A Menorah Park Minute
Friday, May 29, 2020
Menorah Park is dedicated to ensuring the safety and well-being of both our residents and staff. From the start of this pandemic, our goal has always been to communicate with our families about their loved ones as quickly and clearly as possible with full transparency. We recognize that with the recent increased attention on skilled nursing facilities and the residents in their care, the stress and anxiety levels of our families is very high.
 
During this challenging and difficult time we recognize that communications are even more critical. We want to reassure you that we will continue using every method available – email, website, video chats and phone calls, to listen, answer questions and address the concerns of our residents, staff and families.
 
Thank you for your patience and support as we do our best to navigate a new landscape that is changing on an almost daily basis. 
 
Please do not hesitate to contact me at (315) 446-9111, ext. 114 or Michael Svendsen, COO/Nursing Home Administrator at (315) 446-9111, ext.133 if you have any questions or concerns.

Be well and stay safe.


Mary Ellen Bloodgood, CEO
SJFS strengthens connections during COVID-19
Since we went into lockdown on March 13, Syracuse Jewish Family Service has worked tirelessly to help our residents stay connected to their families while still serving our greater community. These seasoned experts in geriatrics, mental health and dementia (to name a few of their areas) are helping our nearly 150 residents cope with prolonged isolation while navigating families during this incredibly stressful time. Every day they are facilitating FaceTime, Skype and Zoom calls, checking in with residents or fielding questions from families - all of which frees up our clinical staff to remain focused on resident care. And they have clients in the community, too. Understanding that mental health and social challenges don’t stop amidst a pandemic – in fact they can worsen - SJFS’ social services and mental health counselors have been continuing to provide the necessary resources and support through telehealth phone and video counseling sessions. SJFS' Kosher Meals on Wheels program has been operating uninterrupted, serving additional clients that relied on other community organizations are currently closed.  

Pictured (L-R): Jackie O’Brien-Gerace, Judith Huober, Ellen Somers, Jancy Ball, Evelyn Kinsey and Deborah Ellis. Not pictured: David Donaghy, Rob Hoston, Bertha Jacobs, Marianne Knych, Peg Miller and Nancy Bloeser.
We continue to be humbled by the generous outpouring of support from our loving and caring community. Thank you, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

Menorah Park Web Updates
We are working diligently to keep our entire Menorah Park family updated on the status of COVID-19 on our campus. Click here for daily updates
Staying Safe but not Stagnant
We recognize that isolation and a lack of communal activities can have negative effects on one’s physical and mental well-being no matter what community you live in. To address that, we have begun to introduce some socially-distanced small group discussions and balance and relaxation exercises for Oaks residents. Many thanks to Oaks Director, Patricia Shepardson, SJFS Director Judith Huober, and SJFS staff member, Jancy Ball, for providing these much-needed emotional and physical outlets to our residents . 

Thank you to The Oaks staff, residents and families for adhering to our infection control and restricted visitor policies. Every day you help us keep our residents and staff safe while preventing the spread of COVID.
The Inn Patio is Open!
If there’s one thing we can all agree on during this pandemic – fresh air and sun helps the mind and spirits. As the warm weather arrives, we have been taking the opportunity to bring our Inn residents out on the patio. Socially-distanced, this welcome reprieve from the isolation is lifting everyone’s spirits. Next steps? Kosher BBQs and Happy Hours!

How Are We Doing?
We sincerely want to hear from you. We encourage you to tell us how we are doing - both what we're doing well and what we can improve upon. Click here to submit your comments and questions. Select COVID 19 Comments & Questions from the drop down menu. Thank you for your input.