MorseLife Tradition resident Marjorie Beall celebrates her 104^th birthday on August 10, 2024, along with a remarkable lifetime during which she experienced dozens of historical milestones and the dramatic metamorphosis of Palm Beach County into a major metropolis.

“It was the land of sunshine and oranges,” she recalls with a wistful remembrance of the carefree days she spent swimming in the ocean and growing up amid the unspoiled beauty and splendor of wealthy Palm Beach Island, where her parents worked as caretakers for one of the mansions there in the 1930s.

Still joyful and fiercely independent today, Marjorie credits her longevity to years of swimming, lots of fruits and vegetables, hot tea and a voracious enjoyment of reading murder mysteries.  Her good health translated into the good fortune of being able to live independently in her own home until age 103 with the help of her caregiver, Magda.

And while she’s dismayed by the frustrations of old age, she loves her new life at MorseLife, where Magda was also welcomed.  She still reads, participates in the many activities there and enjoys delicious meals in the dining room with other residents.

“Everyone is so kind and helpful,” she said.  “They put flowers in my window in the morning.  It’s very uplifting.”

For her only child, Jim, the peace of mind knowing his mother is well cared for by compassionate people in beautiful surroundings is priceless.

“We are so pleased she’s at MorseLife,” he said.

Marjorie’s British father, who was wounded and gassed as a World War I prisoner of war, had made his way together with her mother to Australia and then New Zealand (where Marjorie was born) in search of a warmer climate and better health over 102 years ago.  While in England visiting family, they overheard someone talking about the “wonders of Florida” and a land “more fertile than the Nile” in Palm Beach County.  Together with two-year-old Marjorie and her older brother in tow, they took a boat from England to Havana, Cuba, and then boarded Henry Flagler’s ferry to Key West.

They purchased property near Belle Glade based on just photographs, only to discover it was nothing but swampland when they finally arrived.  Thankfully they found work and began the difficult road to recovering their loss.

Marjorie, who graduated Palm Beach High School in 1938 and worked at a Worth Avenue real estate office, was soon married to a U.S. Air Force electronics officer who was hired to set up an Air Force base in Boca Raton near the Bath & Tennis Club, which was used at the time to house military employees.

After World War II, Marjorie and her husband built a home on a lake in southwest Palm Beach, where she remained after he passed away until a year ago when she moved to MorseLife.

“I’ve been very thankful for all of my life,” she said.

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.

As part of MorseLife’s commitment to bringing more life to residents, a schedule of stimulating activities, events, and guest lectures is always on the horizon to keep residents inspired, engaged, and living life to the fullest.

Always dedicated to leading-edge care and innovative programming, MorseLife strives to bring its residents the most up-to-date healthcare and health education. To support this commitment, Dr. David Watson, the founder of Alzheimer’s Research Center, was recently invited to speak to residents about prevention and treatments for the disease. Watson is a leading expert in the field and has participated in over four hundred clinical trials for treating or preventing Alzheimer’s disease over the past twenty-six years.

And sometimes, it’s MorseLife’s spectacular residents who take center stage.

Herbert Gardner, a resident at Levin Palace MorseLife’s independent living residence, recently held a lecture and wine tasting where he shared his unique life experience of building his boat and then sailing abroad. Herb spent ten years sailing across the wild blue yonder from the English Channel and the Mediterranean to Monte Carlo and Capri. He shared his inspiring and adventurous stories while residents enjoyed wine tastings from the regions he visited.

Gardner is also the founder and conductor of The Baroque Ensemble of the Palm Beaches, which presents free monthly concerts for residents from January through April in Norma Friedman Hall.

At MorseLife, residents are not just living longer; they are living younger.

Playfully referred to as “younging,” it’s the philosophy behind MorseLife’s all-inclusive Independent Living lifestyle at the Stephen A. Levin Palace. The term refers to how residents, who are ages 65-plus, are once again free to enjoy life as they did earlier in their lives. Now, they are liberated from the responsibilities of home ownership, building careers, and starting families. Here, residents feel like every day they are living in, well, a palace – where royal treatment reigns.

MorseLife never shies away from providing the utmost in premier services and amenities, with an emphasis on the “six Fs,” food, fun, friends, family, freedom, and future.

1. Food: A good meal can soothe the soul. Under the leadership of renowned Chef Matt Hammett, MorseLife’s Levin Palace offers gourmet breakfast, lunch, dinner, and casual dining options in Kosher dining room, non-Kosher dining room, and deli café settings. Independent Living residents can pick and choose healthy meals that suit their tastes throughout the day or share a delightful meal among friends.

2. Fun: Whether it’s a morning Tai Chi class or a nightly Masquerade Ball, Levin Palace residents are invited and urged to enjoy a calendar packed with fun and fascinating social, cultural, and educational programs. If residents are in the mood for a good movie, newly released films are screened nightly in MorseLife’s private theater.

3. Friends: There’s always a reason to socialize with a robust activities schedule that includes crossword puzzling, educational lectures, beading, Resin art, bingo, and so much more. With a poker room, art studio, library, on-site fitness center, state-of-the-art dog park, and chic cocktail lounge that are buzzing with daily social activity, it’s hard to feel lonely at Levin Palace.

4. Family: Children, grandchildren, and even great-grandchildren are encouraged to routinely stop by for leisurely visits. Extended families enjoy time spent at the pool, listening in on an educational lecture, painting with residents, or simply enjoying some quiet time as a family in a spacious residential apartment.

5. Freedom: Levin Palace offers a selection of luxurious one- and two-bedroom floor plans that allow residents to live independently in a space that fits their needs. Apartments offer spacious bedrooms and living rooms, high ceilings, contemporary kitchens, large windows, and private balconies. Housekeeping services, concierge valet parking, Wi-Fi, and 24-hour security.

6. Future: MorseLife prides itself on its lifelong learning offerings. Friedman Hall Auditorium and Palace Theater are hubs for residents who enjoy expanding their knowledge and exercising their minds. To stay fit and healthy, MorseLife offers a wide selection of fitness classes and the latest European Technology equipment. To soothe and rejuvenate tired muscles, residents can relax in the Whirlpool or indulge in a luxurious spa treatment. With an onsite medical clinic run by a Harvard-trained physician and a full continuum of care available right on campus, Independent Living residents can rest assured that the high-quality care they may need in the future is readily available.

“MorseLife’s Levin Palace is the most luxurious Independent Living in the country,” MorseLife President & CEO Keith Myers said. “The residents who live here have worked exceptionally hard all their lives to live in the best part of the country and enjoy the best chapter of life. They deserve to be treated like royalty, and we are more than happy to accommodate them. MorseLife really does mean more life.”

It was the early 1950s when a young Sid Elman strolled into the Concourse Plaza Hotel in New York City with hopes of snagging autographs from some of his favorite baseball players. It was Old-Timers’ Day at nearby Yankee Stadium, and Sid walked over to an older gentleman he felt must be famous.

“It turns out the man was Cy Young,” Elman said, referring to the legendary pitcher who holds the Major League Baseball record for most career wins with 511 – 94 more than anyone else in history. “We talked for 20 minutes. It was the highlight of my life.”

Elman, a resident of Tradition at MorseLife, the health system’s premier assisted living residence, has many stories like this that he recently shared during an afternoon visit to his spacious apartment.

Autographed portraits of some of the greatest athletes of all time hang on his walls.  In his bedroom, there’s a signed photo of Mohammed Ali throwing his famous right-hand punch, a signed portrait of Michael Jordan, and a limited-edition scorecard signed by Tiger Woods.

“This is one of my favorites,” Elman said at least a handful of times as he enthusiastically shared his treasured memorabilia collection.

Now 84 years old, Elman lived a fascinating and fulfilling life before moving into the five-star, all-inclusive Tradition assisted living residence. He served in the U.S. Army in Germany in the late-1950s and worked for 47 years in advertising at The New York Times.

Elman chose Tradition because of its Kosher food services.  He also added that “The aides here are absolutely fantastic.”

Elman’s well-appointed living room is decorated with some of his largest mementos, including a team-signed Miami Dolphins jersey from the undefeated 1972 season, a limited-edition team-signed photo of the 1980 U.S. men’s Olympic hockey team, and a portrait signed by every member of the championship-winning 1973 New York Knicks.

Another of Elman’s favorites is a limited-edition painting of Yankees’ legend Don Larsen.

Along the tour, Elman proudly shared a signed Joe Montana San Francisco 49ers helmet, a signed portrait of every Major League Baseball player to hit 500 home runs, and a portrait signed by legendary tennis player Rod Laver.

Residents from The Palace and The Tradition at MorseLife Health System now have even more reason to love where they live with the opening of the stunning 1,500-square-foot Dorothy and Martin Bandier Dog Park. The park’s official opening was celebrated in classic MorseLife style, with a sophisticated ice cream social for residents and special treats for their canine companions.

At MorseLife, we are always seeking new opportunities for our residents to enjoy life and live every day to its fullest. Pets bring residents great joy and companionship and leisurely strolls in the dog park will offer added opportunities for outdoor fitness and socialization with other dog owners. The park is a wonderful addition to MorseLife’s luxury living campus and the many five-star services and activities already provided here.

The Bandier Dog Park is a secured area of pure fun for the pet residents at The Palace independent living residence and The Tradition assisted living residence to explore and relax. The park offers fun equipment tailored for exercising and entertainment with benches for the humans, water foundation and shaded areas. The serene new setting will also be used for pet therapy, a new life enhancement for residents who already enjoy music therapy, virtual reality, art therapy and more.

We are incredibly thankful to Dorothy and Martin Bandier working with MorseLife to bring this project to life for senior residents. The significant generosity of all our donors ensures that seniors on MorseLife’s campus and throughout Palm Beach County receive the highest quality care and support as they age.

To learn more about MorseLife visit www.morselife.org or call 561.815.1276

When it comes to love and relationships, Philip and Peg O’Donnell are a case study in love that was meant to be. While every relationship has bumps in the road, only a partnership built on love, trust and respect will withstand the test of time.

Their love story began 75 years ago in 1947, when they were prom dates. Phil was the student manager of the basketball team at their high school in Indiana and the vice president of the booster club. Peg was busy competing for grades and was, in Phil’s words, “the class sweetheart.” Although there was a spark between them from the start, life took them down different paths. Phil attended Butler University, enlisted in the Air Force and became a pharmacist. Peg married and eventually became an elementary school counselor. Over the years, life went on and their relationship was just a distant memory, or so they thought.

Then came their 50-year high school reunion, where the two quickly and naturally got to sharing their stories and catching up on five decades that seemed to have flown by.

“The sparks flew,” said Peg, with a loving look at Phil.

“You can still see it today,” said Phil.

After the reunion, each of them went back home and stayed in touch with letters. Before long, it was apparent that they were in love. They married four years later, on Nov. 25, 2001, and their meant-to-be relationship continued to grow.

They eventually moved to North Carolina and later to Bonita Springs, Florida. In September 2022 they were displaced by the devastation of Hurricane Ian, which destroyed the coast of Southwest Florida. Forced to relocate, they remembered hearing about Tradition, where a family member once lived.

Today, they live in a fifth-floor apartment at MorseLife’s Tradition All-Inclusive Assisted Living, on a magnificent campus where they can access the help they need and where nearby friends and family can stop by to visit.

“It’s very clean here and the food is great,” Peg said.

Without a doubt, Peg and Phil were meant to be together. Comfortable with each other and with their new home at Tradition, they treasure the feeling of being “at home,” surrounded by friendship and love.

Consul General of Israel Visits MorseLife in Celebration of State of Israel Day

Maor Elbaz-Starinsky, Consul General of Israel to Florida, recently visited MorseLife to discuss Holocaust education initiatives, including MorseLife NEXT GENERATIONS Holocaust Living Learning Experience and MorseLife’s Workforce Initiative.

MorseLife residents also spent the special day celebrating State of Israel Day, which included live performances and a special Israeli-inspired lunch and dinner menu. Residents dined on delicious harissa-spiced salmon, chicken shawarma, falafel, vegetable soup, and more.

International and Israeli music, both old and new, filled the Levin Palace Independent Living during live performances by a pop-opera singer with a five-octave range, Michael Peer, and his five-piece band. At Tradition Assisted Living, a hip Shalom Trio performed jazz, folk, and traditional Israeli music. In addition, the dynamic duo Noam Agami and Orel brought Israeli music to residents in MorseLife’s long-term and short-term care. Lastly, Resnick residents enjoyed the international Israeli singer, Julietta Daniel.

Other special guests who participated in the day-long celebration and conversation included: Palm Beach County School Board Member Marcia Andrews, Broward County School Board Member Nora Rupert, Senator Rene Garcia, Florida Director Republican Jewish Coalition Matt Bogdanoff, President and CEO of CareerSource Palm Beach Julia Dattolo and Director of Business Services CareerSource Palm Beach Judy Dunn.

MorseLife NEXT GENERATIONS Holocaust Living Learning Experience offers multi-dimensional educational resources to teach the lessons of the Holocaust, providing programming, speakers, and education using NEXT GENERATIONS signature educational model that features Holocaust Survivors and their descendants sharing their impactful, first-hand accounts of their experiences. MorseLife’s Workforce initiative provides training courses and career opportunities for western palm beach county residents in clinical and hospitality tracks. These courses include Certified Nursing Assistants, Home Health Aides, Medical Technicians, Chef, Cooks, Servers, and Porters.

Through NOW for Holocaust Survivors, MorseLife provides home care, nutritious meals through Meals-On-Wheels, care management, dental care, medications, essential home repairs, and other crucial services to low-income Survivors and their immediate families.

MORSELIFE RESIDENT AND GHOST ARMY VETERAN MANNY FROCKT HONORED WITH CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL

Army Veteran Manny Frockt, 98, was recently honored at a special ceremony at Tradition Assisted Living at MorseLife, to mark the recent award of the Congressional Gold Medal to the Ghost Army. These secret WWII units used creative deception to fool and distract the enemy on the battlefields of Europe.

Frockt was presented with a copy of the bill passed by Congress and signed by the President earlier this year, awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to The Ghost Army, along with a letter from President Biden. (The U.S. Mint will strike the actual gold medal at a later date). Rick Beyer, President of the Ghost Army Legacy Project, shared remarks about the history of the Ghost Army and the campaign to secure the Congressional Gold Medal for its members.

Frockt served in the 3132 Signal Service Company, Special. The sonic deception arm of the Ghost Army was tasked with the unique mission to impersonate other Allied units to deceive and disrupt German military actions. Their tactical deception included the use of inflatable tanks, sound trucks, and fake radio transmissions. Unfortunately, the story of this unit was kept secret after the war and only became declassified in 1996.
The Congressional Gold Medal award is a long-overdue recognition of the dangerous and heroic exploits of the Ghost Army, which is credited with saving thousands of lives during the war.

A Salute to Volunteer Deborah Zangara

April is National Volunteer Month, and many of our residents know Deborah Zangara who has volunteered at The Tradition for 15 years beginning when she visited West Palm Beach as a snowbird and continuing after moving to Florida permanently this year.

“I first heard about MorseLife from a neighbor who used to volunteer,” Deborah recalls. “I worked once a week the first year and just kept adding days. I now volunteer from 9-5, five days a week.”

On a typical Monday, Deborah can be found in the art room, first preparing it with the tablecloth and brushes, then working alongside residents as they enjoy painting.

On most Tuesdays and Wednesdays, Deborah assists with the beading classes. “I work with residents one-on-one in the beading classes and I’ve come to know what colors and shapes they prefer,” she says.

Deborah can also be seen assisting with bingo on Thursdays and preparing for the Shabbat by putting out candles, wine, and challah on Fridays.
“I see many of the same people each day and some have become good friends,” Deborah says. “I like volunteering at MorseLife because the people there are nice and they treat you very well.”

A retired messenger/clerk from a major law firm in Manhattan, Deborah volunteers to help with bingo at her church.
Thank you, Deborah, for your generous spirit and friendly service as a volunteer.