Hebrew SeniorLife

02/24/2026

🏡 Touring a living community for older adults? Whether you're exploring options for yourself or a loved one, it helps to come prepared.

Our team at Orchard Cove — including Senior Sales Counselor David Calnan and Retirement Counselor Sandra Spring — put together a guide of 50 questions to ask on your visits. From care levels and safety features to dining, finances, and community culture, these questions will help you feel confident and informed as you make this important decision.

✅ Download the free checklist and read the full blog post to get started ➡️ https://bit.ly/3Owd5mJ

02/23/2026

We're thrilled to share that Orchard Cove resident Rosalie Julian is making headlines — and melting hearts — as Boston's rising feel-good influencer at age 95! 🌟

Featured in The Boston Globe, Rosalie has captured a massive online following through her daughter Suzanne Schineller's Instagram account, , where videos of Rosalie showering love on golden retrievers Risky and Peach have gone viral — with one video alone attracting 173,000 likes.

Viewers around the world — from Portugal to Australia to Canada — have been drawn to Rosalie's warmth, her signature Boston accent, and the way she calls the pups "darling" and "sweetheart." As one commenter wrote, her presence alone could brighten anyone's day.

Rosalie's story is a beautiful reminder that connection, joy, and the ability to touch lives know no age limit — values we celebrate every day across our Hebrew SeniorLife communities.

📰 Read the full story in the Globe ➡️ https://bit.ly/4rxy6Ml

Rosalie Julian has gone viral for videos with her golden retriever "grandchildren," Risky and Peach.

02/20/2026

Nominations for The Boston Globe’s 2026 Salute to Nurses are being accepted now through February 27. Since 2003, this annual tribute has recognized thousands of nurses and caregivers for the immeasurable impact they have made on those they care for.

Did a Hebrew SeniorLife nurse or caregiver go above and beyond for you or your loved one this past year? Make sure their efforts are recognized!

Please visit globe.com/nurses to submit your nomination.

02/19/2026

Newly approved medications are offering hope to individuals and families facing Alzheimer’s disease.

In 2023 and 2024, the FDA granted full approval to two disease-modifying therapies — lecanemab (Leqembi) and donanemab (Kisunla) — shown in large clinical trials to slow the progression of early, symptomatic Alzheimer’s disease by about 30%. While these treatments are not a cure, they represent an important step forward in changing the trajectory of care.

In our latest blog post, Alvaro Pascual-Leone, MD, PhD, senior scientist at Hebrew SeniorLife's Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research and medical director of the Deanna and Sidney Wolk Center for Memory Health, answers common questions about:

✔️ Who may be eligible
✔️ What benefits to realistically expect
✔️ Potential risks and side effects
✔️ Medicare coverage and cost
✔️ Why early diagnosis is critical

“We are at a true inflection point in the fight against this disease,” writes Dr. Pascual-Leone. “These are extremely important findings for treating Alzheimer’s.”

Learn more ➡️ https://bit.ly/3MCslhh

02/18/2026

🌙 Ramadan Mubarak from Hebrew SeniorLife 🌙

As Ramadan begins, we extend warm wishes to all who are observing this sacred month of reflection, prayer, and community.

Ramadan is a time of spiritual renewal, generosity, and compassion — values that resonate deeply in the work we do every day to support older adults and their families. We honor the meaning this month holds for our residents, patients, staff, and community members who are fasting and gathering with loved ones, and we recognize the importance of creating spaces where people of all faiths and traditions feel respected, supported, and seen.

May this Ramadan bring peace, strength, and blessings to all who celebrate.

02/17/2026

Happy Lunar New Year! 🎊 Wishing a joyful and prosperous Year of the Horse to all who celebrate.

Residents at Hebrew Rehabilitation Center – Boston recently marked the occasion with a wonderful performance by the Happy Garden group, featuring ribbon, fan, and umbrella dances, Tai Chi demonstrations, and traditional Chinese songs performed in colorful costumes. The group's name reflects the idea that, like flowers in a garden, every person is special and brings unique characteristics to the performance.

02/16/2026

Today is Presidents' Day, a time to honor the courage, vision, and leadership of the presidents who have shaped our nation's history. Originally established to celebrate the February birthdays of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, this holiday reminds us of the enduring values of service, integrity, and commitment to the common good.

At Hebrew SeniorLife, we're proud to foster a community where residents and community members stay informed, curious, and engaged in civic life. From thought-provoking lectures on history and politics to lively discussions across our campuses, our communities provide enriching opportunities to explore the leaders and events that have shaped our country.
We wish everyone a meaningful Presidents' Day! 🇺🇸

02/13/2026

When a loved one is living with dementia, finding the right support can make all the difference.

After moving to Massachusetts, one family member shared how grateful she was to find the Deanna and Sidney Wolk Center for Memory Health at Hebrew SeniorLife — a place where every professional is “thoughtful, empathic, humanistic,” and deeply knowledgeable about dementia and its challenges.

She describes care that goes beyond appointments: ongoing support that helps families face difficult realities, make hard decisions, and feel truly seen as individuals. “You feel valued, held, understood, safe, and hopeful,” she shared. “That in itself is an incredible gift.”

The Wolk Center brings together expert clinical care with compassion, respect, and partnership — offering a rare environment of trust and understanding for people living with memory loss and those who love them.

👉 Learn more about the Wolk Center for Memory Health and how it supports individuals and families navigating dementia: https://bit.ly/3MmZydd

02/12/2026

A new study published in The Lancet Healthy Longevity suggests that older adults hospitalized with delirium may experience better outcomes when treated with trazodone — a medication commonly used for depression and sleep problems — rather than antipsychotic medications.

🔍 Key Findings

🧪 Patients treated with trazodone had a lower risk of death and were less likely to be rehospitalized than those who received antipsychotic drugs.

✅ The study did not find meaningful differences between the two groups in rates of falls or fractures — a significant concern for older adults taking sedating medications.

📊 Researchers analyzed nationwide health data from adults aged 65 and older and used an advanced analytical approach known as target trial emulation to strengthen confidence in their results.

"The lower risk of rehospitalization among patients treated with trazodone may be related to fewer hospital admissions for delirium and urinary tract infections," said Dae Hyun Kim, MD, MPH, ScD, associate director and senior scientist at Hebrew SeniorLife's Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research.

Learn more ➡️

Nationwide study finds lower risk of death and rehospitalization among older adults treated with trazodone after hospital admission.

02/11/2026

At Center Communities of Brookline, like at all our Hebrew SeniorLife communities, maintaining physical fitness is a priority. Our state-of-the-art fitness center offers supervised exercise programs seven days a week, including progressive strength, flexibility, and cardiovascular training, as well as group exercise classes such as tai chi, yoga, Zumba, and more.

Resident Bob Boyd has experienced the benefits firsthand. Since moving to Center Communities of Brookline, Bob exercises three times a week with Health and Fitness Specialist Yulia Fein — and the results speak for themselves.

"I feel terrific. I feel better than I have in a long time, no aches or pains, and mentally feeling good," Bob says. "Yulia does such a good job, and she is very supportive. I have really improved my overall health since moving here."

But the benefits go beyond physical health. Bob has also found a welcoming community. "I feel pretty connected to folks and have made some new friends. The camaraderie is terrific, and I am so happy I am here."

Ready to learn more about life at Center Communities of Brookline? Visit us https://bit.ly/40aCOU5

02/10/2026

Anxiety can show up at any stage of life — and for older adults, changes in health, independence, or daily routines can bring new or unexpected worry.

The good news? Anxiety is treatable at any age.

In our latest blog post, Hebrew SeniorLife experts share how anxiety may look different in older adults, why it's often overlooked, and how to find the right support. Learn more ➡️ https://bit.ly/4aoAe1M

02/09/2026

🧠 MSNBC recently covered a landmark study published in Nature Communications that explores why memory declines with age — even in healthy adults.

The research analyzed more than 10,000 brain scans and 13,000 memory assessments and found that age-related memory loss reflects widespread structural changes across the brain that accumulate over decades.

"Cognitive decline and memory loss are not simply the consequence of aging, but manifestations of individual predispositions and age-related processes enabling neurodegenerative processes and diseases," said Alvaro Pascual-Leone, MD, PhD, senior scientist at Hebrew SeniorLife's Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research, medical director of the Deanna and Sidney Wolk Center for Memory Health, and one of the study's researchers.

The findings offer new hope for early, personalized interventions to support cognitive health.

Read the MSNBC coverage ➡️ https://bit.ly/4assITx