Dear friends,
If you were walking around the halls of either of our campuses right now, you would think that you are in a familiar place that looks, somehow, completely different. The buzz of visitors and people in the hallways is not there. Staff are all in masks or full personal protective equipment (PPE), depending on where they work. Isolation areas are clearly delineated with floor to ceiling plastic sheeting. It is like being in a different world. And yet some things would look the same to you. The staff still radiate an air of calm professionalism and they can always find a smile for our elders. We have all seen horror stories in the media about nursing homes who are not reporting data, who do not have enough PPE. I want to assure you that this is not at all the case at the Jewish Home Family. With respect to reporting, we are required to report to the New Jersey Department of Health as well as the Bergen County Health Department. We report on both staff and elders, including anyone with symptoms, anyone who has been tested for COVID, what the results were and, of course, on the outcomes. We do this seven days a week, separately on each campus. We also are required to report on our levels of PPE and on number of available beds and we do that every day as well. As I have said on many occasions, this is a war we are in, a war against a very insidious and devious enemy. We are focusing all of our resources on this fight and we will not let up. Our commitment is to the health and wellbeing of our elders and that drives us all to work harder, learn more and make changes and improvements every day.
In the midst of all of this, there are still bright spots. Our Activities staff on both campuses continue to do a great job with visual visits, connecting elders and their loved ones. Many families have been outside the buildings talking with and waving at their loved ones. The phrase heard most often is, of course, “I love you,” and it tugs at all of our hearts that those messages cannot be delivered directly. We hope these days of no visitors will soon be at an end, it is so important for our elders as well as their family members. Last weekend family members stood outside Jewish Home Assisted Living holding signs to “salute the staff heroes.” Activities staff at the Jewish Home at Rockleigh also worked with elders to create signs that they’ve put in their rooms or under their windows. Each contains words or phrases of encouragement and they have really brought a smile to many faces.
Although our Gallen Day Center has been closed for several weeks, by order of the Governor who closed all day programs, the staff have been reaching out to their participants every day, checking on them and connecting. This week Gallen Center Director Charlene Vannucci came up with another great plan. She and her team made gift/activity bags for every one of their participants. Then they went on to make bags for all the residents at Rockleigh as well as at Assisted Living and the clients of @HomeCare. They distributed the bags within the buildings and also gave the @HomeCare staff bags to deliver. Today they took out their buses and they drove to the homes of each participant to do an in-person, socially distanced delivery. The participants were so thrilled to see the staff they love and were so touched by the little gifts. It was a beautiful effort and so very meaningful.
We had a beautiful moment of reflection at Rockleigh this week, using the PA system and broadcasting to the entire building. Rabbi Feld and some of our staff provided words, prayers and meaningful songs. Everyone was so moved and it was a beautiful moment of inspiration and comfort for all. We’re also continuing to increase the programming on our closed circuit channels. We’ve posted pictures and cards that children have sent and we have had some families send in wonderful videos of singing and other entertainment. If you have a talent and would like to share a video or you can send some notes or cards, please feel free to email them to Ezra HaLevi, Director of Communications and Technology, at ehalevi@jewishhomefamily.org.
This was a blog week and here is the link: https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/random-acts-2/ As always, we welcome your feedback.
We wish you all good health and we appreciate all of your support as we navigate these uncharted waters.
Be well,
Carol Silver Elliott
President/CEO
The Jewish Home Family
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Volunteers Corner
On April 19th through April 25th we celebrate National Volunteer Appreciation Week! The staff and residents of the Jewish Home Family truly miss your presence and all the devotion and talent that you so lovingly provide to our residents and participants. We look forward to the day when you all can return to our campuses. In the meantime, stay safe, healthy and strong!
We love you all! Thank you for everything that you do!
Stacey Orden
Director of Volunteer Services
201-518-1175
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10 Link Drive Rockleigh, NJ 07647 | 685 Westwood Ave. River Vale, NJ 07675