Jewish Healthcare Center (Worcester)

The Jewish Healthcare Center ("JHC"; also known as "The Jewish Home" or simply "The Home" among the Worcester Jewish community) is a nursing home and rehabilitation hospital at 629 Salisbury Street in Worcester, Massachusetts. The JHC services 2,500 clients per year, 70 percent of whom are not Jewish.[1]

Jewish Healthcare Center
Jewish Healthcare Center
Geography
Location629 Salisbury Street
Worcester, Massachusetts
 United States
Organisation
FundingNon-profit hospital
History
Opened1914
Links
Websitejewishhealthcarecenter.com

History
Jewish Healthcare Center Chapel
Eisenberg Assisted Living Residence

The Home was founded by Worcester's Jewish community leaders in 1914 as a home for Jewish orphans. In 1916, the community purchased a two-story home at 25 Coral Street and named it the "Jewish Home for Aged and Orphans."[2][3]

Beginning August 11, 1930 Worcester United Jewish Charities president Archibald Hillman enlisted New York fundraiser George Greenspun to lead a 500-volunteer campaign to raise $125,000 from the Worcester community for a new facility. This campaign was unique in that for the first time, Worcester's non-Jewish residents were asked to contribute to a Jewish organization in the city.[4][5] In 1932, the Home relocated to 1029 Pleasant Street where it was able to care for 14 children and 22 senior citizens following the successful building campaign. In the mid-1930s the Home turned its focus solely to the needs of the elderly and was renamed "The Jewish Home for Aged of Worcester County." The Home expanded by 34 beds in 1948 following a $250,000 campaign.[2]

The current 141-bed facility at 629 Salisbury Street, an example of Brick Brutalist architecture, opened in February 1975 after another successful campaign raised $3.5 million.[6] The Home's population remains largely Jewish as it is the only kosher nursing home in Worcester.[2]

On May 3, 1998, ground was broken on land immediately adjacent to the Home on The Gery and Emil Eisenberg Assisted Living Residence, an 80-unit facility named for the parents of Denise Rich who donated $1 million.[7]

In 2007, in recognition of a large donation from the Bailin Brothers Foundation, the campus at 629 Salisbury Street was named for the Bailin family.[8]

On April 29, 2014, JHC launched the "Namaste Care" program, a new holistic approach to end-of-life care for dementia patients in which they experience massage, familiar foods and music (via iPods) and other comforts in a soundproof room.[1]

Notable residents

References
  1. Hedvig, Lynne. "New Namaste Program ‘honors the spirit within.’" Worcester Magazine, May 01 2014.
  2. Kush, Bronislaus B., and Telegram & Gazette Staff. "Jewish Home Traditions of Caring Upheld." Telegram & Gazette: B.1. Oct 30 1995.
  3. Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. "Public Documents of Massachusetts, Volume 14." Boston, 1921.
  4. Anonymous. "Non-jews to Aid Worcester Drive for Jewish Aged Home." Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Aug 31, 1930.
  5. Anonymous. "Worcester Seeks $125,000 for Jewish Aged and Orphans’ Home." Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Aug 12 1930.
  6. Collier, Geraldine A. "Healthcare Center to Burn Mortgage ; Gala to Celebrate Future Facility." Telegram & Gazette: A.2. Sep 20 1997.
  7. Astell, Emilie, and Telegram & Gazette Staff. "Assisted Living Plan Gets Off Ground // Jewish Healthcare has Brunch Breaking." Telegram & Gazette: B.1. May 04 1998.
  8. Rettig, Tom. "Jewish Healthcare Center dinner and silent auction." Telegram & Gazette: Aug 29 2007.
  9. Joseph C. Casdin, 93. Worcester Telegram & Gazette, Mar 19 2007.
  10. Miller, Stephen (2006-12-12). "Georgia Gibbs, 87, Bubbly Singer in 1940s and 1950s". p. 2. Retrieved 2006-12-12.
  11. "Jazz Connection Magazine". Jazzconnectionmag.com. Retrieved 2012-03-26.
  12. Bernstein, Adam. "Singer Georgia Gibbs, 87; Performed With Big Bands and on Radio Shows." Washington Post, Dec 12 2006.

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