Hebrew SeniorLife

07/24/2025

🎉 Congratulations to Shivani Sahni, PhD, on being named a Fellow of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research — a prestigious honor recognizing her outstanding contributions to bone and mineral science!

Dr. Sahni is a nutritional epidemiologist at the Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research at Hebrew SeniorLife, where she studies how diet affects bone strength, muscle mass, frailty, and other chronic conditions of aging. Her research has a direct impact on how nutrition to help older adults maintain independence and quality of life.

She directs the Nutrition Program and co-directs the Musculoskeletal Research Center at the Marcus Institute, and has held several leadership positions within ASBMR, including her current roles on the Nutrition Working Group and Membership and Engagement Committee.

👏🏽 This well-deserved recognition affirms the vital role of nutrition in aging research — and honors Dr. Sahni’s continued contributions to a healthier future for older adults.

📍She will be formally honored at the ASBMR’s Annual Meeting in Seattle this September.

📖 Learn more ➡️ https://bit.ly/4lHCk0W

07/23/2025

⛳ What a day! The 2025 Hebrew SeniorLife Golf Tournament teed off recently at the beautiful Belmont Country Club — and even a summer heat wave couldn’t keep our community from showing up in full support.

We were honored to recognize Hebrew SeniorLife trustee Jeff Winnick, who delivered a moving tribute reflecting on his family’s deep and personal connection to our mission, emphasizing how moved he is by the compassion that runs throughout all of Hebrew SeniorLife’s communities and programs.

Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, donors, and golfers, we’re thrilled to share that the tournament raised more than $225,000 to benefit Hebrew SeniorLife’s communities, health care, research, teaching, and education. 💙

🏌️‍♂️ Thank you to everyone who made this day a success — your support makes a lasting impact on the lives of older adults.

07/22/2025

🚨 Emergencies can strike without warning, but having a plan in place can bring peace of mind, especially for older adults and caregivers. Our latest blog shares simple but powerful steps you can take to stay safe during a crisis.

✅ Pack a go bag with essential supplies like medications, chargers, water, snacks, and hygiene items 🧳
✅ Include medical info such as allergies, medications, and a printed health summary 💊
✅ Organize important documents like IDs, insurance cards, advance directives, and contact lists 📄
✅ Plan for mobility and equipment needs, including backup wheelchairs, hearing aids, or breathing devices 🦽
✅ Prepare for your pets with food, water, and comfort items 🐾
✅ Assign backup support so you're not relying on just one person in a crisis 👥
✅ Practice your plan with everyone in your support network 🧭

Learn more 👉🏼 https://bit.ly/4o2TQyq

Learn what to include in your emergency kit and how to prepare for the unexpected.

07/21/2025

🎥 Why does temperature affect older adults differently — and what can we do about it?

In this timely episode of Sharon Helps, Dr. Amir Baniassadi of Hebrew SeniorLife’s Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research explains how aging impacts the body’s ability to regulate temperature — and why it matters for cognitive function, sleep quality, and daily health.

💡 Key takeaways from his research:
❄️🔥 Older adults have reduced ability to sense and respond to temperature changes
🧠 Home temps outside the 68-75°F range can lead to brain fog and impaired focus
😴 Disrupted sleep due to temperature affects both rest and memory
🕰️ Long-term exposure to poor thermal environments may contribute to cognitive decline over time

Dr. Baniassadi’s work fills a critical gap in research by focusing on how indoor climate affects older adults — a population that spends more time at home than any other age group.

📺 Watch now and learn how environmental health supports healthy aging 👉🏼 https://bit.ly/4kMFb7t

07/18/2025

We were honored to join the Massachusetts Hospital Association’s Workforce Summit, where collaboration took center stage in addressing our state’s most pressing health care workforce challenges. Tammy Retalic, EVP of Hebrew SeniorLife’s Lunder CareForce Institute, was proud to spotlight how we’re training and supporting the next generation of professionals in aging and health care — including those who face language, technology, or financial obstacles to pursuing education.

Together, we’re working toward a more inclusive and resilient workforce for Massachusetts. Thank you, MHA, for bringing so many leaders and changemakers together!

07/18/2025

A new study led by researchers at the Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research at Hebrew SeniorLife and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center found that wait times in emergency departments for older Americans have dramatically increased since 2017.

The study analyzed more than 12 million emergency department visits across 1,600 hospitals and found that the percentage of older patients whose length of stay exceeded eight hours increased from 12% in 2017 to 20% in 2024. In academic hospitals, prolonged stays reached 30% in 2024.

Additionally, delays of more than three hours between bed request and actual hospital admission increased from 22% to 36% over the same period.

The study also found that after small annual increases between 2017 and 2020, there was a sharp spike in delays during the COVID-19 pandemic, with only partial recovery through 2024.

"These findings highlight how emergency department overcrowding and boarding may harm the care of older adults, and underscores the urgency of implementing targeted policies to reduce emergency department length of stay and boarding," said Sarah Berry, MD, MPH, senior scientist at the Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research and division chief of gerontology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.

Learn more

Research letter published in JAMA Internal Medicine highlights worsening emergency care delays

07/16/2025

🎉 Congratulations to Brad Manor, PhD, on being named a Fellow of the Gerontological Society of America — the highest level of recognition from the world’s leading organization in aging research!

Dr. Manor is a senior scientist and director of the Mobility and Falls Program at the Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research, where he works to alleviate the burden of balance decline that often accompanies biological aging. This prestigious Fellowship status represents the highest category of membership within the organization and acknowledges exceptional and continuing work.

Dr. Manor received this honor for his outstanding contributions to interdisciplinary gerontology research in the fields of human balance and rehabilitative medicine, combining biomechanical assessments of human movement with advanced medical imaging, noninvasive brain stimulation, and nonlinear signal processing techniques.

This recognition celebrates his past achievements and reflects a continued commitment to advancing our understanding of aging and improving the quality of life for older adults.

📍 Dr. Manor will be formally honored at the GSA Annual Scientific Meeting in Boston this November.

Learn more 👉🏼 https://bit.ly/4lYnMtO

07/16/2025

🎉 On June 26, we celebrated the opening of 108 Centre Street — a brand-new addition to our Center Communities of Brookline campus that provides 54 one-bedroom apartments for older adults with service-enriched affordable housing.

Thank you to the many partners, public officials, and community members who helped bring this project to life. Resident Maureen Merner, the first to move in, said it best:
🗣 “Because of this building being affordable, [I’m not] just driving by another building saying, ‘boy, I wish I could age well in a place like that.’”

108 Centre Street residents have access to wellness programs, lifelong learning, fitness, spiritual care, service coordination, and more — all designed to help older adults thrive in the community.

Hebrew SeniorLife is proud to expand access to affordable senior housing — and we’re just getting started.

📖 Read the full press release:
https://bit.ly/4m3Oam5

🏠 Learn more about our affordable housing communities:
https://bit.ly/3GZEYzI

Center Communities of Brookline opens new one-bedroom apartment building at 108 Centre Street

07/15/2025

💊 GLP-1 medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro are making headlines for their impact on weight loss and diabetes — but what do older adults need to know before starting them?

In our latest blog, Hebrew SeniorLife geriatrician Dr. Matthew Shuster breaks down:

🔬 How these medications work
❤️‍🩹 Benefits beyond weight loss
⚠️ Risks and side effects specific to older adults
🥗 Why diet, exercise, and monitoring matter more than ever

GLP-1 drugs can be powerful, but for older adults, the key is a personalized, well-monitored approach. Read more from Dr. Shuster and learn how our outpatient nutrition therapy program can support your health goals.

Learn more 👉🏿

Learn about the health benefits and potential risks of these popular diabetes and weight loss medications.

07/14/2025

🌟 Introducing our Nurse of the Year, Klotilda Xhuti, RN, and Certified Nursing Assistant of the Year, Jean Regis, CNA!

Klotilda provides exceptional care at Hebrew Rehabilitation Center in Boston, while Jean brings compassion and dedication to patients at NewBridge on the Charles in Dedham.

Both were honored at this year’s Hebrew SeniorLife Achievements in Nursing Excellence event. The celebration also spotlighted four outstanding nursing team members who shared their inspiring career journeys and experiences with Hebrew SeniorLife’s education and training opportunities:

👨🏾‍⚕️ Daniel Anisfeld, patient care associate, spoke about his career path and the training and education programs offered by Hebrew SeniorLife

🌏 Satish Sapkota, patient care associate, shared his story of pursuing his lifelong dream of becoming a nurse after growing up in Nepal where legal restrictions prevented men from entering the Senior Assisted Living Professionals

👩🏾‍⚕️ Teodora Padure, RN, staff nurse, spoke about her career path and the training and education programs offered by Hebrew SeniorLife

🎓 Anne O’Brien, MSN, RN, educational specialist, spoke about her experience pursuing a master’s degree in Clinical Nurse Leadership at Regis College, supported by Hebrew SeniorLife scholarships

Hebrew SeniorLife proudly supports nursing career development through training programs and financial assistance — from CNA certification to graduate education.

👏 Congratulations to all our honorees for the outstanding work you do every day!

Learn more 👉🏼

Achievements in Nursing Excellence event spotlights important role of nurses on care team.

07/11/2025

From fireworks to festive desserts, the Fourth of July was full of fun at Hebrew Rehabilitation Center - Roslindale!

🎆 Patients celebrated with patriotic bingo, a red, white, and blue shortcake dessert, and a special concert by Lenny Weiner and his wife. That evening, everyone enjoyed watching fireworks on TV while wearing festive beads and waving mini flags provided by staff.

🎤 The celebration continued the next day with a high-energy performance by Linda Calise. Her concert of patriotic classics had both staff and patients clapping, dancing, and singing along!

Thank you to everyone who helped bring the spirit of Independence Day to life for our community!

07/10/2025

We’re thrilled to share that Hebrew Rehabilitation Center in Boston and Hebrew Rehabilitation Center at NewBridge in the Charles in Dedham have been recognized by the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL).

This national award honors our commitment to continuous improvement in quality care for our patients. Both campuses received the Bronze Award, which is the first step in a rigorous three-level process based on nationally recognized standards for organizational excellence. It helps us achieve superior performance to improve the quality of life and care for long-term care patients.

"Receiving the AHCA's Bronze Award is a significant and meaningful recognition because you have to meet a detailed and rigorous series of criteria," said LuAnn Fitzgerald, PT, JD, LNHA, senior director of quality, safety, and regulatory affairs at Hebrew Rehabilitation Center. "The credit for this achievement goes to the dedication and professionalism of our staff and caregivers."

This recognition comes alongside other recent honors, including our communities being rated "Best" for 2025 by U.S. News & World Report and recognition of our outpatient primary care clinics and the Deanna and Sidney Wolk Center for Memory Health as Age-Friendly Health Systems by The Institute for Healthcare Improvement.

Learn more 👉🏼

National award signifies a formal commitment to continuous improvement in quality care.