Hebrew SeniorLife Celebrates Program for Russian-Speaking Older Adults

Hebrew SeniorLife celebrated 25 years of offering services for Russian-speaking older adults with an event at Hebrew Rehabilitation Center—Roslindale. The event was attended by 150 people, including staff, family members, volunteers, and donors.

Hebrew SeniorLife offers culturally competent services for Russian-speaking older adults throughout its continuum, including in long-term chronic care at Hebrew Rehabilitation Center. These services feature fluent staff members in both English and Russian, and programming that promotes the physical, intellectual, and spiritual well-being of Russian-speaking patients and residents.

“Our program is unique because it not only provides language support and culturally-appropriate care, but it also has become a place where patients feel safe and part of a family,” said Alexandra Dashevskaya, MA, MS, Hebrew SeniorLife director of bilingual services. “I’m grateful to have led this program since the beginning, and appreciate how much the sense of community has grown along with our staff and service offerings.”

The event raised $110,000 to benefit services for Russian-speaking older adults, helping to fund concerts, holiday ceremonies, culturally appropriate events, and new equipment, among others.

The evening also included remarks from Ernest Mandel, MD, SM, executive vice president for health care and chief medical officer, along with a roundtable discussion with Lunder CareForce Institute Executive Vice President Tammy Retalic, DNP, MS, RN; Associate Chief Medical Officer Kent Bakaev, MD; and a patient’s family member. It was moderated by trustee and long-time volunteer Galina Khatutsky. Attendees watched a video featuring interviews with bilingual staff, stories from family members, and information about the program’s impact on patients.

See a three-minute video of the celebration: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bw5fL6boiTk

About Hebrew SeniorLife

Hebrew SeniorLife, an affiliate of Harvard Medical School, is a national senior services leader uniquely dedicated to rethinking, researching, and redefining the possibilities of aging. Hebrew SeniorLife cares for more than 4,500 seniors a day across campuses throughout Greater Boston. Locations include: Hebrew Rehabilitation Center-Boston and Hebrew Rehabilitation Center-NewBridge in Dedham; NewBridge on the Charles, Dedham; Orchard Cove, Canton; Simon C. Fireman Community, Randolph; Center Communities of Brookline, Brookline; Jack Satter House, Revere; and Leyland Community, Dorchester. Founded in 1903, Hebrew SeniorLife also conducts influential research into aging at the Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research, which has a portfolio of more than $98 million, making it one of the largest gerontological research facilities in the U.S. in a clinical setting. It also trains more than 500 geriatric care providers each year. For more information about Hebrew SeniorLife, follow us on our blog, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and LinkedIn.