MorseLife’s Homebound Mitzvah Program made sure that homebound Jewish seniors living in Palm Beach County didn’t go without a holiday meal during Rosh Hashanah this year. The program has long been a vital source of comfort and support for elderly and frail seniors who are unable to leave their homes, providing them with warm meals and a sense of connection during important times like Passover and the High Holidays.

Community volunteers and staff came together at MorseLife to package and deliver the holiday meals, which featured traditional items like wine, soup, challah, apples with honey, and homemade honey cake – all symbols of sweetness and hope for the New Year.

Donations can be made by visiting morselifefoundation.org.

As Rosh Hashanah draws near, MorseLife is seeking volunteers to help deliver meals to Jewish seniors throughout Palm Beach County. The Mitzvah Meal Program, a longstanding MorseLife tradition, ensures that homebound seniors receive a lovingly prepared holiday meal delivered right to their door on September 30th.

The meal, which includes wine, challah, soup, honey, apples, and honey cake, not only nourishes the body but also serves as a symbol of community and connection for seniors. Those wishing to receive a meal must register by calling 561.282.5388 by September 16th.

According to Paola Pouponneau-Nisbett, Senior Vice President of MorseLife Home and Community-Based Programs, “This program serves as a vital link to the community for homebound seniors, offering them warmth, comfort and a sense of belonging during the High Holidays.”

One of MorseLife’s most dedicated volunteers, Kenny Tillman, has been delivering these meals for over 20 years. At 90 years old, Kenny continues to brighten the lives of seniors through his volunteer work. He even adds a personal touch to his deliveries by including flowers alongside the meal. His commitment to volunteering has become a family affair, with his children and grandchildren joining him in his efforts. Now, as a resident of The Palace at MorseLife, Kenny continues to serve others through MorseLife’s Homebound Mitzvah Program.

MorseLife relies on the support of volunteers to help deliver approximately 3,000 meals during the High Holidays and Passover, and it wouldn’t be possible without the dedication of people from across the community, including MorseLife residents, staff and volunteers.

To join this effort and deliver meals on September 30th, volunteers must register by calling 561.687.5791 by September 16th. Meal pick-up will be available between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. at two locations:

• MorseLife Health System: 4920 Loring Drive, West Palm Beach
• Temple Torat Emet: 8600 Jog Road, Boynton Beach

For more information, visit morselifevolunteers.org/mitzvah-meals/.

As the holiday season approaches, many of us look forward to reuniting with our families, sharing laughter, and creating new memories. For many adult children, these gatherings also offer a unique opportunity to observe changes in their aging parents that may not be noticeable during phone calls or virtual chats. Understanding these subtle signs can be crucial in determining whether it’s time to consider a transition to assisted living.

1. Changes in Home Maintenance and Cleanliness

• Observation Tips: During your visit, take note of the home’s condition. Is it less tidy or more cluttered than usual? Are there unopened mails or bills piling up?
• Why It Matters: Declining housekeeping and organizational skills can be early signs of diminishing capabilities to manage daily tasks.

2. Noticeable Weight Loss or Poor Diet

• Observation Tips: Pay attention to your parent’s eating habits. Have they lost weight? Is the refrigerator adequately stocked with healthy food?
• Why It Matters: Changes in weight or diet can indicate difficulties in grocery shopping, cooking, or a loss of interest in food due to underlying health issues.

3. Changes in Mobility and Balance

• Observation Tips: Watch for signs of difficulty in movement. Are they struggling to get up from a chair or showing unsteadiness while walking?
• Why It Matters: Mobility issues can increase the risk of falls and indicate that daily activities are becoming more challenging.

4. Changes in Mood and Social Activities

• Observation Tips: Listen to how your parent talks about their social life. Have they stopped attending clubs or gatherings they once enjoyed?
• Why It Matters: Withdrawal from social activities and changes in mood can be signs of depression or cognitive decline.

5. Medication Management

• Observation Tips: Check if medications are being taken as prescribed. Are there expired or unopened medicines?
• Why It Matters: Mismanagement of medication can have serious health implications and suggest difficulties in following complex schedules.

Recognizing these signs can be both challenging and emotional. It’s important to approach this topic with empathy and understanding. The holidays can be an ideal time to start a gentle conversation about the benefits of assisted living, emphasizing the improved quality of life, social opportunities, and professional care available.

Remember, considering assisted living is not about taking away independence; it’s about enhancing the life of your loved one in a safe, supportive, and caring environment. If you notice these signs, it may be time to explore the options and resources available.

If you’re unsure about the next steps or want to learn more about assisted living, we invite you to reach out to us. Our team is here to provide guidance, support, and information to help you and your loved one make an informed decision. Contact us today to start the conversation.

MorseLife’s Rabbi Erica Rosenkranz Leads Residents in a Sukkot Celebration

MorseLife residents and employees recently gathered to celebrate Sukkot, the “Feast of Tabernacles,” which celebrates the harvest and commemorates God’s miraculous protection for the children of Israel’s departure from Egypt. It is one of the three Jewish pilgrimage festivals, along with Passover and Shavuot.

The Purim celebration was part of MorseLife’s JewishLife initiative, created to engage residents, families, members of the community, and employees through religious, ritual, and spiritual events.

To mark the occasion, MorseLife created a foliage-covered sukkah. Rabbi Erica Rosenkranz, director of JewishLife and director of community engagement for the NOW for Holocaust Survivors Initiative at MorseLife, led residents in the ceremonial waving of the lulav (palm branch), aravot (two willows), hadassim (three myrtles), and etrog (citron), symbolizing levels of Torah knowledge and together representing Jewish unity.

MorseLife’s JewishLife initiative includes year-round religious services for Shabbat, Havdalah, Rosh Chodesh, Kaddish, and special healing services. Holiday programs such as Purim costume parties and Hamantaschen baking, Shabbat Challah Bakes, and Passover Seders, along with Klezmer bands and Israeli dancing performances, bring Yiddishkeit to life at MorseLife. Lively current events discussions focus on worldwide events through a Jewish values lens. In addition, pastoral counseling for residents and their families is available, as are Jewish lifecycle traditions such as baby naming ceremonies.

Volunteers Share Sweet High Holiday Traditions with Seniors in Need

 

MorseLife volunteers, residents and staff once again gathered to package and deliver kosher holiday meals to more than 1500 vulnerable seniors living throughout Palm Beach County.

“It’s wonderful to be able to bring the community together again this year to enjoy the sweet traditions of the High Holidays with seniors who depend on MorseLife for support,” said President & CEO Keith Myers. “We are grateful to have such dedicated volunteers who have made it an annual tradition to serve meals to isolated seniors through the MorseLife Homebound Mitzvah program.”

Seniors received traditional meals of homemade Matzoh Ball Soup, wine, challah, an apple and honey, and homemade honey cake for dessert.

“We continue to maintain social distancing measures for the safety of our seniors, which includes contactless meal drop-offs,” added Myers. “Even though these challenges exist, it’s a joyous occasion to share traditional holiday rituals.”

MorseLife’s Homebound Mitzvah Program for Passover and the High Holidays gathers hundreds of community volunteers to assist with pre-delivery meal packaging and/or meal delivery to Palm Beach County seniors. Volunteers assist in many programs that benefit community seniors in need, such as the Homebound Mitzvah Program, which are made possible through generous donations to the MorseLife Foundation.

MorseLife Honors Resident Veterans on November 11^th

100-Year-Old Veteran and Tradition Resident Bebe Cohan Shares His Personal Journey

 

This year leading up to Veterans Day, MorseLife spoke with 100-year-old Tradition resident and veteran, Bebe Cohan.  Cohan, who has lived at MorseLife for more than ten years, gave up the life of a big band drummer to serve his country during World War II.

“I was a drummer with the Charlie Spivak band and I remember we were playing in Washington, D.C.  when I met a member of the U.S. Navy Band,” said Cohan.  “As soon as I learned about it, I went straight down to the draft board to see if they would take me, but they weren’t taking people for the band.”

As it happened, Cohan was drafted not long after and attended the United States Naval Training Center, Bainbridge, and studied hard to become a Navy Hospital Corpsman. He was then sent to the highly reputed Bethesda Naval Hospital that often served members in Congress and other high-level government leaders.

After the war, Cohan continued as a musician before deciding to pursue a career in real estate.  Married to his late wife for more than 70 years, Cohan has three children.

“There are more than 30 courageous veteran seniors, each with a unique story to tell, who live on the MorseLife campus,” said Keith Myers, President & CEO of MorseLife Health. “We are very proud to have these remarkable individuals in our care, and to be able to hear their inspiring life stories. These individual’s experiences are wonderful reminders of the resiliency of the human spirit.”

MorseLife commemorated Veterans Day for Tradition and Palace residents during a pre-taped television ceremony and staff delivered certificates of appreciation to each veteran in their residences.

MorseLife Staff Deliver High Holiday Meals to the Community’s Most Vulnerable Seniors

This week MorseLife’s dedicated staff prepared, packaged and delivered kosher holiday meals to the most vulnerable of Morselife’s Meals-on-Wheels participants.

“This is a year unlike any other since we began delivering meals to seniors in need 25 years ago,” said Keith Myers, CEO & President of MorseLife Health System. “I am very proud of our staff who have stepped in to prepare, assemble and deliver these gifts when we are unable to welcome volunteers to our campus due to the pandemic.”

Seniors in need received traditional meals of Honey Garlic Chicken, Sweet & Sour Meatballs, homemade Matzoh Ball Soup, an apple and honey, a large Challah, a bottle of wine, and freshly made honey cake for dessert.

“We look forward to a return to normalcy, where residents, staff and community volunteers can gather together once again to deliver meals and spend time visiting with vulnerable seniors who look forward to companionship during the holiday season,” added Myers.

MorseLife’s Homebound Mitzvah Program for Passover and the High Holidays is made possible through generous donations to the MorseLife Foundation and assistance from the Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County.

MORSELIFE LEVIN PALACE RESIDENTS AND STAFF GATHER FOR A FESTIVE LATKE COOK-OFF 

On December 11^th residents at the independent living residence Levin Palace and MorseLife staff participated in a Latke cookoff to celebrate the coming Hanukkah holiday. 

Residents who live on the senior campus joined teams from marketing, resident services, housekeeping, maintenance and administration in the culinary contest. The culinary winner was resident Frank Gold, whose award-winning recipe is featured below.

The Levin Palace at MorseLife, a luxury residence in the heart of West Palm Beach, provides exceptional living for an older generation. The five-star living residence urges everyone on campus to strive to not only live longer, but to live younger.

MorseLife Wining Latke Recipe

Frank Gold

5 medium Idaho baking potatoes

2 medium onions

5 eggs

1/2 lb. unbleached flour

Salt and pepper to taste

1 qt Canola oil

Peel and quarter potatoes, keeping in bowl with water over them.  Peel and quarter the onions.  Heat oil in large frying pan.  Take approximately 1/5 of the potatoes, 1/5 of the onions and 1 egg and place these items in the bowl of a large food processor (with steel blade in place) and pulsate until all ingredients are chopped (not made into paste or pureed) and are a rough slurry.  Pour contents of food processor into a large bowl, repeat 5 times until all ingredients are in the large bowl.  Add flour (as needed), to achieve a batter like consistency and add salt and pepper to taste (approximately 1/2 teaspoon of salt per potato and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper for the batch).

With a large spoon take batter and place it in hot oil, keeping each pancake separated, turning over when the bottom is golden brown. Remove from heat when second side is appropriately browned, and contents are cooked.  Drain oil on paper towels on a plate.  Serve immediately.

Tips:  The potato batter will turn black if left in the bowl too long before cooking, so speed is necessary in the cooking process.  Add flour as necessary since the potatoes will give off water and make the batter soupy.  Too much flour will make the pancakes heavy and not as tasty.  Add oil as the process continues making sure that the oil stays at approximately 360 degrees or too much oil will be absorbed by the pancake.  

To prepare in advance, half cook the pancakes and freeze them.  When ready to serve, defrost and fry in a deep fryer until golden brown.