101st Annual Meeting

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J U N E 2 0 1 1 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N
A Special Supplement to
The Beacon newspaper
101st Annual Meeting
The meeting coincided with outgoing
Chair David Samuels’ birthday. A
surprise cake and rendition of “Happy
Birthday” enlivened the meeting. David
and Tenley Carp, with the cake.
Page 3
June 2011/No.21
Homer LaBorwit just reached
his 100th birthday, his wife Bess
her 97th, and their marriage has
lasted for 77 glorious years. Two children
set the stage for five grandkids and nine
great-grandkids. Impressive statistics by
any measure, and to be sure, they’ve experienced their share of ups and downs. But
what’s most enviable is Homer and Bess
still enjoy comparatively good health; they
live independently at Revitz House; their
humor is clearly intact as they banter
teasingly, and their life brims with warm
memories and plenty of love. “None of us
knows how we’ll age,” says Homer, but he
and his wife readily admit that luck
enables them to lead such sweet lives.
Both natives of Baltimore, Homer first
met Bess as a guest at her “Sweet 16” party.
Four years later, in 1934, they walked down
the aisle. After quitting high school to help
his parents, Homer worked in an optical
shop grinding lenses and filling eyeglass
prescriptions. With his savings and expertise, he opened a wholesale optical company
in partnership with another Baltimore
resident, Joe Schwartz. Twenty-five years
later, Homer sold his share of the business
by Emily Tipermas
to Joe and went on to establish State Optical
Company in Pikesville. Today he keeps a
hand in his old profession by helping fellow
Revitz residents with eyeglass repairs.
Back in their Pikesville days, Homer
and Bess led an active social life centered
around their country club, Baltimore
Hebrew Congregation, and a raft of friends.
With a shared zeal for dancing, the LaBorwits
would gather five couples and a dance
teacher and quite literally have a ball. “He’s
a great dancer – he’s a natural,” comments
Bess in describing Homer’s agility on the
dance floor. “I won a ChaCha contest on a
cruise ship,” adds Homer.
Adorning the couple’s apartment are
striking figurines and paintings of clowns.
Homer is a long-time collector of clown
artwork and owns works by Red Skelton
and Xavier Cugat. An artist in his own
right, Homer holds up a portrait he created
using a palette knife and oils of a clown
perched on a unicycle with a dog playfully
balanced atop his head.
Life remains full for the Revitz couple.
Homer served as president of the Revitz
House Association for five years and today
sits on its Board. While Bess is off playing
Homer was one of the
models for the current
annual report,
“Blueprint for our
Second Century.”
Photo by Randy Sager
Celebration in Numbers
Homer LeBorwit, 100, and Bess, his wife of 77
years, live independently at Revitz House.
mah jongg or canasta, Homer frequently
attends the Men’s Schmoozers’ Group.
They travel to local supermarkets, malls,
banks, cultural events and Hirsh Health
Center on Revitz’s free bus service.
Homer and Bess exude captivating
warmth. When asked the secret of their
long and happy years together, Homer
says: “Just remember to say, Yes, dear!” ■
HEBREW HOME OF GREATER WASHINGTON • SMITH-KOGOD & WASSERMAN RESIDENCES
LANDOW HOUSE • RING HOUSE • REVITZ HOUSE • HIRSH HEALTH CENTER
101st
Annual
Meeting
Hoarding:
it’s big
Publication
wins gold
award
Page 3
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J U N E 2 0 1 1 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N
When Gathering Estate Planning Information…
Our FREE booklet helps you record important details regarding your assets and the location of your will. We offer more
assistance, too, including an opportunity to discuss, without
obligation, ways to include the Hebrew Home in your estate
plans. Please call 301.770.8342 or mail this form to:
Julia Pitkin-Shantz, CFP®, Director of Gift Planning
Charles E. Smith Life Communities
6121 Montrose Road, Rockville MD 20852-4856
Name
Address
City/State/Zip
Phone/E-mail
For a personalized illustration showing how you can receive income
for life, please list your birth date:
LT 6/11
LifeLines
Dear Mr. Slavin:
I spent many weeks in the rehab unit from December
13, 2010 to March 18, 2011. The head of nursing Abibou
was a pleasure to deal with, as was Patrick in 2nd floor
North, Paul, who sat at the desk, Elisa, head of social
work, and Minnie in the dining room. Most of the nurses
and aides were very professional, as was the admissions
office. I am sorry not to have every individual’s name who
smiled and took such good care of me.
One I will never forget is Dr. Linda Benson. During
my stay there I had a medical emergency which had
nothing to do with my rehab situation and which required
me to leave the Hebrew Home for almost a week at Sibley
Hospital. The symptoms were painful and frightening
and were it not for Dr. Benson’s skill and calm presence,
my wife and I would have been terrified. Dr. Benson
followed up on every detail, administered the necessary
medications and did all tests regularly to monitor my
progress. Whenever one of my personal physicians
prescribed medication, I was already taking it due to her
knowledge and caring.
She was available to my wife and me to keep us calm
in face of these emergencies, and we knew that I would
be safe and well taken care of because she was there.
She listened to all our concerns and was reassuring
in her responses. It was important to us to know that
someone was there who listened and acted on our behalf
and answered all our phone calls. I cannot praise her help
and care for me enough. You are indeed fortunate to have
someone of her caliber to take care of the patients in your
facility. She is an asset to your Community.
Sincerely,
Leo Kramer
LifeTimes is published quarterly by the Hebrew Home of Greater
Washington, Inc. The Hebrew Home is registered in Maryland as a
charitable organization. Documents and information filed under the
Maryland Charitable Solicitation Act may be obtained from the Maryland
Secretary of State, 410.974.5534. We are an equal opportunity employer
and we provide access to community programs without regard to race, age,
national origin, familial status, religion, sex or disability. Our services and
programs are open to all in the community.
Andrew S. Friedlander, Chair
Warren R. Slavin, President/CEO
Marilyn Feldman, Editor
Nicholas Simmonds, Vice President, Development and Public Affairs
Since her childhood, Evelyn
Norwitz has had a “soft spot in her
heart” for elderly people and animals,
and she finds herself unable to sit idly
by. Evelyn retired from a government
career as a “mere secretary” for the
National Weather Service, National
Institutes of Health, Coast Guard, and
more, discovering her most fulfilling
position at the Child Welfare Agency
where she was able to directly help
people get aid. That experience of
being able to impact someone’s life
has affected her own philanthropy.
Evelyn has known about the good
work the Hebrew Home does for as
long as she can recall. A good friend
lived here for 15 years, always wellcared for, and Evelyn has recently
entrusted her 102-year-old mother’s
care to the Home. She knows we serve
the elderly with respect, whether or not
they have financial resources to pay for
their care.
Some years ago, Evelyn established
a gift annuity with the Hebrew Home
with profits from a “lucky” investment.
She received payments every quarter
and an income tax deduction in the
year she created the annuity. After a
few years, she decided the “Home needed the money more than I did,” so she
gave the Hebrew Home the right to
receive all the income she would have
received from her annuity. Evelyn also
thought about how her assets should be
used after her death, and translated that
into a generous bequest to the Home.
Charitable gift annuities and bequests
are planned gifts that provide different
benefits. Gift annuities can improve your
cash flow with payments for the rest of
your lifetime, based on your age. The rate
for a 79-year-old as of July 1 will be 7.3%.
Bequests can be done in many ways,
from a statement in your will, to making
the Home a beneficiary of your IRA or
retirement plan. All allow you to make a
larger gift than you could have considered
during your lifetime. By using both of these
approaches, Evelyn is truly helping the
Hebrew Home start its second century
stronger and better able to provide care for
those we serve.
To learn more about creating your
own legacy to the Hebrew Home, contact
your professional advisor or our director
of gift planning, Julia Pitkin-Shantz, CFP®
at [email protected] or at
301.770.8342. To help you think through
your own estate plans, please click on
“Plan Your Will” on www.hhgwgift.org. ■
Neal White brings 38 years of health care experience
and a great deal of enthusiasm to his new role as
Administrator for the Hebrew Home’s services. He
was most recently at Atlantic Shores Rehabilitation
and Health Center in Delaware, and previously,
Genesis Health Care Corporation in Salisbury, MD.
© 2011 by The Hebrew Home of Greater Washington
6121 Montrose Road, Rockville, MD 20852-4856, 301.881.0300
Page 2 | June 2011
Evelyn Norwitz
takes positive
steps to help
today’s residents,
and tomorrow’s.
Listening to her heart
www.smithlifecommunities.org
Photo by Randy Sager
In Our Mailbox
LifeTimes
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J U N E 2 0 1 1 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N
Living at Charles E. Smith
Life Communities
• Ring House: apartments with a
fresh, new face
• Revitz House: a unique array of
services at an affordable price
• Landow House: assisted living
tailored to your personal needs
We invite you to learn more about us at www.smithlifecommunities.org
The 101st annual meeting chaired
by Dr. Mark Klaiman was an engaging tribute to the power of personal contact – from
an invitation to lunch, to the example of
family, to a colleague’s plea to attend just
one planning meeting. Incoming and outgoing officers, award presenters and award
recipients alike each related how a personal
connection defined the moment they got
hooked on the Home.
“David Ruben asked me to help with
some accounting for the Men’s Club, just a
couple of hours, and maybe a small donation,” recalled Arthur Dykes, recipient of
the 2011 Hymen Goldman Award. Since
that first connection, Arthur has actively
participated on Board committees and
the Guardian Campaign and served as
chair of the Board of Governors. During
his tenure from 2005-2007, the Home
secured a $12 million gift from the
Charles E. Smith Family Foundation
and rolled out its new identity as
Charles E. Smith Life Communities.
“I’ve had a great return on my investment,” Arthur said.
Newly installed Chair Andy
Friedlander described how food and
family hooked him. When Moe Dweck
asked him to lunch 17 years ago, “I
thought he needed insurance,” Andy
said. “Even before the pickles hit the
table, Moe jumped right in, ‘I think you
should get involved with the Hebrew
Home.’” Andy left Celebrity Deli without
a commission, but with a newly ignited
passion and compassion for the Hebrew
Home, reinforced by the example set by
his grandparents and by his parents,
Arlene and Steve Friedlander. His commitment was further sealed over another
lunch, this time with Hebrew Home resident Lillian Kline. “A dynamic, witty, lucid
and lovely lady -- she had me at ‘hello,’”
Andy said, as she told him why a more
home-like way of serving resident meals
was so vitally important.
LifeTimes
Photos by Randy Sager
The first annual meeting of our second century
David Ruben, left, presented the Home’s top honor,
the Hymen Goldman Humanitarian Award, to
Arthur J. Dykes.
Members of the Centennial Task Force, recipients
of the Chair’s Award, at the reception. From left,
Beth Sloan, William I. Lang, Arlene Friedlander,
Hanita Schreiber, Andrew S. Friedlander, Vivian
Pollock, Chair Ted Gumer, Marc F. Solomon,
David A. Samuels, and Barbara Hurwitz. Not
pictured: Cliff Mendelson, Gary Saffitz.
With the Home’s Centennial year
behind us, Warren Slavin, President/CEO
addressed the organization’s plans for the
future. “The blueprint for our second century of caring needs to envision a spectrum
of services perhaps as different from what
we offer today as Charles E. Smith Life
Communities is from our historic M Street
www.smithlifecommunities.org
President/CEO Warren Slavin and
incoming Chair Andy Friedlander, at
the 101st Annual Meeting.
Maryland Attorney General Doug
Gansler was among the elected
officials who attended May 11.
beginnings.” Warren stressed the personal
aspects of the care the Home provides, and
shared a letter from a family praising the
care, respect and kindness of staff and noting, “We became part of a community [at
the Home] ...we shall miss their company.”
The 2011 Chair’s Award this year was
presented to the Centennial Task Force.
This group, which began with “just one
planning meeting,” went on to design the
centennial logo, video, a full year of
events and messaging. ■
June 2011 | Page 3
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J U N E 2 0 1 1 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N
U.S. Centenarian
Population Grows
Leading Age, which represents notfor-profit eldercare organizations, reports
that new Census Bureau data show a
remarkable growth in the number of
citizens who have reached the century
mark.
Since 1991, America’s population of
centenarians has roughly doubled to
72,000. That number is projected to
double again by 2020. By 2050, the
bureau predicts anywhere from 250,000
to 4.2 million Americans will be over 100.
Better medical care and an individual’s
genetics and behaviors all are factors in
this boom. Lynn Peters Adler, founder of
the National Centenarian Awareness
Project, notes “Centenarians are not
quitters,” and cites these emotional and
mental similarities:
• a positive, but realistic attitude
• a love of life
• a sense of humor
• spirituality
• courage
• a remarkable ability to accept the
losses that come with age but not
be stopped by them ■
Generation to Generation
But I Might Need It Someday
If you walk into a home that appears to be sinking under the weight of disorganized,
overflowing clutter and debris, you’ve entered a different kind of universe, a world
ruled by someone likely suffering from a psychological problem known as “compulsive
hoarding.” To comprehend its scope, you could watch episodes of “Hoarders” on cable
TV or read Stuff: Compulsive Hoarding and the Meaning of Things, by
Professors Gail Steketee, Ph.D. and Randy O. Frost, Ph.D.
What is compulsive hoarding?
Compulsive hoarding is at base a “complex
disorder,” writes Dr. Frost, a psychology
professor at Smith College. He lists its chief
characteristics:
• The acquisition of, and failure to discard,
a large number of possessions that
appear to be of useless or of limited
value.
• Living spaces sufficiently cluttered so as
to preclude activities for which those
rooms were designed.
• Significant distress or impairment in
functioning caused by the hoarding.
What’s in the clutter?
According to Dr. Frost, the clutter can
include “anything.” It can be beautiful heirlooms and it can be trash. It can be new,
never-worn clothing and it can be stack
upon stack of books, newspapers, magazines and old mail; it can even be pets.
Broken appliances, empty boxes or plastic
bags, and refrigerators filled with rotting
food are other frequent components of the
mess. The point is that it’s all “stuff” mixed
together into mountainous piles dispersed
on all available tabletops, counters and
chairs, and strewn across floors and even
hallways.
Initiatives
In her decade-long experience at Charles E. Smith Life
Communities, Laurie Rudorfer,
LCSW-C observes that success
in treating compulsive hoarding is possible when the person with the disorder willingly
not taken care of well,” writes Dr.
accepts ongoing help from a
Social Worker Laurie
Frost, “and if it’s left to sit around
Rudorfer works with
team of specially-trained prolong enough, will sustain damage
hoarders.
fessionals who can sort
and be rendered useless.”
through possessions, clean and reorganize their
The question is why
living space. That willingness is absent more
Dr. Steketee, a dean and professor at
often than not, but if it can be established,
Boston University School of Social Work,
rewarding results may be realized.
says “the hallmark of hoarding behavior is
Mrs. Rudorfer shares an example of
not being able to let go of things.” One
success in overcoming clutter: one resident
commonly stated reason is to avoid waste;
who agreed to outside assistance is now happy
someone someday might be able to use it.
to see her possessions neatly displayed and
Other rationales include the need to retain
accessible on new shelving units; likewise,
information or to keep something because
the family is relieved to see their relative able
of emotional sentiment. Sometimes, just
to navigate her apartment safely with no
“liking the way something looks or feels”
danger of tripping.
is the only explanation.
Mrs. Rudorfer earned her social work
Is there a treatment?
degree from Washington University.
“If you are a caregiver of someone with a
hoarding problem, please remember that
hoarding is big. It is bigger than you, it
is bigger than your loved one,” advises
Dr. Frost.
Psychotherapy (Cognitive Behavioral
Therapy) and/or medication may help
some people if they can be convinced of
the need for treatment. Unfortunately,
objection and denial are the usual antagonistic response to any suggestion that a
problem even exists. ■
Perspectives
“When people collect things, they typically
organize them in a pretty systematic fashion —
and that doesn't happen in hoarding. The other
thing is, when people collect things, they typically
want to display them to other people. Hoarders
want to keep things hidden because of the
shame they have.”
— Dr. Randy O. Frost
“Whatever is hoarded, however, is usually
Page 4 | June 2011
www.smithlifecommunities.org
LifeTimes
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Builders of the Future Society Luncheon
Nationally-known guest speaker Jonathan Ackerman, JD, LLM, will speak about
“TOP ESTATE AND GIFT PLANNING TIPS FOR 2011 – 2012”
June 7, 11:30 a.m., at Ring House, 1801 East Jefferson Street, Rockville
There is no charge for this event.
RSVP at 301.770.8342 or [email protected].
Builders are individuals who are leaving a legacy gift to the Hebrew Home.
Robinson H2YP Youth Philanthropy
Program awards four grants
EventMakers
Audrey and Marc
Solomon, shown here
with their daughter
Morgan at the recent
annual meeting, are
chairing the $30 million
Centennial Campaign.
We congratulate and
thank all of the donors
who have made
generous contributions
to date.
Centennial campaign passes $24 million
In December, 2010, we publically announced our $30 million
Centennial Campaign. This support is needed and appreciated
more than ever, as we face the challenges of a difficult economy,
government reimbursement shortfalls, rising costs, facilities renovations and an increased need for charity care.
We are pleased to announce that through the leadership of
Audrey and Marc Solomon, campaign co-chairs, $24.4 million has
been raised to date.
Our Centennial Campaign lays the foundation for our second
century with this ambitious goal to:
• Fund capital and programmatic initiatives and provide for
new construction and improved facilities
• Strengthen our endowment for the future
• Provide unrestricted funds to meet the growing need for
charity care
Dedication opportunities are available for all gifts of $10,000+.
Please help us bring our plans to life by contacting Susan Moatz,
Centennial Campaign director at 301.816.7746. ■
Aunt Minnie Luncheon
Honoree Judy Garner, with her
daughter Stacey and granddaughter Sarah, the youngest luncheon
attendee. Fitness guru Dr. Pamela
Peeke spoke at the May 23 event,
and Judy and Don Garner, 2011
recipients of the Aunt Minnie
Goldsmith Award, were honored
for their outstanding service to the
community through the Hebrew
Home, American Kidney Fund
and Hadassah. Luncheon Chair
was Paula Robinson.
LifeTimes
“H2YP meetings have allowed us to step back from our
daily, somewhat self-centered lives… and focus on the needs of
others,” said student Deborah Gross at closing ceremonies for
this year’s Harold and Shirley Robinson H2YP Youth Philanthropy
Program in May. This innovative program, led by Rabbi Sarah
Meytin, gives students the opportunity to act as a foundation
board, listening to proposed programs and coming to a consensus
on how charitable dollars should be allocated.
This year, the 14 participants funded four grants that will
benefit the residents living on our campus. They selected a
Recreation Therapy Park Naturalist program, a program to
provide reading materials in foreign languages for non-English
speaking residents, a blood pressure arm and amplifier for staff
training and new computers and adjustable tables for residents.
Students donated a total of $3,750, and these funds were
enhanced by a generous donation from Bruce and Paula
Robinson who established an endowment in memory of
Bruce’s parents to provide annual support to this program.
The next session of H2YP begins January 2012. For more
information or to recommend a local student, contact Lisa
Friedman at 301.770.8328 or [email protected]. ■
Joey Springer, a Russianspeaking volunteer, presents
Patty Hagen, director of
recreation therapy, a grant
to purchase foreign-language
publications. Residents of the
Home speak 19 languages.
Danielle Fisher, Stephanie Gans and
Allyson Meltzer present a grant to purchase a blood pressure simulator and
amplifier for staff training. They are
pictured with the geri-mannikin funded
by the 2010 Youth Philanthropy group.
2011 H2YP participants:
Jack Copeland – Bullis School
Matt Feldman – Winston Churchill
Rebecca Feldman – Winston Churchill
Danielle Fisher – Winston Churchill
Stephanie Gans – Thomas S. Wootton
Deborah Gross- Richard Montgomery
Andrew Held – Winston Churchill
www.smithlifecommunities.org
Allyson Meltzer – Thomas S. Wootton
Michelle Pargament – Winston Churchill
Brandon Robinson- McLean School
Andrew Ross – Walt Whitman
Michelle Sandler – McLean School
Matthew Smagin – George C. Marshall
Joseph Springer- Sherwood
June 2011 | Page 5
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J U N E 2 0 1 1 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N
Bring the summer season into the room
of a Hebrew Home resident with a colorful
IT MAY BE USED…
BUT IT’S NOT USELESS!
Consider donating your car to the Hebrew Home. Proceeds
benefit our elderly residents. It’s an easy, tax-deductible gift…
and we offer FREE towing. For more information,
arrangement of flowers. Flowers brighten Shabbat
and other special occasions. For information or
to place an order, contact the Hebrew Home’s
Volunteer Department at 301.770.8333 or
online at www.hebrew-home.org/family.
please contact us at
301.770.8329.
News from
Persistence = Rehab Success
What you don’t know about the Hebrew Home
and Charles E. Smith Life Communities
might surprise you.
1037 people
When Lewis Francis, 82, arrived at our Rakusin
Rehabilitation Center from the hospital after suffering a stroke, he couldn’t walk, raise his arms
came to our
or speak. Just one month later, his recovery is
rehab center
We help train the next
nothing short of phenomenal.
last year.
generation of eldercare
Sherri Jarrell, a speech and language patholoprofessionals
in nursing,
gist who works with Mr. Francis five days a week,
pharmacy, social work, health
explains that initially her patient’s memory, problem-solving
information, infection control
and word retrieval skills were impaired, one side of his face
and more through affiliations
drooped, and a swallowing disability limited him to pureed food
with the University of
and thickened liquids. Today, he can converse and articulate
Maryland, Johns Hopkins
his thoughts clearly, he is back to a regular diet, and his facial
University, Montgomery
muscles are nearly restored to normal.
College and Howard
The physical recovery has been equally impressive. According
Community College.
to physical therapist Amy Bohnsack, Mr. Francis has gone from
almost total incapacitation to being able to walk 150 feet with
We employ
moderate assistance as his strength, trunk control and cardiovascular
more than
endurance have progressed dramatically. Moreover, he happily
1,000 people
demonstrates how he can lift his arms victoriously above his head.
on our campus,
Commenting on the warm and attentive care he has received
who spend a
from his therapists, Mr. Francis says, “They put their utmost into
$38 million payroll
their work; they really extended themselves every single day.
patronizing businesses
in our own
When I would get down, they’d pick me up and encourage me to
communities.
do even better. I’m so thankful for them.” ■
Lewis Francis, center,
exceeded major recovery goals at Rakusin
Rehabilitation thanks
to his therapists Sherri
Jarrell and Amy
Bohnsack.
We have
the capability
to become a
community shelter
in case of
natural disaster.
Senior programs
from Potomac, the Jewish
Community Center and
Leisure World meet
and eat here.
This is especially
important in light of
budget cuts to
senior programs.
We provide
approximately
$75,000 in tuition
reimbursement to staff
and scholarship awards
to their children to promote
learning and career
advancement.
We care:
$ 2.7 million in
charity care provided
on our campus;
349 apartments
available with subsidies.
We recycle,
and we take a
“green” approach
to laundry, washing
close to 2 million
pounds each year.
See What’s Springing up at Revitz
Affordable senior independent living is now available at Revitz
House with monthly costs starting at just $1,054, based on income
level. Revitz House is unique in its price range for the wide array of
services it provides — evening meals, utilities, scheduled bus transportation to shopping and outings, social work services, a personal
emergency response system, and a full schedule of programs. Don’t
miss out; call 301.770.8450 for more information. ■
Page 6 | June 2011
We prepare
30,253
meals-on-wheels
for delivery to
home-bound
seniors.
www.smithlifecommunities.org
We find
meaningful roles
for 50
special-needs
volunteers.
You can find us
on Facebook,
Twitter, and
LinkedIn!
LifeTimes
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J U N E 2 0 1 1 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N
Kudos
Scott Globerman, bus transportation coordinator
on our campus for 26 years, received the Laurel
Lions Club Volunteer Award for outstanding
emergency medical services work. “In Scott’s
almost 30 years with the Prince George’s County
Volunteer System, he exemplifies excellent volunteer EMS care,” said Mark Arsenault, president
and chief of the Rescue Squad. We are proud to
have someone of Scott’s caliber behind the wheel
of our Ring House bus.
Daniel Bakhadj, a Richard Montgomery High
School student, drops by whenever possible to
assist our residents. It’s rewarding for him and
deeply appreciated by the folks he helps.
Explore volunteer options
on our campus at
301.770.8332.
David Braun, of the SmithKogod Residence, has the
important job of “sandek” at
his grandson Zachary’s
bris. Valerie Kugler, mother
of the adorable newborn,
expressed gratitude to the
Hebrew Home for accommodating their family and
friends for this beautiful
and meaningful religious
event.
Beatrice Miller, a
Landow House
resident, reads to
nursery school
students in an
intergenerational
program.
Is “happy hour” just for the TGIF set? No way!
At tables colorfully decked out with checked linens, glittering votives
and wineglasses, with music setting such a festive tone that some folks
began to dance, long-term residents helped themselves to hors d’ouvres
— savory spanakopita, mini-quiches, Nova and cream cheese on cucumbers, sliced pizza — while sipping on cold beer, wine and sangria.
Food Service Directors Dave Parker and Lynford Wilson, with the
support of the Dietary, Medical, Activities and Social Work Departments,
orchestrated two robust Happy Hours for our seniors. One thing they did
not need to worry about: no one needed to be carded. ■
Flamenco dancers put on a lively Cinco de
Mayo performance for residents.
Write. Paint. Shoot. Create. Dream. Cheer!
From Nancy Goldberg’s intergenerational art class at Landow House,
which included creating an original
story based on butterflies the kids
designed, to digital photography classes at Ring House, to a memoir writers’
group, opportunities abound for creative expression.
Two Ring House residents in
Deborah Rittenhouse’s writers’ group,
Gert Wanerman and Sylvia Cherrick,
submitted short essays to the Bethesda
Literary Festival Essay and Short Story
Contest and were pleased to have
received hand-lettered certificates.
“Our two residents hadn’t really written much in their 90-year lives, and
I was so proud that they had the
courage to submit their work to a
competition,” said Deborah.
LifeTimes
In another collaborative effort,
Ring House has aligned with the
Montgomery County Infants and
Toddlers Program and
Special Olympics of
Montgomery County.
Rose Grossman is
one of five Ring
volunteers who help
with a Young Athletes
program for children
ages 2-5. The activities
involve simple play
such as ball tosses,
an obstacle course,
throwing a ball through a hoop, but
the energy required to help the families involved provides good fitness
work-outs for everybody. For two
hours every Tuesday, Ring volunteers
Ring House writers: (seated) Sylvia Cherrick,
Gert Wanerman, (standing) Esther Feldblum,
Jerry Norris and Shirley Rosenberg.
Volunteer Rose Grossman (left).
take on the role of cheerleaders, sharing encouraging words, clapping, and
singing songs with the athletes and
families. ■
www.smithlifecommunities.org
June 2011 | Page 7
38
J U N E 2 0 1 1 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N
Lessons of 100 Lifetimes
Save the dates
Lessons of 100 Lifetimes, Wisdom to Guide the
Next Generation, published as part of the
Hebrew Home’s centennial celebration, has
received a gold award from The Aster Awards.
The competition recognizes outstanding
healthcare communication and drew 3,000
entries from the U.S., Canada and South
America. The colorful book shares residents’
advice culled from an intergenerational volunteer project, “Lessons of a Lifetime: The
Ethical Wills Project” and is illustrated with
engaging drawings by children. Read it on
One centennial celebration publication,
www.hebrew-home.org.
Lessons of 100 Lifetimes, has won a gold
The ethical wills project which provided the
award in health care communication.
text for the award-winning book has deeply affected
the lives of its student volunteers. Joshua Stanton
credits this volunteer experience with guiding his
career choice as a reform rabbi. Clips about Josh
can be found at www.whatsyourcalling.org and
on the Huffington Post at www.huffington
post.com/joshua-stanton. Volunteer Andy Siegel
recently attended a resident’s funeral and shared
the resident’s ethical will with the family. “It was so
extraordinary being part of something that gave the
family so much comfort in one of the worst times
in their lives. If only everyone could feel the way
I felt, and see what I saw, everyone would want to
be a part of this project,” Andy said. ■
Andy Siegel and Joshua Stanton
June 7
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✓ check 49705.
Support the Hebrew Home through your gift to United Way ■
December 7
Starlight 2011
Save the date
An interactive online version of the newly published annual report,
A Blueprint for Our Second Century of Caring is on our website
at www.hebrew-home.org. Four residents of Revitz House modeled for
the publication, Miriam Rosen, Sid Levy, Homer LeBorwit (who is
featured on page 1), and Shirley Klavan.
Photo by Randy Sager
Our Other Special Events
First Sunday of each month
beginning September 7
Jewish War Veterans,
Greenberg-Lerner Post 692
10:30 am, Ring House
Veterans and interested
persons welcome
For more information about community
events, resident programs and family
support groups, visit www.hebrew-home.org
and www.smithlifecommunities.org
How to reach us...
■
■
Hebrew Home
301.770.8476, Rehab
301.770.8450, Long Term
www.hebrew-home.org
Revitz House
301.881.7400
www.revitzhouse.org
Page 8 | June 2011
■
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Hirsh Health Center
301.816.5004
Ring House
301.816.5012
www.ringhouse.org
■
■
Landow House
301.816.5050
www.landowhouse.org
Volunteer Programs
301.770.8333
www.smithlifecommunities.org
LifeTimes