Hebrew SeniorLife Earns 2025 WorkWell MA Honorable Mention for Employee Well-Being

Hebrew SeniorLife, a Harvard Medical School-affiliated nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming the aging experience, has been recognized by the Worksite Wellness Council of Massachusetts with a 2025 WorkWell MA Honorable Mention in the mid-sized organization category.

The award celebrates Hebrew SeniorLife’s outstanding leadership and innovative initiatives in advancing employee health and well-being. It honors the organization for setting a standard for creating a supportive and healthy workplace by fostering a culture where wellness can thrive.

“We are proud to be recognized for our commitment to the well-being of our employees,” said Dawn Damiano, program director of employee wellness at Hebrew SeniorLife. “Our staff are the heart of everything we do, and this award highlights our ongoing efforts to provide programs and resources that support their health, happiness, and success.”

Among the Hebrew SeniorLife programs honored is its Code Lavender service. Recognizing the emotional and physical demands of the workplace, Code Lavender serves as a response system for caregivers needing short-term psychological support or a moment of respite.

Code Lavender is activated when an individual or a team experiences a particularly stressful event, such as losing a patient or participating in a high-tension emergency. Code Lavender is a holistic care huddle that provides immediate, on-site support to those affected, offering resources to help manage the acute stress and emotional toll such events can take. The initiative employs a “mobile zen” cart brought to the unit, equipped with items designed to provide comfort and stress relief — such as hot drinks, music, snacks, aromatherapy, and other supportive materials.

The program is designed to be reactive and preventive, fostering a workplace culture that openly acknowledges the impact of stress and burnout in health care settings. By encouraging staff to step away from the intensity of their duties and partake in a collective moment of healing, Code Lavender reinforces Hebrew SeniorLife’s commitment to nurturing a supportive and compassionate work environment. 

This initiative underscores Hebrew SeniorLife’s holistic approach to health care that prioritizes both patient health and caregiver well-being. Another component is the follow-up service, differentiating Hebrew SeniorLife’s program from other Code Lavender efforts. The team follows up within two to three days after the initial response and then again two to three weeks after that, and two to three months after that to ensure that the acute symptoms of the traumatic event do not become chronic.

Award recipients, including Hebrew SeniorLife, will be celebrated during ceremonies at the 2025 WorkWell MA Awards Symposium on November 4, 2025.

About the Worksite Wellness Council of Massachusetts
The Worksite Wellness Council of Massachusetts is the preeminent resource for employers committed to creating supportive environments for employee well-being. Through recognition, education, and collaboration, WWCMA empowers organizations to implement impactful wellness programs that foster healthier and more productive workplaces.

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. Hebrew SeniorLife cares for more than 4,500 seniors a day across seven campuses throughout Greater Boston. Locations include: Hebrew Rehabilitation Center-Boston and Hebrew Rehabilitation Center-NewBridge in Dedham; NewBridge on the Charles, Dedham; Orchard Cove, Canton; Simon C. Fireman Community, Randolph; Center Communities of Brookline, Brookline; Jack Satter House, Revere; and Leyland Community, Dorchester. Founded in 1903, Hebrew SeniorLife also conducts influential research into aging at the Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research, which has a portfolio of more than $98 million, making it one of the largest gerontological research facilities in the U.S. in a clinical setting. It also trains more than 500 geriatric care providers each year. For more information about Hebrew SeniorLife, follow us on our blog, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and LinkedIn.