are there at the patient s home do we see the complete picture, he explains. The New Jewish Home plans to accommodate all rehab patients at the Sarah Neuman campus and extend the Rehab Transitions program to our Manhattan campus. Our Certified Home Health Agency is licensed by the New York State Department of Health to serve patients in the NYC boroughs of Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, Bronx and in Westchester County. We serve patients with Medicare or dual eligible patients with both Medicare and Medicaid, as well as patients in managed care plans. For more information about the Certified Home Health Agency, call (800) or Connections@JewishHome.org. *HealthPRO/Heritage provides Therapy Management & Consulting Services MILESTONES WE CELEBRATE THIS YEAR Home joins UJA-Federation as charter member 100 years ago Sarah Neuman campus is acquired 25 years ago 06 #AGELIKEANEWYORKER SPRING 2017

7 BERMAN EDUCATION FUND INSPIRES HOME HEALTH AIDES As soon as Ann Berman joined The New Jewish Home Board of Directors in 2006, she took a personal interest in the organization s more than 800 Home Health Aides who make up one-third of our employee base. Home Health Aides are a part of our Home Assistance Personnel program and provide personal care services utilized by older adults at home. The role is our entry-level position and is often staffed by recent Americans, non-english speakers, and struggling young mothers, and has had the highest turnover rate within our system an issue Berman took to heart. In 2007, through her family s Mandell L. and Madeleine H. Berman Foundation (based outside of Detroit, Michigan), Berman made an initial gift to fund a Peer Mentor program for the aide population. That year, retention among participating Aides rose by 20%. Since then, Berman has funded educational advancement Home Health Aides are an important employee group that is key to The New Jewish Home s success, explains Berman. An Aide should be supported in his or her daily work, and those who work hard and show promise should be able to continue their education and look ahead to becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant or a Registered Nurse at The New Jewish Home. opportunities, reward and recognition programs and other support initiatives to improve aides job satisfaction and retention and create a career ladder. Fast-forward to 2015, when thanks to Berman s years of support, retention among Home Health Aides skyrocketed to 79% well above the industry standard of 50%. Since piloting that first initiative, Berman s commitment has evolved. In 2016, the foundation s renewed funding allowed us to create or continue four impactful Home Health Aide programs: the Education Mentor Program, Client Services Manager Training, Annual Education Retreats, and Certified Nursing Assistant Certification scholarships. Ann Berman (in blue second from right) and our Home Health Aides who participated at the Annual Education Retreat this past November. EDUCATION MENTOR PROGRAM The part-time Education Mentor connects Aides with professional development opportunities. Since the grant award, more than 100 Aides have contacted our Education Mentor with interests in continuing education. They have participated in supplementary programs for educational and professional certifications. Aides receiving additional certifications then enter Jewish Home s employment pipeline to work in other areas of our system. CLIENT SERVICES MANAGER TRAINING Our Home Assistance Personnel program s eight Client Services Managers are charged with assigning each of our Home Health Aides to cases. The focus of this year s Berman funding is to improve the Aide and Client Services Manager relationship, bolster communication skills, improve the client experience, and to increase job satisfaction for both groups. ANNUAL EDUCATION RETREAT For the past several years, Berman s funding has allowed us to host two halfday retreats for top-performing Aides. These events provide an opportunity for Aides to participate in educational sessions and fun team-building activities. They feature food and music and celebrate the successes of those in attendance. CERTIFIED NURSING ASSISTANT (CNA) CERTIFICATION SCHOLARSHIPS This year 12 Aides were selected to receive scholarships that cover the costs associated with CNA certification. The scholarship also includes a living stipend for the Aides who cannot work during the three-week training. Several recipients have already completed the training and are preparing to take the board exam in The Berman Foundation continues to invest in the success of the Home Health Aides of The New Jewish Home. Home Health Aides are as important as any other part of our workforce, Berman believes, and for those who are loyal to our system and work hard, there should be options. We remain committed to providing them with opportunities. For more information about Home Health Aide services, please call (800) or Connections@JewishHome.org. 07

8 UPCOMING EVENTS TUESDAY, APRIL 4, TH ANNUAL EIGHT OVER EIGHTY GALA 8OVER80.ORG LOCATION: Mandarin Oriental 2 Columbus Circle, New York, NY HONOREES: Iris Apfel Vernon Jordan Carmen de Lavallade Norman Lear Morris W. Offit Jacques Pépin Barbara and Donald Tober STATE-OF-THE-ART ADULT DAY PROGRAM COMING TO 1200 WATERS PLACE, BRONX, NY SUMMER 2017 The Adult Day Program offers safe, caring and engaging home-away-from-home day, evening and weekend sessions for those who live at home or with family and have chronic health conditions or need assistance with personal care. Night Care provides a safe, compassionate place for people with Alzheimer s disease and related dementias to spend the night, giving family members a much-needed respite. For more information, please call (800) or Connections@JewishHome.org. TNJH RECEIVES CAUSE AWARD LOCATIONS CARE AT HOME COMMUNITY SERVICES 104 West 29th Street, 8th Floor, New York, New York (800) ADULT DAY PROGRAM 2545 University Avenue, Bronx, New York (212) LONG-TERM SKILLED NURSING, REHABILITATION AND DAY CENTER MANHATTAN 120 West 106th Street, New York, New York (212) From left to right: Board Member Peter Hess, our President/CEO, Audrey S. Weiner, immediate past Board Chair, Elizabeth Grayer and Board Member Tami Schneider accepting the New York Nonprofit Media Cause Award. THE NEW JEWISH HOME RECEIVED A CAUSE AWARD (CATEGORY: AGING ISSUES) FROM NEW YORK NONPROFIT MEDIA THIS PAST OCTOBER. The Cause Awards recognizes individuals, agencies and philanthropists each year who have made a major impact on the most pressing human services issues of New York s nonprofit sector. We are deeply honored to have been recognized in the competition s very first year. #AGELIKEANEWYORKER WESTCHESTER Sarah Neuman 845 Palmer Avenue, Mamaroneck, New York (914) SENIOR HOUSING Kittay Senior Apartments 2550 Webb Avenue, Bronx, New York (718) University Avenue Assisted Living 2553 University Avenue, Bronx, New York (347) Housing 6477 Broadway, Riverdale, New York University Avenue, Bronx, New York Webb Avenue, Bronx, New York (800) TO FIND OUT WAYS TO GET INVOLVED: GETINVOLVED.JEWISHHOME.ORG To update your contact info, please call or send an to Info@JewishHome.org.