Yalena Tsurkan

Jewish retirement residence

The decision to leave your home and live in a retirement residence is never an easy one. The professionals who operate Jewish retirement facilities in the Bay Area understand this, and strive to make sure every resident feels right at home.

The Jewish Home of San Francisco opened its doors 138 years ago to a dozen seniors in an old Victorian; today the licensed skilled nursing facility has about 700 employees and 600 active volunteers serving 420 residents in five buildings on nine acres. A kosher kitchen and a full-time rabbi help sustain the original promise of offering care to seniors in the Jewish tradition.

At the Esther and Jacques Reutlinger Community for Jewish Living in Danville, residents also benefit from a continuum of care, from independent living to more intensive care environments. Choices for self-expression and entertainment abound, from dabbling in the art studio to taking a college course, visiting a comedy nightclub or attending a concert. Residents also can immerse themselves in the culture of other countries, or learn more about Judaism by studying Torah and viewing art at the on-site Jewish Heritage Museum.

The Moldaw Family Residences in Palo Alto is aware of the “on-the-go” lifestyle that many seniors embrace, and it bills itself as an “un-retirement community” on the Peninsula. Since opening its doors in September 2009 on the Taube Koret Campus for Jewish Life, the facility has offered residents a healthy selection of activities to support a “dynamic environment for healthy aging,” according to the website. Moldaw also offers flexibility in services and amenities.

Unlike other, larger retirement residences, L’Chaim House in San Rafael takes pride in its smaller size, just six residents. With a high ratio of caregivers to seniors, a private home setting, weekly outings, tai chi and yoga classes, cultural events and outings, L’Chaim House residents can choose a day full of activities — or one that is more quiet and meditative.

In second place were Rhoda Goldman Plaza in San Francisco and Chai House in San Jose.

 

 1st Place

San Francisco

Jewish Home San Francisco

(415) 334-2500

www.jhsf.org

East Bay

Reutlinger Community

for Jewish Living

Danville • (925) 648-2800

www.rcjl.org

South Bay/Peninsula

The Moldaw Family Residences

Palo Alto • (650) 433-3629

www.899charleston.org

North Bay

L’Chaim House

San Rafael

(415) 492-8390

www.lchaimhouse.com

 

 2nd Place

San Francisco

Rhoda Goldman Plaza

(415) 345-5060

www.rgplaza.org

South Bay/Peninsula

Chai House

San Jose

(408) 947-1818

sites.google.com/site/chaihousesj

Non-sectarian retirement residence

Having served seniors for 50 years, the Sequoias–San Francisco offers a range of amenities and services, from residential living to assisted living, and a variety of apartments, from studios to two-bedroom units with modern kitchenettes. Taking advantage of the city’s cultural abundance, the facility is located within walking distance of the symphony, ballet, opera and Asian Art Museum.

Residents at Byron Park in Walnut Creek have a menu of choices for exercise (yoga and tai chi), education (current events and book groups) and entertainment (bridge and bingo). A shuttle service takes seniors where they need to go, from medical appointments to social outings.

Monarch Place tied for first place in the East Bay. Among the luxuries at the Oakland facility are an on-staff pastry chef, an excursion bus, concierge services, fine dining and Sunday brunches.

At Palo Alto Commons, residents can enjoy hikes, a kazoo band and Nintendo Wii. Foothill College courses are offered and include world travel, arts and crafts, storytelling and music appreciation. Residents also can participate in intergenerational programs at Stanford University.

Vi (formerly Classic Residence at Hyatt) tied for first place in the South Bay/Peninsula. When the sun comes up in Palo Alto, residents can choose a morning hike or stick around to track investments online. Seniors at any one of the residences in 11 states can take part in clubs or sign up to volunteer in local organizations.

At Aegis Living in Corte Madera, residents can enjoy not only a private movie theater, but also the Marin Symphony and ferry trips to San Francisco. “I’ve seen joy be brought to their lives when they realize they can still participate, feel motivated and even learn new skills, like Wii bowling, hat making or hula dancing,” says Gail Gongoll, assisted living activity director in San Rafael, one of 15 Northern California locations.

In second place were San Francisco Towers, Saint Paul’s Towers in Oakland, Woodside Terrace in Redwood City and Aldersly Garden Retirement Community in San Rafael.

 

 1st Place

San Francisco

The Sequoias

(415) 922-9700

www.ncphs.org/life_care/the_sequoias_-_san_francisco

East Bay

Byron Park

Walnut Creek

(925) 937-1700

www.byronpark.com

East Bay

Monarch Place

Oakland

(510) 658-9266

www.monarchplace.cc

South Bay/Peninsula

Palo Alto Commons

Palo Alto

(650) 494-0760

www.paloaltocommons.com

South Bay/Peninsula

Vi (formerly Classic Residence by Hyatt)

Palo Alto

(650) 853-5000

www.viliving.com/communities/paloalto

North Bay

Aegis Living

Corte Madera

(415) 413-0002

www.aegisliving.com

 

 2nd Place

San Francisco

San Francisco Towers

(415) 776-0500

www.jtm-esc.org/sft

East Bay

St. Paul’s Towers

Oakland

(510) 835-4700

www.jtm-esc.org/spt

South Bay/Peninsula

Woodside Terrace

Redwood City

(650) 366-3900

www.brookdaleliving.com/woodside-terrace.aspx

North Bay

Aldersly Garden Retirement Community

San Rafael • (415) 453-9271

www.aldersly.com

Home care program

Jewish Family and Children’s Services’ Seniors at Home program is a j. reader favorite in three regions: San Francisco, the South Bay/Peninsula and the North Bay. The health care advocacy program arranges home care services that are personalized for each client’s needs. It also helps seniors who recently have been diagnosed with serious illnesses navigate the health care system. “We are a one-stop resource,” says director Judy Lynch.

SilverRide tied for first place in San Francisco. This door-to-door car service not only takes seniors to medical appointments and on personal errands, but also offers private excursions and arranges monthly social events. SilverRide promises to “arrive within 15 minutes of the scheduled departure time or the ride is half-price.”

Senior Alternatives in the East Bay offers home care, fiduciary services and free adult/child support groups. The home care program includes assistance with meal preparation, housekeeping, hygiene care, exercise and transportation to appointments. Special care and attention is given to managing the symptoms of dementia and mental illness.

Coming in second were Pathways in San Francisco and the Center for Elders’ Independence in Berkeley.

 

 1st Place

San Francisco, South Bay/Peninsula, North Bay

Seniors at Home

Jewish Family and Children’s Services

Various locations • (415) 449-3777

www.seniorsathome.org

San Francisco

SilverRide

(415) 861-7433

www.silverride.com

East Bay

Senior Alternatives

Oakland

(510) 482-3379

www.bayareaseniorcare.com

 

 2nd Place

San Francisco

Pathways

(888) 755-7855

www.pathwayshealth.org

East Bay

Center for Elders’ Independence

Berkeley

(510) 433-1150

www.cei.elders.org

Alzheimer’s care

Rhoda Goldman Plaza in San Francisco has an entire floor of suites dedicated for residents with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. At the Terrace, every resident has his or her own bedroom with a private or semi-private bathroom, providing privacy with the knowledge that others are close by. Daily programs keep the residents focused on what they can do, rather than on the things they can’t.

At Senior Alternatives in Oakland, even the most challenging cases are managed. The facility uses a combination of behavior and medicinal interventions, with care managers who communicate with neurologists to optimize the medication protocol.

At Cedar Creek Alzheimer’s & Dementia Care in Los Gatos, activities take place all day long. “My husband no longer has to compete in a world that is no longer his,” says the wife of a resident. Offered are music, art, pet therapy and more. “We live in our residents’ world rather than correcting them or expecting them to live in our reality,” says community relations director Kelley Colla.

In the North Bay, Aegis of Corte Madera starts by learning each resident’s life story. This helps the staff to “engage in meaningful conversations and interesting activities,” re-create the familiarity of home and “provide the comfort of happy memories,” according to its website. Aegis offers a memory care program featuring the “Snoezelen” philosophy of care that uses sensory stimulation for relaxation and redirection. This natural approach is meant to reduce the use of medication when possible.

In second-place were the Jewish Home of San Francisco, Millman Adult Day Program at the Contra Costa Jewish Community Center in Walnut Creek, Palo Alto Commons and Windchime of Marin in Kentfield.

 

 1st Place

San Francisco

Rhoda Goldman Plaza

(415) 345-5060

www.rgplaza.org

East Bay

Senior Alternatives

Oakland • (510) 482-3379

www.bayareaseniorcare.com

South Bay/Peninsula

Cedar Creek Alzheimer’s & Dementia Care Communities

Los Gatos • (408) 356-5636

www.the-creeks.com

North Bay

Aegis Living

Corte Madera • (415) 413-0002

www.aegisliving.com

 

 2nd Place

San Francisco

Jewish Home San Francisco

(415) 334-2500

www.jhsf.org

East Bay

Millman Adult Day Program

Contra Costa JCC

Walnut Creek • (925) 938-7800

www.ccjcc.org

South Bay/Peninsula

Palo Alto Commons

Palo Alto • (650) 494-0760

www.paloaltocommons.com

North Bay

Windchime of Marin

Kentfield

(415) 233-6809

www.windchimeofmarin.com