Hebrew SeniorLife announces $45,000 Grant from BNY Mellon

Grant will expand program offerings and give adult day health program participants access to outdoor space

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BOSTON — Hebrew SeniorLife (HSL), the largest provider of senior health care and communities in New England and an affiliate of Harvard Medical School, has received a $45,000 grant from BNY Mellon. The grant will support the Great Days for Seniors Adult Day Health Program at Hebrew Rehabilitation Center in Boston, an integral part of HSL. Currently the biggest gap in the program is a lack of access to the outdoors. This grant will help build a safe, secure, handicapped accessible outdoor patio and enhance the quality of programming for seniors enrolled in the program.

Since 1994 the Adult Day Health Program at Hebrew Rehabilitation Center (HRC) has provided key services to frail and elderly seniors living in communities throughout Greater Boston. Family caregivers who work and tend to other responsibilities outside of the home have looked to the Adult Day Health Program to provide nursing care and supervision for their elder family members. Long seen as providing a structured community setting and a place to be among peers, the program is seeing an increase in the number of seniors with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. Seniors who would otherwise be isolated at home are supported by health care professionals, including registered nurses, social workers and recreation specialists. Seniors enrolled at HRC’s Adult Day Health Program have access to a wide range of medical services including physical, occupational and speech therapy.

“Seniors who are isolated at home, particularly low-income seniors, are especially vulnerable to depression,” said Mary Moscato, President of Hebrew SeniorLife Health Care Services and Hebrew Rehabilitation Center. “This grant from BNY Mellon will allow us to provide more daily programming leading to improved physical and emotional health for seniors in our care.”

“Our new outside patio area will allow us to offer activities including gardening, outdoor exercises and outdoor dining options. This area will allow us to attract new participants and serve more seniors. We’re delighted to be able to enhance the quality of programming for our seniors throughout the day,” says Suzie Kaytis, Director of the Adult Day Health Programs at HRC.

In addition to the Adult Day Health Program at HRC in Boston, HSL also operates an Adult Day Health Program located at Jewish Community Housing for the Elderly in Brighton. The Brighton program serves Russian-speaking seniors who need physical assistance and social support to remain living at home. HRC’s Adult Day Health Programs serve approximately 50 seniors each day.

About Hebrew SeniorLife

Hebrew SeniorLife, an affiliate of Harvard Medical School, is a national senior services leader uniquely dedicated to rethinking, researching and redefining the possibilities of aging. Based in Boston, the non-profit, non-sectarian organization has provided communities and health care for seniors, research into aging, and education for geriatric care providers since 1903. For more information about Hebrew SeniorLife and Hebrew Rehabilitation Center, visit https://www.hebrewseniorlife.org, follow us on Twitter @H_SeniorLife, like us on Facebook or read our blog.