Newton Residents Recognized During National Volunteer Week

Harvard Medical School affiliate Hebrew SeniorLife (HSL), a nonprofit organization committed to improving the lives of older adults, recognized Newton residents Jim Conviser and Marc Cohen during National Volunteer Week for their contributions to HSL during the current COVID-19 emergency. National Volunteer Week runs April 19 -25, 2020.

“The operations of all of our senior living campuses have changed completely as we work to prevent, mitigate, and contain the virus,” said Kim Brooks, HSL’s Chief Operating Officer for Senior Living. “The teams that routinely operate our independent and assisted living communities suddenly have roles that never even existed before. Protecting and supporting these 1,700 seniors could not be done without the help of volunteers who give their time and energy. We are so grateful.”

Conviser and Cohen have been making wellness calls, sorting groceries and mail, and helping with light administrative tasks throughout all of HSL's campuses. Appropriate social distancing and infection control guidelines have been reviewed with all volunteers. They are wearing appropriate PPE, regularly washing their hands, and are screened before entering one of HSL’s campuses

Dozens of HSL volunteers have raised their hands to help. As a result, food, packages, laundry, medications, mail, notices, and more are being delivered to residents’ doors. In addition to an increase in hot meals delivered from the communities’ kitchens, families are dropping off food and other necessities, and residents can order frozen meals and groceries that also need to be packaged and delivered. Additionally, residents receive a wellness check-in call regularly – sometimes even daily - from a friendly voice. These calls, done by staff and volunteers, are a lifeline and include inquiries about physical and mental health, identification of specific needs, and provide an opportunity for conversation. Volunteers are also covering essential administrative duties, freeing staff from those roles to assist with the new operational needs of the pandemic.

About National Volunteer Week

National Volunteer Week is held the third week in April each year. It is an opportunity to show appreciation for the thousands of volunteers across the United States who keep many organizations running, communities safe, and provide the services that otherwise would not exist without volunteers.

About Hebrew SeniorLife

Hebrew SeniorLife is a national senior services leader dedicated to rethinking, researching, and redefining the possibilities of aging. As New England’s largest nonprofit provider of senior health care and living communities, and the only one affiliated with Harvard Medical School, HSL cares for more than 3000 seniors a day across six campuses throughout Greater Boston. Our locations include: Hebrew Rehabilitation Center, Boston and Dedham; NewBridge on the Charles, Dedham; Orchard Cove, Canton; Simon C. Fireman Community, Randolph; Center Communities of Brookline, Brookline; and Jack Satter House, Revere. Founded in 1903, HSL also conducts influential research into aging and trains more than 1,000 students in geriatric care each year. Visit https://www.hebrewseniorlife.org, follow them on Twitter @H_SeniorLife, like them on Facebook, or read the blog.