Keeping us Clean: Manny Entrambasaguas
If you hear joyous singing or whistling when you’re in the Home, it’s probably Manuel “Manny” Entrambasaguas.
The longtime laundry aide loves to sing while he works; so much, in fact, his mother asked him as a little boy to sing professionally. Instead, Manny now sings informally while supervising the washing, drying, and folding of the Robison Jewish Health Center/Harold Schnitzer Center for Living laundry—what is about 500 sheets, towels, and blankets a day.
Comfort Objects Help Calm Long-Term Care Residents
Everyone needs a little comfort now and then.
That’s why many elements of our robust Life Enrichment program for residents in long-term care involve activities that evoke strong memories. Activities that residents in long-term care enjoyed in their lives previously—arranging flowers, painting, planting, cooking—all are strategically incorporated into our model program. Such activities are especially important for residents with dementia, or in the middle to late stages of Alzheimer’s.
To help elders who have a strong need to nurture,
Our Torahs are Home!
They’re back! Yes, after 2.5 years in Florida, the two Cedar Sinai Park Torahs out for repair are back on campus and ready to ring in 5784.
“The Torahs have had a wonderful vacation in Miami, and now they’re back!” said Eddy Shuldman, board trustee and spiritual life committee chairperson. “We are the people of the book. Our story as a people, and the guidelines for how we should live our lives, is contained within those scrolls.
Rabbi Barry Cohen Offers Connection, Support
The Jewish community chaplain, Rabbi Barry Cohen, is going to be spending more time at Cedar Sinai Park!
“Before Covid, Rabbi Barry used to come to breakfast once a week to spend time with the residents and have conversations,” said Spiritual Life Coordinator Cathy Zheutlin. “Now that Covid is on the wane, he will be here for one-to-one visits throughout the campus every Monday. In addition to occasionally leading Shabbat and other holiday services,
Margaret Leontyev: A Working Interview
It’s not always easy to chase down Margaret Leontyev. She not only moves fast, but the longtime catering manager has many different projects that she is working on, all at the same time. We ended up chatting while Margaret multi-tasked.
“Events are a big part of my job,” said Margaret, as she moves toward her computer. “We organize and prepare everything, set up, and then clean up afterwards. For some events we will also help serve as well.”
Margaret opens her spreadsheets to share the hundreds of invoices she codes,
Volunteer Brings Joy to Residents Through Music
Watching our slender volunteer Alan Moses lug his 21-pound accordion through the halls of Cedar Sinai Park to then set it on his knee for a playing and singing session with the residents is truly a lesson in dedication.
“It still feels like I’m wrestling an octopus every time I strap this thing on,” said the self-deprecating Alan, with a chuckle, as he nibbled an apple between gigs at our Home. “I found some great videos on accordion ergonomics,
Server Appreciates Cedar Sinai Park Love
Trevor Richen grew up in Portland in the food world. His great grandfather owned Griffin’s, a 1970s “cafeteria” in downtown Portland, where his parents and extended family worked before Trevor was born. The Rose Schnitzer Manor Assisted Living server considers himself a foodie.
“I like everything,” said Trevor, wearing one of his stylin’ baseball hats and duds after a shift. “I’m a sucker for pizza, but I also love branching out. I love Mexican food,
Caregiver’s Family Woven into Cedar Sinai Park Tapestry
Jasmine Lohn, L.P.N., C.N.A., is a prime example of the interconnectedness and tradition that is Cedar Sinai Park. Her parents worked at Robison Jewish Home when Jasmine was a young girl! So did her grandmother and aunt!
“She looked just the same,” said Harold Schnitzer Center for Living Resident Joeen Rodinsky (z”l), whose mother lived at Robison in the mid-1990s and was cared for by Jasmine’s mother, Aura. “When I came her to live,
Going Above and Beyond in Maintenance
There isn’t much Aaron Farrar hasn’t taught himself about fixing stuff.
“I wasn’t really much of a handyman until I took an opportunity at another facility several years ago as the director of maintenance,” said Aaron, who became Cedar Sinai Park’s lead maintenance technician almost two years ago. “The former director quit and walked off the job, so there wasn’t anyone I could turn to for advice. I had no training whatsoever. They just threw me in and told me to figure it out.
Manager Loves to Cook and Care for Cedar Sinai Park’s Kehillah Residents
Nathan Burgess was a care provider at Jewish Family & Child Services in 2014, when he was asked by a parent there to apply for the role of in-house manager at Kehillah.
“I used to come here to take folks out in the community to do fun things,” said Nathan. “I met a parent here and she said they were looking for an on-site manager.”
That was eight years ago, and Nathan has been managing the apartments of Kehillah’s 14 residents and tending to their needs ever since.
