Jewish Home Family History

At 100 Years…How Many Can Boast 20/20 Vision!

The benchmark of any community, especially one steeped in Jewish values, is often measured by how it responds to those at risk — and the value of that response — gauged by sustainability and excellence over the course of time. By all measure, the original efforts of the Hudson County Jewish community in response to the plight of abandoned Jewish immigrant children in 1915 was impressive, but represented only the beginning of a century long effort of committed communities and motivated Jewish philanthropists with collective foresight and nimble vision, to continually respond to growing needs of the most vulnerable in the community.

Since its founding as the Hebrew Orphans Home of Hudson County in 1915, elements of the Jewish Home Family have responded to the community’s changing needs; from orphans to handicapped children, from adults unable to find affordable housing to the needs of the frail and elderly in need of long-term care and assisted living settings, and most recently to seniors and the elderly wishing to live their final years safely and comfortably in their own homes.

Over this century of service, whether serving the needs of children, the chronically ill in a hospital setting, seniors in outpatient clinical settings, servicing kosher nutrition sites or delivering kosher Meals-on-Wheels to homebound elderly, establishing Adult Day Care programs, providing kosher assisted living or senior at home services, the mantra has always been the same — to respond by offering the highest excellence in programs and services, state-of-the-art facilities, and doing so in a prudent and financially sustainable fashion.

But perhaps the most distinguishing aspect of the one-hundred year journey of the Jewish Home Family has not been in its accomplishments or achievements, but rather the community’s support and the leadership’s ongoing commitment, not to be satisfied with the past, the present or the status quo in terms of facilities, programs, services or financial stability, but to constantly remain in the vanguard, taking strategic and proactive approaches to defining the needs of the community, and then providing the systems to effectively satisfy those needs.

We find ourselves in an exciting and demanding era in the fields of medicine and eldercare. Consumers and providers of care are confronted with many challenges…but also many opportunities. As it has for 100 years, the Jewish Home Family will continue to pursue those opportunities.

In 2015, the Jewish Home Family is indeed 100 years young! Young at heart as well as in spirit, and surely young in vision that we like to boast is 20/20. We are keenly aware that “Our Next Century Starts Now” as we embark on the second 100 years of our journey. We hope you will join us and be a part of the journey as the Jewish Home Family continues its exceptional tradition of providing excellence in eldercare services.

2017

• Jewish Home Family (JH Family) launches $30 Million Second Century Campaign.
• Jewish Home Assisted Living (JHAL) opens 3,000 square foot expansion.
• JH Family partners with Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research and launches system-wide Parkinson’s support, education and clinical programs.
• JHAL becomes first in NJ to offer a short-term IV program in an assisted living setting.

2016

• 6 acres of adjacent property to the Jewish Home at Rockleigh (JHR) campus is purchased.

2015

• Jewish Home Family (JH Family) celebrates its Centennial with a year-long series of events open to the community.
• Jewish Home@Home (JH@H) opens @HomeCare, providing optimum home care services to seniors in the community.
• JH@H incorporates @Home Safely (formerly known as Jewish Federation’s Bonim Builders) into the services offered to seniors requiring home renovations.
• JH Family opens SeniorHaven for Elder Abuse Prevention, first and only elder abuse shelter in NJ.

2014

• JH Family welcomed Carol Silver Elliott as President & CEO.
• JH Family honored Charles P. Berkowitz’ 44 years of commitment to the Jewish Home as he stepped down as President & CEO.
• Jewish Home Assisted Living (JHAL) offers college courses to residents in conjunction with Montclair State University.

2013

• JH Family combined agency budgets exceeded $35 Million.
• Hot Kosher Holiday Meals program continues to expand; delivered to area seniors by volunteers.
• National documentary program, Visionaries, selected Jewish Homes’ continuum of Alzheimer’s care.

2012

• JH Family dedicated The Charles P. Berkowitz Gardens honoring Chuck Berkowitz’ 40 years of service to the elderly on the grounds of the Jewish Home at Rockleigh (JHR).
• JHAL celebrated its 5th Anniversary, and JHR celebrated its 10th Anniversary.

2011

• JH Family adds a full-time Director of Volunteer Services to expand number of volunteers helping seniors living at home and in JHR and JHAL facilities.
• JH@H continued to expand network of services to seniors in the community living at home.

2010

• JH@H began providing geriatric care management services to the community.
• JHR and JHAL operated with an average daily census of 98% and 90% respectively.
• JH Family President & CEO began full-time oversight of all facilities, programs and services.
• Boneh Olam Annual Giving program exceeds $1 Million mark.
• JHR continues to operate with an average daily census of 98% and is cited “one of the top nursing homes in New Jersey” by U.S. News and World Report, being the only kosher facility in Bergen County named to the list.
• JHAL operates at 93% capacity.
• JH@H elects it first Board and begins providing services in the Spring of 2010.

2009

• JH Family approves launching of “Jewish Home@Home,” a new eldercare agency for the elderly living at home. Geriatric Care Management will be initial program in 2010.

2008

• Jewish Home corporate restructure established a parent entity (Jewish Home Family) for broad oversight of four subsidiaries — JHRC, JHR, JHF and JHAL.
• JHR operated with an average daily census of 98.6%.
• Endowments enabled new initiatives: resident and employee recognition programs.
• JH Family explored responding to unmet homecare needs of seniors in community.

2007

• JHAL facility opened in May 2007, expanding services to our elderly.
• JHF Boneh Olam Annual Giving Program reached a record level, reinforcing its significance as the vehicle of support for the operational budget.
• JHR looked to complete $3 Million Capital initiative to further reduce mortgage, complete capital improvements, and secure financial stability.

2006

• JHAL construction continued.
• JHF looked at new community-based services designed to keep the elderly in their own homes.
• JHF re-energized Endowment/Planned Giving Committee in order to build a significant endowment to secure future financial needs to meet the needs of the elderly.

2005

• Construction on Assisted Living project began.
• Established a non-sectarian Congregational Nursing program with Federal funding through the Naturally Occurring Retirement Community (NORC) program through efforts of UJA-NNJ.
• Continued our relationship with Dominican College for training of nursing students.
• JHR indebtedness reduced to $18.8 Million with major refinance package.
• Gallen Adult Day Health Care Program’s average daily census rose to 44 clients.

2004

• The Assisted Living Facility’s plans completed.
• First on-site training program for Certified Nursing Aides completed.
• Expansion of outpatient services including medical, rehabilitation, adult day healthcare, and kosher meal program. Increased services in Rockland County.

2003

• JHR reached 99% occupancy before year-end.
• Continued to provide Jewish community with Kosher Meals-on-Wheels at the JCC on the Palisades, Y-JCC in Washington Township, Teaneck Jewish Center, and the JCC in Bayonne.
• Series of educational programs were hosted for members of the community.
• Opened our synagogue to unaffiliated members of our Jewish community.

2002

• JHR was fully operational, providing kosher meals (under RCBC supervision) to the elderly in their homes and to facilities in Bergen, Hudson, Rockland and Passaic Counties, and providing sub-acute, hospice, long-term, and rehabilitation care.

2001

• In November, JHR was licensed and opened to its first resident.
• JHR took over Kosher meal program in Bergen, Hudson, Rockland and Passaic Counties.

2000

• Capital Campaign for JHR eclipsed $23 Million milestone.
• Preliminary site plans for an Assisted Living facility in River Vale were developed.

1999

• Contracts for the Rockleigh facility were signed, and construction began.

1998

• Capital Campaign for JHR gained momentum throughout the Bergen, Rockland and Hudson Jewish communities.

1997

• Recipient of “Certificate of Need for an Assisted Living Facility” in Bergen County.

1996

• The Patron program — “Own A Day in Jewish Life” — was launched.
• Harwood Pavilion fully occupied.
• Expansion of River Vale Adult Day Care program, utilizing facilities of the YM-YWHA of Bergen County.

1995

• Harwood Pavilion, affordable housing for the elderly opened and the first apartments were occupied.
• First Golf and Tennis Outing was held at Edgewood Country Club, River Vale, NJ.

1994

• A 16-acre site, including a 160,000 square-foot building in Rockleigh, was purchased to be converted into a state-of-the-art long-term care center.

1993

• UJC’s Task Force reaffirmed need for JHRC facility in Bergen County.

1992

• Personal Endowment Program was launched.
• Bergen County expansion sites were considered.

1991

• Plans for affordable housing facility in Jersey City were implemented.
• Relationship was developed with Rockland County Jewish Home for the Aged to provide long-term care services for the Jewish elderly within the Rockland County community.
• Kosher Meals-on-Wheels was expanded to Bergen County sites.

1983

• Planning Committee identified need for added long-term care beds in Bergen County.

1970’s

• First Adult Day Care program in New Jersey was established at Jersey City facility.
• Kosher nutrition site served over 100 people per day in Jersey City.
• Kosher Meals-on-Wheels delivered 80 meals/day to homebound elderly.
• Outpatient Dental, Medical and Podiatry clinics and Rose Gross Center for Handicapped Children was established.
• 50-bed nursing facility was opened in River Vale, Bergen County.
• Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing facility completed in Jersey City; name changed to JHRC.

1960’s

• Rehabilitation services were added.

1950’s

• Hebrew Home, now “Hebrew Home and Hospital,” began serving needs of the chronically ill from Bergen, as well as Hudson Counties. Joseph Gross Hospital Pavilion was built with 150 beds making it the largest specialized hospital in New Jersey — totaling 325 beds.

1940’s

• Harry Yager long-term custodial and nursing care building was built.
• David Kahn Infirmary was added to provide custodial and nursing care.

1930’s

• Number of elderly unable to care for themselves increased. Children’s cottages remodeled.
• Institution’s name was changed to “Hebrew Home for Orphans and Aged of Hudson County.”

1915

• Small cottage on Stevens Avenue, Jersey City was purchased to house and care for Jewish orphans. Later formally incorporated as the “Hebrew Orphans Home of Hudson County.”