Jewish Home Lifecare :: Caring as individual as you

Insight for Trustees March 2010 Grateful Family: A Letter from the Heart

s you know, we receive many letters of compliment from grateful clients, and their family and friends, regarding the care that is received at our nursing homes and in our Community Services programs.

Insight for Trustees March 2010 Grateful Family: A Letter from the Heart

As you know, we receive many letters of compliment from grateful clients, and their family and friends, regarding the care that is received at our nursing homes and in our Community Services programs.  Some of these letters are so extraordinary in the way the portray our programs and services, and most importantly, the care and dedication of our staff, that I am compelled to highlight them in this update.  Rather than bundle these and send large packets twice a year, I thought I would include the most special letter in these updates.  This month, a letter from the Bronx Division…

February 23, 2010

Dear Ms. Weiner:

Our beautiful mother went home to God on February 3″ in the Bronx Division of the Jewish Home Life Care. My mother, an immigrant to this country many years ago, had six (6) children who adored her and were there for her as her journey entered into the final stages of her life on earth. This May 5th she would have been 102 years old.  Her husband Patrick passed away on February 16, 1985, so we had her for 25 wonderful/additional years.  There are so many things to say – I was the daughter who handled my mother’s affairs – along with my brother.

She was admitted on June 12, 2009 to the rehab section (third floor) and from there went to 8G (Greenwald) where she was under Dr. Tummala’s care.  It is not always the clinicians who provide the total care.

Joyce, an Administrative Assistant on the 3″ floor was a gift from God.  My mother, being away from her usual home environment, was agitated and full of fear, and was not an easy patient early on.  Joyce took a special interest, got her coloring books/crayons and had her near the desk “to work.”  This kind act was not forgotten as my mother literally would light up when she saw Joyce.  She always for some reason called her Rosalyn, but till the final days was extremely happy to see Joyce’s face, and it was apparent to all around her.

Marsha, the recreation therapist on the 3rd floor also went the extra mile with my mother as she included her in all her activities/programs and worked with her through her agitation/ stress and fear.  One time I gave my mother a magazine to read and Marsha stated to me “she already read that one” and got her another new one.  That says something to me.

Dr. Tummala was an outstanding physician who deeply cared about my mothers’ well being and comfort.  She was always hands on, very responsive to any need/question.  You had the sense my mother was special, as I am sure all her patients are to her.

Sandy Myers and Eileen Gibbons are two of the finest social workers I have been involved with.  I have had a VA career as an administrator and I have known many social workers not all of whom have the sense of dedication to the mission as Eileen and Sandy.  We had Eileen first (3rd floor and she transitioned us to Sandy on 8G).  I can state for certain we have no complaints/concerns – they were 100% present for our beautiful mother and for all of us.  Dr. Tummala and Sandy introduced me to the concept of comfort care (hospice) and the Visiting Nursing Service staff were extraordinary human beings who we met along the way.

The wonderful aide Maria was with my mother on February 2nd and took her down to a music therapy her last evening with us.

Nurse Thea from VNS is a credit to her profession and an outstanding example of compassion and commitment to patient care.

Althea the beautician on the first floor treated my mother each week like a china doll, perfect and pleasing.

My mother had a family member with her each and every day, my brother each morning and my sister every afternoon at 4:00 p.m.  Weekends were filled by my sister and the rest of us, visitors coming now and then.  We were and still are devastated at the loss of our mother, but we see the hand of God in her final eight months.  She was a life long Bronx resident.

A woman who loved her God and her Country, and her family was in her soul.

The Rabbi who performed Friday 2:00 p.m. services was also extremely competent and calm.  My mother had her rosary beads and we were wondering – early on – do we or don’t we participate in services.  The Rabbi made that question go away fast – she prayed over my mother and for my mother and with my mother.  As a matter of fact, we had a priest, minister and rabbi at her bedside the last day of her life, it would never get better than that.

I may have spelled the names wrong, I forget the beautiful Rabbi’s last name, but I wanted to share these thoughts with you.

Having survived many JCAHO audits/reviews with and for the United States Government

Department of Veterans Affairs, I know how much work/effort/commitment/loyalty go into the daily operations of the Bronx Division of Jewish Home Lifecare.  Please take a moment and thank everyone for us who stopped even to say “Hello, your hair looks good!”  My mother loved compliments.  Please ensure you reach out to those special staff who made my mother’s final months on earth peaceful and serene.