Dear friends,
We celebrated Tu B’Shevat this week across the Jewish Home Family. Needless to say, our celebrations looked different this year but were still very lovely and very well received. At the Jewish Home at Rockleigh, we enjoyed a variety of fruits and some wonderful discussions about the “new year for the trees.” At Jewish Home Assisted Living, staff went room to room handing out nuts and fruit in treat bags. We also got a wonderful gift from Temple Emanuel in Pascack Valley. Each elder received a small pot planted with parsley seeds. The elders will be able to care for these plants and have their parsley “harvest” in time for Passover. We are also, of course, all getting ready for our upcoming vaccine clinics with CVS. Our second clinic at Jewish Home Assisted Living is February 6 and our third clinic at the Jewish Home at Rockleigh will be February 8. We know that vaccine is not the full solution to COVID but it does take us a big and important step forward. We have been able to vaccinate more than 95% of our elders on both campuses and, to date, we have 75% of the Rockleigh staff and 67% of the Assisted Living staff vaccinated. We are aiming for 80% or more across the board and continue to work hard to make sure that everyone is educated and has an opportunity for this vital immunization.
Other Jewish Home Assisted Living events this week included Rabbi Korenblit’s discussion on “The Roaring Twenties” on Sunday morning followed by the opera of the week “H.M.S. Pinafore.” Elders also enjoyed a documentary on James Earl Jones. Monday began with a documentary on the life of President Biden entitled “From Tragedy to Triumph” and we also had an interesting program on Gershwin. In the afternoon we had a lively game of “Cranium Crunches” with Maryellen. Tuesday began with a Resident Council meeting that engendered lots of lively conversation. We celebrated Betty White’s 99th birthday with a lecture on her and then wrapped up the day with yoga. Morning news kicked off Wednesday followed by a lovely trip to Sweden. In the afternoon, we shared a commemoration of international Holocaust Remembrance Day. Rabbi Korenblit led a beautiful ceremony in front of a number of Yahrzeit candles. For the last two years we held a Holocaust Seder to mark this day and we hope that next year will see us together and able to do that again. In addition to our Tu B’Shevat events on Thursday, the Jewish Home Assisted Living Ritual Committee presented a certificate for tree planting, having planted a ring of trees in the JNF Forest in honor of those staff and elders who survived COVID-19. We also had a Zoom exercise class with Patrick and later watched our current Netflix favorite “The Queen’s Gambit.” On Friday, Yiddish club met and we watched Bette Midler in concert. Rabbi Korenblit gave a talk on Tu B’Shevat “The New Year for Trees.”
Laughter began our week at the Jewish Home at Rockleigh. Sunday was “Global Belly Laugh Day” and we had Comedy Corner with jokes and laughter continuing throughout the day’s music and exercise programs. Our Sunday movie was a favorite, “Send Me No Flowers,” starring Doris Day. This week was Activity Professionals week so we began it with a pajama party! Activities staff wore cute pajamas and orchestrated “campfires” on all of the units. We reminisced about cozy campfire nights, had homemade cookies and delicious hot chocolate. Tuesday began with Community Council. We followed that with trivia, music and word games but the highlight was celebrating national “Plan for Vacation Day!” Our elders talked about all of the vacation places that they loved and watched an armchair travel program that everyone enjoyed. Creativity was the word of the day for Wednesday with our Young at Art program. We used yarn, paper and ribbon and decorated jars and vases. We celebrated “Chocolate Cake Day” with delicious treats and also enjoyed individual art, small group discussions and music. The January birthday party was great fun with lively music and delicious cheesecake. In addition to our Tu B’Shevat program on Thursday, we also offered music with “Making the Band” along with “Sit and Be Fit,” brain teasers and karaoke. Friday was national “Puzzle Day,” (lots of special days this week!) and elders worked on crossword puzzles. Other Friday activities included Comedy Central, music trivia, fitness, friendly visits, poetry circle and more.
This was a LeadingAge blog week for me and here is the link: https://leadingage.org/members/restoring-hope. As always, your feedback is welcome.
Be well,
Carol Silver Elliott
President/CEO
The Jewish Home Family
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10 Link Drive Rockleigh, NJ 07647 | 685 Westwood Ave. River Vale, NJ 07675