The data is solid: the rise in the 60+ age group is happening now and will continue to increase dramatically. We will be overwhelmed by the number of seniors needing support—financial and physical. What hasn’t followed is a “call to arms” to aggressively plan to handle this demographic tsunami. JCHE takes seriously our role in combating this apathy.
Read more … What Will It Take?
I recently attended a “cultural café” whereby our Chinese residents shared their cultural heritage with all our residents. For over a month, a group of Chinese residents have been planning ways to meaningfully expose the traditions that are part of their lives. They succeeded both in enlightening all of us about the many facets of Chinese culture and in generating appreciation for the beauty of the music, dance and art of China.
Read more … JCHE's multicultural event brings neighbors together to share customs and celebrate
So our beloved Patriots did not win the Super Bowl this year, as we all thought they should. The exciting thing about a sporting event is that regardless of how much information you have, research you do, thinking you put into it—the outcome is very much uncertain.
Read more … The Super Bowl
It’s hard to find much to cheer about with the Florida primaries--or any primaries going on at the moment. However, the one thing that Florida does is bring a focus on seniors. Florida has an abundance of people over 65 and candidates campaigning there must pay attention to the concerns of older Americans.
Read more … Florida
Last week I wrote about a thank-you note that Maxine (Executive Director of Golda Meir House) wrote to Ken (Director of Maintenance for JCHE) for his help in readying Golda for their REAC inspection. Her effusive appreciation for Ken’s help reminded me how important it is to express gratitude to colleagues.
Read more … Love Conquers All (Even in the Workplace)
Tuesday was the day of the dreaded REAC inspection at Golda Meir House.
This is the day when a team of inspectors spends the day in our building checking every door jamb. It’s not a bad concept -- public funded housing should adhere to the highest operational standards. We do. However, the nature of inspectors is to find problems, so they come intent to do that. We recognize the importance of doing well, so we prepare, worry, prepare and repeat the cycle.
Read more … A Little Appreciation Goes a Long Way
I attended an author’s reading by Deborah Frieze at a meeting of the Women’s Philanthropy group of Combined Jewish Philanthropies. The book, Walk Out Walk On, was co-authored by Margaret Wheatley. The talk involved Ms. Frieze’s observations of many social change experiences around the globe. Many of her thoughts resonated as relevant to JCHE’s reorganization and culture change process.
Read more … An author's reading on creating healthy communities resonates with our work at JCHE
JCHE is currently undergoing a very exciting participatory process to determine how we can be the best workplace possible. Examining both our organizational structure and culture, we have engaged in a number of discussions that have focused on leadership. I have been surprised that this has led to some very charged interactions.
Read more … Leadership is an Elusive Concept
In the New York Times’ wonderful piece by Julie Lasky, “On Aging Baby Boomers, and the Question of Where to Live”, architect Wid Chapman and gerontologist Jeffrey P. Rosenfeld discuss their new book. In Unassisted Living: Ageless Homes for Later Life, the co-authors explore the housing desires of baby boomers, beginning with the notion that this generation abhors nursing homes.
Read more … Considering housing for the boomer generation
This post appeared as a Letter to the Editor in the Boston Globe on 11/28/11 in response to an excellent page one piece "State Falls Short on Affordable Housing". It bemoaned the slow pace of producing affordable housing in the Commonwealth. A few months ago, the Globe ran a series of stories on page one, alerting us to the coming demographic tsunami of an aging population. I’d like to connect the dots:
Read more … Boston Globe's look at affordable housing should also address gaps in senior housing
Like many readers of the Boston Globe, I have been dismayed all week to read, daily, about the excessively high salary and dishonesty in reporting by the director of the Chelsea Housing Authority. There's simply nothing positive to be said about the facts. However, I am equally dismayed by the barrage of coverage that the Globe has given to this one instance of abuse—in contrast to the shocking silence about the numerous accomplishments achieved daily by the overwhelmingly hard-working, underpaid and under-resourced housing authorities in Massachusetts.
Read more … An imbalance of media coverage: where are the articles touting the many accomplishments of local housing authorities?
We had the pleasure of hosting a “lunch and learn” session for the Boston Jewish Women’s Community Fund last week. The purpose of these sessions, I was told, was for the women in this giving collaborative, to learn “up close and personal” about one of the places where their generous contributions were making a difference.
Read more … The Women from BJWCF
This weekend I had the privilege of attending the 80th birthday party of my friend, mentor and hero, Tunney Lee. Tunney is not a traditional mentor—I don’t actually recall any words of direct encouragement or praise that in my head I associate with mentorship. But the impact on my life has been profound.
Read more … Tunney turns 80
Yesterday morning, at the national LeadingAge annual conference in D.C., I heard Maya Angelou speak. According to the biography they provided, Dr. Angelou is a celebrated poet, historian, best-selling author, actress, playwright, civil-rights activist, producer and director. Her list of published verse, non-fiction and fiction now includes more than 30 best-selling titles. At the conclusion of her speech, I felt her biography massively understates her power and accomplishments. She quite simply took my breath away.
Read more … Maya Angelou, at 83, quite simply took my breath away
Yesterday morning was a treat – Board member Paul Levy led a discussion of Anne Fadiman’s inspirational book “The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down." Paul had donated multiple copies of the book to JCHE and I gave them out to anyone on the staff who was interested in reading it. The subtitle of the book is very descriptive, “A Hmong Child, Her American Doctors, and the Collision of Two Cultures.” The book documents the story of a Hmong child with epilepsy—the doctors at a California hospital who treated her had a care model which was not well understood or accepted by her Hmong parents—and while there were efforts to bridge the cultural divide, they failed. The child went into a long-term coma and remained in that state at the close of the book.
Read more … Considering the challenge of diversity
In last week's post, I reflected on an excellent Enterprise Community Partners institute I attended last week. Affordable housing developers and designers had a respectful and energized discussion on developing quality public housing. Within days of that workshop, the New York Times ran a fascinating article about innovative public housing in the Bronx. Reading about an excellent example of creative and responsive housing development so soon after attending the Enterprise forum prompted me to send The Times the following Letter to the Editor.
Read more … Responding to a New York Times article that got it right
Enterprise Community Partners sponsored their 2nd annual Affordable Housing Design Leadership Institute. The concept is as simple as it is profound—bring together the country’s most talented design professionals with a small group of committed affordable housing developers and learn together in a two-and-a-half day intense workshop how to advance design excellence in affordable housing. To the credit of the Enterprise National Design Initiatives staff, it worked beautifully and I am permanently inspired to think about design in new ways. I was so fortunate to be there.
Read more … Wisdom about affordable housing developed at Enterprise Community Partners conference
They say there is a silver lining to every cloud.
Hurricane Irene brought many clouds and even more wind and rain. It also meant that we lost power at our newest development, Shillman House. It went out on Sunday morning and didn’t return until late Monday evening. An inconvenience for anyone -- and certainly seniors -- especially those who rely on medical devices and other electronics.
Read more … A silver cloud in the dark Irene skies
Last week marked my one-year anniversary of coming to JCHE. It has been an amazing year for me. I continue, every day, to be impressed and amazed at the consistent level of excellence, commitment and talent displayed by our staff.
Read more … Reflections on my one-year anniversary
In the last two days, I toured Senator Scott Brown and a senior staff person for Congressman Capuano through JCHE’s Brighton campus. What do they have in common? Not a lot of shared views on the economy, the role of government in helping its citizens achieve economic security and certainly not on the importance of including new revenues in the solution to the debt ceiling pressures! But both do share an interest in their constituents and in learning from us about the issues and challenges facing seniors today—and how our society can support their efforts to age gracefully.
Read more … It pays to vote
Recently I had the distinct pleasure of reading 2 short stories aloud and participating in a discussion. At Golda Meir House, every year they invite “guests” to read a short story to a gathering of residents. I immediately accepted the invite, figuring they’d assign me a story and I’d go from there. Imagine my surprise when I learned that it was a “BYOS”--bring your own story (actually, bring your own two stories)! Here’s the problem: I don’t read short stories.
Read more … Short stories, long impact
I am pleased to describe last week’s management team meeting as delightful! Yes, you read that correctly: the words “meeting” and “delightful” purposely in the same sentence.
Since I started at JCHE, I have observed that the mid-level managers are eager to contribute to the overall well being of JCHE—even beyond their area of responsibility. In an effort to support this high level of engagement, we have been exploring a different organizational model in one of our departments – fund development. We devoted last week’s meeting to a discussion about this team’s experience.
Read more … Reflective practitioners at JCHE
This week I attended the final Framingham Zoning Board of Appeals hearing about Shillman House. The technical reason we were before the ZBA was the need for their approval of our amended landscaping plan. The original plan, approved before construction began, was amended due to the natural adjustments in the field as projects get built. Some of the changes were also designed to be responsive to neighbors’ ideas about trees, shrubbery and fences to better screen the building’s lights and viewscapes.
Read more … Good trees (and some fencing!) make good neighbors
The 4th of July. Can most of us honestly say we think about it as anything other than a barbeque, fireworks and/or long weekend travel opportunity? I couldn’t—until I attended JCHE’s Independence Day Celebration. As part of our tradition, every year for at this time we recognize and congratulate those residents who have become U.S. citizens since the last fourth of July.
Read more … Celebrating July 4th JCHE style!
Today I attended the 8th grade graduation of my youngest son at the Pierce School in Brookline. That may not sound like a big deal, but because the school is a K-8 one and I have a 10-year spread between my oldest and youngest, not only is my son moving on but I am too!
Read more … Transitions
Well, it finally happened—after a great deal of planning and anticipating, the first set of residents moved into Shillman House this week. It would be dishonest to say it went off without a hitch, but totally truthful to say that the Shillman House team and some JCHE regulars pulled together and made it look seamless.
Read more … Developing community from the ground up
This Sunday’s New York Times contained an article about a geriatric psychiatrist in Miami who works with seniors in a range of residential settings from apartment buildings to nursing homes. The gist of the message was that people who can adapt to setbacks live longer and have higher quality senior years.
Read more … New York Times reinforces the importance of JCHE!
A person with ubuntu is open and available to others. I do not know how many of our residents have heard of ubuntu, but at the recent food and clothing drive, they surely demonstrated it.
Read more … An expression of "ubuntu" at JCHE
It’s getting close. Shillman House on the Weinberg Campus is moving along—construction is well over 90% complete (on time, on budget with extraordinary quality—Dellbrook Construction has been wonderful). So I recently spent three Sundays (along with our top notch Shillman team) conducting tours of the building-in-progress for people who have put down reservation deposits for the market units. As always, whenever I interact with residents and/or potential residents, I learn a lot.
Read more … Moving to Shillman House: the decision process
I just hit the 6-month mark in my tenure as CEO of JCHE. I could go on and on about feeling honored, privileged, proud and the like. But I’m reflecting at the moment of how long a process it is to build trust within the organization.
Read more … Building Trust
I’m writing this on the train back from New York, following a recent journey to the Jewish Home at Rockleigh, located in northern New Jersey. The Jewish Home has nursing home and assisted living facilities. The board wanted to educate itself on “independent living” and how it compares to what they do. I was terribly flattered to be asked to offer some insights. And while I have been practicing urban planning with a focus on affordable housing for roughly 30 years, let’s be clear that I was solicited not because of who I am, but rather because of what JCHE is, does and represents in the field.
Read more … On the road, sharing JCHE's experience and expertise with colleagues
Senior prom. For almost all of us, that term evokes memories. Our first formal gown/time in a tuxedo. All night parties with friends. And if we’re being honest, worrying a lot about how we would appear to others, feeling awkwardI in those fancy clothes, and, maybe even some unhealthy behaviors (I said if we’re being honest). Wondering who would be “in” and not in that crowd. Ugh.
Read more … A senior prom unlike any we remember!
Last week, JCHE was pleased to have the opportunity to comment on the 2011 Qualified Allocation Plan (QAP) for the state’s Department of Housing and Community Development, the road map for the state’s allocation of federal tax credits. I am very familiar with the QAP process, as I served as an Associate Director for Public Housing and Rental Assistance at DHCD directly before starting at JCHE. But as I read it this year, I quickly realized that I was evaluating it through a very different lens.
Read more … Public policy around senior housing - the good, the bad and the gaps
Gung Hey Fa Choy. Happy new year. Seems like it shouldn’t be so hard to learn, but it took me literally almost an hour to perfect a few phrases with which to greet the Chinese residents as I attended their new year’s celebration. My 13-year-old son is learning Mandarin at school—he patiently repeated (and repeated) a few phrases so I could say “happy new year” “hello” and “thank you”.
Read more … Celebrating Chinese New Year and the Year of the Rabbit
Sometimes, someone else articulates something simply and clearly that just captures the essence of what you've been trying to say over many weeks with much complicated language. This week that happened when I heard how one of our Golda Meir House residents experienced last week's blizzard:
Read more … Feeling safe even as the storm rages
Last Friday's New York Times, there was an op ed piece by Susan Jacoby entitled “Real Life Among the Old Old”, which presents a sobering view of aging. Ms. Jacoby makes some excellent points, particularly as she urges everyone to plan for their senior years with their eyes wide open. However, I think there’s something in between the denial and resignation she presents. In fact, I witness it on a daily basis.
Read more … JCHE's version of "Real Life Among the Old Old"
Today the House passed the Section 202 housing reform legislation, which had won the Senate’s approval yesterday. We want to extend a hearty thanks to Carol Gallante, the Assistant Secretary of HUD, for her leadership, and AAHSA (American Association of Housing and Services for the Aging) for their advocacy to get to this point. The bill will soon head to the President’s desk to be signed into law.
Read more … Congress approves HUD Section 202 Reform Bill
We just completed four very full days in Framingham. After almost nine years of development challenges, the light at the end of the tunnel is visible and we were feeling the reward—we had the opportunity to meet some of the people who will call Shillman House home as early as June 2011. We had four Shillman House Application Days with 44 staff, board and board committee members on hand to support older adults as they filled out applications for housing.
Read more … Reflecting on Shillman House Application Days
I just returned from a sad trip—I went to Cincinnati to attend a memorial service for an old friend. It’s sad because he was a fine person and, while he was obviously not part of my day-to-day life, I will miss him. I feel a strong sense of loss. It’s also sad because it takes things like Paul’s premature death at age 57 to remind me to celebrate those in my life now.
Read more … The Value of Connection
This time of year (although the length of this time seems to eternally be expanding) we are all asked to contribute to this and that excellent cause. We should give money to feed the hungry, house the homeless, give educational opportunities to those who can’t access them and so on. All of these are great causes and we all feel torn as we can’t possibly support them all to the extent we’d wish.
Read more … Don't you hate to constantly be asked for a contribution?
When we talk about how JCHE builds community, we are usually discussing something intangible. We are referring to the friendships and relationships that are formed in each of our buildings at a time of life often associated with loneliness and isolation. But these days, JCHE is also building the bricks-and-mortar version of community.
Read more … Building community by building community space
Life can be challenging as you get older. Those who live at JCHE don't need to 'go it alone.' They have access to an amazing resource, the JCHE Resident Services Coordinator staff, which provides an invaluable connection to the larger community. And they are clearly one of the many elements that make JCHE the leader in providing a continuum of progressive, proven services that allow aging residents to maintain their well being and independence.
Read more … A Day in The Life of a JCHE Resident Services Coordinator
Question 2, on the ballot this November, would eliminate the state’s key affordable housing law (Chapter 40B). It has been a very successful law, creating 58,000 units of affordable housing since its inception—for teachers, firefighters and seniors. Here at JCHE, we built 146 units at Coleman House and 75 units at Golda Meir House in Newton, and now have 150 units under construction in Framingham. That’s why I’m voting No on Question 2. If the referendum passes and 40B is overturned, it would greatly undermine our ability to develop safe, affordable housing for seniors.
Read more … Protecting Affordable Housing in Massachusetts: Vote No on Question #2
You can tell a lot about a place by looking at the boiler room!
As I walked around JCHE, I was instantly awed by the beautifully maintained properties - the general upkeep, overall cleanliness and extensive landscaping. I thought I had seen all there was to see - and then I stepped into the boiler room.
Read more … You can tell a lot about a place by looking at the boiler room
Welcome to the new JCHE blog, meant to open an ongoing dialogue on issues important to safe, affordable housing opportunities for seniors and their successful aging. This conversation is being launched today in the sincere hope that you will engage with us as JCHE begins its next phase of development.
Read more … Welcome from Amy Schectman
