New Bedford Jewish Convalescent Home celebrates 50th anniversary

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NEW BEDFORD – Years ago, a group of visionary, committed and public-spirited men and women dreamed about establishing a nonsectarian, nonprofit, Jewish-sponsored convalescent home on the site of the D. Lumiansky estate at 200 Hawthorn St., New Bedford. That dream was realized on March 14, 1966 with the admission of the first seven patients to the new New Bedford Jewish Convalescent Home. 

Fast forward 50 years to 2016 and the families of these remarkable volunteers and the many people who have been a part of the convalescent home’s history invite all members of the community to join in marking the home’s golden anniversary at a gala celebration on Sept. 18.

For half a century, NBJCH has helped thousands of people needing care in their elder years, those recuperating from a debilitating illness and, most recently, those who require short-term rehabilitation services. While retaining its home-like atmosphere, NBJCH has grown physically as well, adding a second floor in 1970 to double the facility’s capacity to 80 beds.

Extensive renovations in recent years have made the NBJCH a state-of-the-art skilled nursing facility in Southeastern Massachusetts and enabled it to expand its rehab capabilities to help short-term rehabilitations patients.

Services include both skilled and non-skilled nursing care 24 hours a day.  Using an interdisciplinary approach, the rehabilitation program treats the whole person by combining physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy with the nursing care to help residents function at the safest and highest level.  Additionally, NBJCH provides a full range of stimulating activities to meet each resident’s physical, cognitive, social and spiritual needs.

NBJCH’s medical, clinical and rehabilitation teams are recognized regionally and nationally for the unique blend of care and compassion.   NBJCH has received highly prestigious quality awards in 2014 and 2016 from the American Health Care Association (AHCA), the nation’s largest association of long-term and post-acute care provider.  Additionally, NBJCH administrator Carol Trudeau was presented the 2014 Eli Pick Facility Leadership Award by the American College of Health Care Administrators (ACHCA).

In reflecting on this year’s celebration NBJCH President Stanley Levine said, “As NBJCH marks this 50-year milestone of outstanding accomplishments, it must also look forward and realize that many changes lay ahead for our healthcare system.  While we can’t accurately predict all that will take place or anticipate their full impact, we do know that what a community of public-spirited New Bedford area residents achieved is something to be commended today and worth preserving for the future. We are thankful to our founders for their visionary leadership in establishing a truly remarkable facility and to all our community leaders throughout the years who have guided NBJCH’s growth and helped it remain an integral and important member of our Southcoast healthcare community.”

Festivities on Sept. 18 begin at 5:30 pm under a white tent on the convalescent home’s grounds.  Individual tickets are $100 and include hors d’oeuvres and a buffet dinner.  Businesses are also invited to lend their support as sponsors or advertisers for this event.  For information, call 508-997-9314.

Submitted by the New Bedford Jewish Convalescent Home