In keeping with its 100-year-old mission to service the larger aging community whether in-house at the Jewish Home at Rockleigh—Russ Berrie Home for Jewish Living and at the Jewish Home Assisted Living—Kaplen Family Senior Residence or through Jewish Home @ Home, Jewish Home family is always at the forefront of innovations in the care of the elderly. According to CEO Carol Silver Elliot, “We are on the lookout for disruptive innovation which changes the shape of the field so that we can prepare for the next generation and position ourselves as leaders in the field.”
To that end, Jewish Family Home and Noam Sokolow, owner of the well-established Noah’s Ark restaurant on Cedar Lane in Teaneck, will be partnering in an evening for couples which they are calling “The Sweet Memories Supper Club.” The evening is designed for couples who are living with one partner’s diagnosis of dementia. The hope is that the experience of dining out together at a lovely venue and partaking of a delicious menu in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere will trigger “sweet memories” for the pair. The dinner is planned for Thursday, March 17, at 4 p.m., a time, according to Sokolow, “when we can devote our attention to making the experience one of calmness and pleasure for the participants as the restaurant will be relatively quiet.”
The hope is that the first “supper club” will attract 12 couples with aides as needed. They will be seated at separate tables or in groups of four. Suitable background music will accompany the meal. The cost of the evening, which is being subsidized by the generosity of Sokolow and Noah’s Ark, is $36 per couple.
Jewish Family Home hopes that the evening will attract seniors within Bergen and Rockland Counties who are not necessarily participants in the services they provide through their facilities.
Currently Jewish Family offers extensive services to seniors experiencing all levels of dementia from simple cognitive impairment to more severe instances. The Jewish Home Assisted Living offers a unique unit called “Memory Lane” which cares for those with moderate dementia. It comprises a separate wing, with a park-like outdoor seating area. The unit offers increased staffing ratio and hands-on assistance with activities of daily living and medication management.
Jewish Home also offers services within the home for individuals with newly diagnosed and mid-stage dementia to help their families and caregivers deal with the new dynamics and challenges that arise. The overall goal of these services is to provide “safety at home,” according to Elliot.
When interviewed about the upcoming event, Elliot commented “At Jewish Home Family we are constantly looking for ways to improve the lives of older adults in our community. This is a need we know exists and we are thrilled to be partnering with Noah’s Ark for this special event. This is an opportunity for couples to enjoy life ‘the way it used to be’ in a setting that is designed for them and the support to assist them if necessary. We hope that this will be the beginning of an ongoing program that really gives these couples a night out and a memorable experience.”
As the program has a limited capacity, those interested should RSVP early by calling (201) 750-4238 or emailing [email protected].
By Pearl Markovitz
