Hebrew SeniorLife

Home
United States
Boston, MA
Hebrew SeniorLife

Hebrew SeniorLife is a nonprofit organization devoted to transforming aging through new standards of care that positively impact the lives of older adults.

Hebrew SeniorLife, an affiliate of Harvard Medical School, is a nonprofit, non-sectarian organization deeply committed to taking on the challenges of transforming--or ReAging--the ways in which seniors live, grow and interact with the world. We're building active, engaging retirement communities. Helping older adults live healthier. Driving research that impacts lives and teaching tomorrow's geria

tricians. With everything we do, we're resetting the standards for the health and wellness of seniors. www.hebrewseniorlife.org

06/05/2026

This Pride Month, we’re celebrating Hebrew SeniorLife patients, residents, and staff in the LGBTQ+ community.

The Out and About group, started last spring by Community Life Enhancement and Spiritual Care Liaison Miriam Priven, is a safe space for patients in the LGBTQ+ community and their allies to join in open and honest discussions about a variety of topics. Whether it's learning about each other's backgrounds, sharing their unique coming-out journeys, reminiscing about Pride parades, or even comparing who has the best dance moves, everyone feels included and empowered to share their story and what matters most to them.

Group members value the reliability of the weekly meetings and enjoy the camaraderie they have built among themselves. When someone is absent from a meeting, everyone wants to know if they are doing OK — some have even written cards for fellow group members in times of uncertainty.

The newly formed friendships and tight-knit bonds forged through learning about each other's stories have made the Out and About group a special part of patients' weeks.

06/04/2026

As we age, appetite can naturally fade — but a chronic loss of interest in food can lead to unintentional weight loss, muscle loss, and increased frailty, making it harder to stay healthy and independent. 🍎

In a new Harvard Health article, Tina Reilly, director of nutrition at Hebrew Rehabilitation Center, shares practical, expert-backed ways older adults can stay nourished even when hunger wanes:

🍳 Prioritize protein — it's essential for preserving muscle as we age.
🥣 Eat smaller, more frequent meals so eating feels less overwhelming.
🚶 Move before meals — even a gentle walk can naturally stimulate appetite.

🌷 Engage the senses — set the table nicely, add music or flowers, and savor the experience.
🍲 Make meals social — shared dining nourishes connection as well as the body.

As Reilly notes, "Although calorie needs can decrease as we age, protein needs actually increase."

06/03/2026

Intimacy and connection don't disappear in long-term care — but clear guidance on how to support them often does. A new paper from a researcher at Hebrew Rehabilitation Center offers a practical framework to help long-term care communities move from uncertainty to a structured, ethical approach that respects residents' autonomy while protecting their safety. 💛

At the heart of the model is a dedicated Sexual Health Committee — a multidisciplinary team charged with developing policies, guiding staff, and helping communities navigate one of the most sensitive, and often avoided, aspects of care.

Published in Annals of Long-Term Care, the framework lays out a process that any community can adapt to its own population, culture, and resources, built on three core pillars:

🧭 Ground the work in values, laws, and ethics — defining cultural values and aligning them with regulations and professional codes.

📋 Develop clear, standardized policies and procedures — translating principles into practical guidance that reduces ambiguity and supports consistent decision-making.

🤝 Educate, apply, and adapt — training staff to assess consent, respond appropriately, and refine policies over time.

"Intimacy and connection remain important parts of life, even in long-term care," said Rachael F. Arielly, PsyD, a psychologist specializing in geropsychology at Hebrew Rehabilitation Center and a co-author of the paper. "This framework is designed to help organizations create thoughtful, consistent approaches that reflect their values, support residents, and give staff the guidance they need."

For residents and families, these guidelines reflect a shift toward more person-centered care that recognizes s*xual well-being as part of overall quality of life.

In addition to Dr. Arielly, co-authors included Nathalie Huitema, PhD, a clinical s*xologist and Certified Sexuality Educator, and Sarah J. Rogers, LICSW, a clinical social worker and certified s*x therapist.

Learn more ➡️ https://bit.ly/4e7j2jg

06/02/2026

When people hear the word "hospice," they sometimes think it means "giving up." In reality, hospice care is about helping people live as fully as possible — with comfort, dignity, and support — during the final stage of life. 💙

In a new blog post, Shoshana Savitz, LICSW, a medical social worker and bereavement coordinator with Hebrew SeniorLife Hospice Care, breaks down five of the most common misconceptions she hears about hospice:

❌ Myth: Hospice means "giving up."
✅ Reality: It's a shift in focus — toward comfort, dignity, and the moments that matter most.

❌ Myth: You must stop all medical treatment.
✅ Reality: Care continues, with the goal of managing symptoms and easing pain.

❌ Myth: Hospice is only for the final days of life.
✅ Reality: People can receive hospice care for months, or even longer.

❌ Myth: Someone is with you 24/7.
✅ Reality: Hospice respects your space and routine, with help just a phone call away.

❌ Myth: Your health can't improve while in hospice.
✅ Reality: If your condition stabilizes, we help coordinate a smooth transition to other support.

Hospice care is fully covered under Medicare Part A and most private insurance plans, and anyone — a patient, family member, physician, or nurse — can make a referral.

Learn more ➡️ https://bit.ly/4umbVcQ

06/01/2026

The Strawberry Festival at Hebrew Rehabilitation Center - Boston is a highly anticipated event each year. This year's festival featured the Winiker Band performing several fruit-themed songs, such as "Strawberry Fields Forever" by the Beatles and "Tangerine" by Frank Sinatra. Community Life Leader Jana Galvin joined in the fun with a guest performance of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." The synagogue was packed with patients and families celebrating the warmer season and the fun music.

05/29/2026

Are you compassionate, hard-working, and looking to enter a health care career? Hebrew SeniorLife’s Lunder CareForce Institute is offering nurse aid training to help motivated students become CNAs, and some students study for free!

Full-time, part-time, and hybrid class options are available, and applications are accepted year-round. Pay your own way or connect with one of our employer partners to train at no cost to you, with immediate job placement options upon passing. No prior health care experience is required.

Whether you’re exploring your first job or looking for a new opportunity with room to grow, this is your chance to build a stable, meaningful career. Learn more about applying on our website ➡️ https://bit.ly/4wJzI8K

05/28/2026

Congratulations to the Hebrew Rehabilitation Center Dietetic Internship Class of 2026!

The interns completed a nine-month, full-time program with practical experience across subacute clinical nutrition, outpatient nutrition services, community nutrition, and more. The program is the only dietetic internship in New England offered in a geriatric, long-term care setting.

This year's class includes Rhodaline Barber, Tejaswini Podila, Asmita Shah, Jordyn Tilley, Olivia Vik-Sheehy, and Jennifer Yeomans.

The interns also continued the annual tradition of naming Preceptors of the Year — a recognition for staff members who serve as exceptional teachers and role models throughout the program. This year's honorees are Clinical Dietitians Erin O'Connell and Caroline Hootstein.

Learn more about our ACEND-accredited Dietetic Internship program, which prepares students to become Registered Dietitians ➡️ https://bit.ly/3JHbFAE

05/27/2026

May is National Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month — a time to highlight the importance of bone health and the steps we can take to protect it. In recognition of the month, organizations across the field, including our Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research and scientists at the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research, are participating in "White Sneaker Days." White sneakers are a simple, shared symbol of movement — an everyday choice that supports strong bones and lifelong musculoskeletal health.

At the Marcus Institute, bone health research is central to our mission. Our Synbiotic to Attenuate Resorption of the Skeleton (STARS) study is investigating whether capsules containing probiotics and plant fiber can help keep your bones healthy as you age.

Women 60 and older may qualify to participate. Visit our website to learn more about the STARS study and its eligibility requirements: https://bit.ly/49lAlvo

This research is supported by the National Institute on Aging, part of the National Institutes of Health. Public investment in science makes discoveries like this possible — advancing care and helping older adults live healthier, more independent lives.

05/26/2026

Caregiving can be isolating — and finding the words for what you're going through isn't easy. Poet Wendy Drexler found a way through writing.

In her latest poetry collection, Harvest of What Remains, Drexler draws on her experience caring for her husband with Alzheimer's disease, capturing the love, grief, stress, and small, tender moments that define the caregiving journey. The foreword was written by Alvaro Pascual-Leone, MD, PhD, medical director of our Deanna and Sidney Wolk Center for Memory Health, who cared for Drexler's husband.

In a conversation for the Hebrew SeniorLife blog, Drexler shares how poetry helped her process what she was living through — and why she hopes the collection offers something meaningful to caregivers who often don't have time to stop and feel.

Read the full post and then save the date for a virtual poetry reading and conversation with Drexler and Wolk Center Physician Rashmi Kaura, MD, on July 7 at 2 p.m. https://bit.ly/4v3zHei

Address

1200 Centre Street
Boston, MA
02131

Telephone

+16173638000

Website

https://www.hebrewseniorlife.org/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Hebrew SeniorLife posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to Hebrew SeniorLife:

Shortcuts

Want your practice to be the top-listed Clinic in Boston?