Hebrew SeniorLife

I couldn’t disagree more with the previous reviewers. My experiences with Hebrew SeniorLife have been in direct contradiction. Twenty years ago, my grandfather was in their rehab and nursing wings. His life was shortened as a result of the abuse he suffered. I have since seen, with the elderly parents of friends, more examples of the pattern of abuse, neglect and overall incompetence that characterizes the organization. HSL is an extremely affluent and well-​endowed nonprofit, and its management consists entirely of career bureaucrats who do little more than sit around collecting inflated salaries and waiting for their generous retirement packages to kick in.
In recent years, due to disability, I have tragically found myself a resident in one of Hebrew SeniorLife’s senior/​disabled apartment buildings. They have been the most bitter and miserable years of my life. I have also been subjected to a program of apathy and abuse, and my health has suffered dramatically as a result. I have recently begun to blog about my experiences:
If you love your elderly parent or disabled relative, DO NOT place him or her in a Hebrew SeniorLife facility.

My father was transported here after a 3 week stay at Beth Israel. He had a bone infection and, as a result, was bed ridden. A few weeks in the bed lead to some muscle atrophy and as a result, my father had to come here to rebuild strength in his legs and back.
The short of the long is: This place was great! They provided wonderful care for my father. They provide an hour each day of both Physical and Occupational Therapy. They pushed my father and encouraged him to become independent once again.
A wonderful transition from the hospital, this place allowed for my dad to go to (partially stocked) kitchen to get juice and practice other skills he would need at home. It wasn’t a burden to be here because the amenities for patients and their families are wonderful.
One thing to note: If you’re considering a private room, note that the bathroom is shared and only consists of a toilet. (We paid for a private room, but were unaware the bathroom was shared.)
The staff here is wonderful and the nurses and aides are truly kind and caring people. I definitely recommend this facility!

My mother was at Hebrew Senior Life for roughly five years as she slowly deteriorated from Lewy Body Disease. She spent the first 2 ½ years in the Roslindale facility and then the next 2 ½ years in what was then the Dedham facility, in both cases, in skilled nursing units. Having just watched the PBS Frontline expose of Emeritus, a national chain of assisted and skilled nursing facilities (see
), I felt compelled to publicly give accolades to Hebrew Senior Life.
The care that my mother received over the course of five years at Hebrew Senior Life was extraordinary. First, the people that they hired really cared about the residents. There were very few employees there who seemed to be there merely to collect a paycheck. They often went the extra step for a resident, whatever that may have called for.
Second, the employees were very well trained. My mother’s disease resulted in a certain form of dementia that could come and go day by day; it would hijack my mother’s brain one day and then return it to her the next. It was the employees who would call me to tell me that my mother was having a lucid day and that I might want to come over that day. The employees understood the diseases and symptomatology of the diseases of all the residents for whom they were providing care, and they were empathetic in most cases, even when it was the resident engaged in challenging behavior.
Third, the facility was kept very clean. In spite of my mother being on a dementia unit, you never smelled urine, you never smelled anything but what was being served for the next meal. That was quite a feat.
Fourth, there were constant activities for anyone who could participate in any way. Children would come over with some frequency from the nearby school. Vocalists, instrumentalists, and others would come so that there was something happening on most weekday days.
We could have paid for any skilled nursing facility. When my father had a massive stroke, we had him in one expensive facility (what was then Avery in Needham, Golden Living Center — Healthwood) after another — and they were terrible. I wish only that I had placed him in Hebrew Senior Life while he was still alive.
I do really believe that you can feel you are making an excellent choice if you place a relative who needs this type of care in Hebrew Senior Life.