Jewish Retirement Residence

At these Jewish retirement homes, the rivers of Manischewitz never run dry and the challah practically grows on trees. J. readers this year chose the Reutlinger Community for Jewish Living in the East Bay, Rhoda Goldman Plaza in San Francisco and Chai House in the South Bay/Peninsula as their favorite Jewish retirement residences.

One family member of a resident at Reutlinger in Danville told Executive Director Janice Corran, “when you walk in the front door you’re just overwhelmed by joy.”

At Reutlinger, residents can enjoy college-level courses and a weekly comedy club, in addition to the full-time rabbi and communal on-site synagogue.

At Rhoda Goldman Plaza, residents actively participate in creating activities, says Executive Director Susan Koster. And the five-star kosher California cuisine doesn’t hurt, either. The plaza is also proud of its celebrations of Jewish holidays with the residents and their families.

Marc Tumlinson, manager of San Jose’s Chai House, gets “a lot of comments about the warmth and the friendly people” at his facility. Chai House also is notable for the “814 store,” named after its address and maintained by its residents, which supports the very active tenants’ council. There are kosher meals Monday through Friday, and an annual seder that gives the house a “family-home atmosphere.”

Second place for San Francisco was the Jewish Home.

FIRST PLACE

San Francisco

Rhoda Goldman Plaza

(415) 345-5060

www.rgplaza.org

East Bay

Reutlinger Community

for Jewish Living

Danville

(925) 648-2800

www.rcjl.org

South Bay/Peninsula

Chai House

San Jose

(408) 947-1818

SECOND PLACE

San Francisco

Jewish Home

of San Francisco

(415) 334-2500

www.jhsf.org

Non-Sectarian Retirement Residence

Some people prefer a challah-less environment when it comes to a retirement home. But that’s only one of the reasons j. readers applaud these non-sectarian retirement residences: San Francisco Towers in the city, Byron Park in the East Bay, the Forum at Rancho San Antonio in the South Bay/Peninsula and the Redwoods in Marin/Sonoma.

“It’s like I have 198 grandparents,” said Skip Dodge, director of Byron Park in Walnut Creek. In addition to being a really caring place, he says, Byron Park also has a good relationship with goats. They bought the goats in order to conduct fire prevention in an eco-friendly way, as part of a larger drive toward environmental sustainability. Grandchildren of Byron Park residents got to enjoy the goats, too, when a petting zoo was set up.

In Mill Valley, the Redwoods is the place for advocates of social justice. A recent recipient of the Heart of Marin Award, residents at the Redwoods started a group of advocates called Seniors for Peace, and conduct a scholarship program that awards six $2,500 college scholarships to local students. When they get tired of trying to save the world, some residents play in the drumming group.

The Forum at Rancho San Antonio in Cupertino boasts a vibrant community made up of active, engaged residents and a supportive staff. Jean Newton, director of community relations, notes that the Forum’s equity ownership plan is unique in the area and its continuing care offers a real sense of security and peace of mind for residents and family members.

Seniors who love the arts will find a haven at San Francisco Towers. The people who live there, says Director of Marketing Kate Hopeke, are well-educated and well-traveled. Residents enjoy political discussions, a poetry-writing workshop, a French conversation group and weekly performances by the Conservatory of Music.

Sunrise Senior Living in the East Bay, the Broadmoor Hotel in San Francisco and Palo Alto Commons in the South Bay/Peninsula took second place.

FIRST PLACE

San Francisco

The Towers

(415) 776-0500

www.ehf.org/sft

East Bay

Byron Park

Walnut Creek

(925) 937-1700

www.byronpark.com

South Bay/Peninsula

The Forum at

Rancho San Antonio

Cupertino

(650) 944-0100

www.theforum-seniorliving.com

Marin/Sonoma

The Redwoods

Mill Valley

(415) 383-2741

www.theredwoods.org

SECOND PLACE

San Francisco

The Broadmoor

(415) 771-9119

East Bay

Sunrise Senior Living

Danville

(925) 831-1740

www.sunriseseniorliving.com

South Bay/Peninsula

Palo Alto Commons

(650) 494-0760

www.paloaltocommons.com

Home Care Program

There’s no place like home — when you’ve got the right people to help you out. J. readers’ favorite senior home care programs were Community Care Management Services of the Reutlinger Community for Jewish Living in the East Bay, and Jewish Family and Children’s Services’ Seniors•At•Home program for both Marin/Sonoma and San Francisco.

More about the Reutlinger Community for Jewish Living can be found under the favorite Jewish retirement residence category. The RCJL’s services, plus the home-care vision of director Anne Rosenthal, make up Community Care Management.

Seniors•At•Home, a program of the S.F.-based JFCS, offers a wide range of services, from counseling to care for serious illnesses. Registered nurses supervise the program, and they’re dedicated. “If for any reason a caregiver couldn’t go in,” marketing coordinator Ginnie Leeming said, “we would find a new caregiver for them.”

JFCS of the East Bay’s Center for Older Adult Services won second place.

FIRST PLACE

San Francisco

Seniors•At•Home

S.F.-based Jewish Family and Children’s Services

(415) 449-3700

www.jfcs.org

East Bay

Community Care Management Services

Reutlinger Community for Jewish Living

Danville

(925) 648-2800

www.rcjl.org

Marin/Sonoma

Seniors•At•Home

S.F.-based Jewish Family and Children’s Services

San Rafael

(415) 507-0564

www.jfcs.org

SECOND PLACE

East Bay

Suse Moyal Center for Older Adult Services

Jewish Family & Children’s Services of the East Bay

Albany

(510) 558-7800

www.jfcs-eastbay.org

Senior Day Program

Blue skies shine on these favorite senior day programs, no matter the weather. The winners were the Millman Respite Center in the East Bay and the L’Chaim Wellness Center in San Francisco.

On any day at the Millman Center at the Contra Costa JCC in Walnut Creek, you might find a hearty game of bingo, a visiting musician playing the banjo or dogs attending pet therapy with their owners. Activity specialist Susan Forbes says the center provides a positive sense of security and belonging for seniors with Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease and stroke-related illnesses. The Center also provides a support program for caregivers.

The L’Chaim Wellness Center, a program of the S.F.-based Jewish Family and Children’s Services, specializes in the Russian-speaking community. Anna Borovik, the center’s program director, talks proudly about the bilingual staff, the Russian poets and singers who come through and how the center helps people stay independent.

FIRST PLACE

San Francisco

L’Chaim Wellness Center

Jewish Family and Children’s Services

(415) 449-2900

http://www.jfcs.org/services/New_Americans_and_Emigre_Services/L'Chaim_Wellness_Center

East Bay

Millman Respite Center

Contra Costa Jewish Community Center

Walnut Creek

(925) 938-7800

www.ccjcc.org/template.php?section=PM