Category: Kavod Connections

In this issue of Kavod Connections we are proud to introduce you to Teen Ovation, an initiative recently chosen by the Association of Jewish Aging Services (AJAS) for a distinguished Jewish Programming Award. We are so proud of this recognition and the great honor to be able to share it with Jewish senior living communities around the world.

AJAS, founded in 1960, serves as a meeting place for innovation and thought leadership to drive outstanding mission based elder services. Ovation Communities has a long history of active participation in AJAS, with Nita Corré having served as its Chairperson, and I currently serve as Treasurer.

Through our involvement we are one of over 100 organizations, worldwide, committed to sharing best practices to assist each member community to excel. Our Jewish programming award, our second in five years following Rabbi Steven Adams Holocaust Survivors’ Seder, recognizes innovative programming that can be easily replicated by other AJAS members.

Please read further, here Teen Ovation Board Wins Jewish Programming Award, Blueprint For Facilities Worldwide – Ovation Communities, about what inspired Tanya Mazor-Posner, our Vice President of Development, to launch this amazing program.

Originally from Sun Prairie, Wis., and attending University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire, Ally Thiel knew she wanted to work in the health care industry.

“Originally when I got to Eau Claire, I was a nursing major,” Thiel said. “I was also working as a CNA, and after about a year, I realized that nursing wasn’t for me.

I wanted to work more on the business side of health care.

“I had a friend in the Healthcare Administration Program, and she highly recommended it,” Thiel continued. “I looked into that, and I liked that it was a combination of the medical side of things, but also the business side of things, so I joined the program and changed my major.”

As part of the UW–Eau Claire Healthcare Administration program, students are required to participate in a 50-week administrative residency.

Interviewing at several facilities, including ones in Iowa and Minnesota, Thiel knew Ovation Communities was exactly where she wanted to be. Working directly with Katie Quintanilla, Jewish Home Administrator, Thiel has been able to experience every facet of senior living.

“When I interviewed with Katie, I knew this was my number one choice,” Thiel said. “I have really enjoyed it here and learning from everyone.”

Running from June 2021 through May 2022, Thiel takes her turn working with every department from nursing to admissions, marketing, and dining, learning how each department operates.

While she has, and is spearheading several projects, including a resident snack program, a falls prevention program, a school supply collection drive, and Teen Ovation, the most exciting and important part of the residency for Thiel has been getting to know the residents.

“During my Activities Department rotation, I got the chance to play trivia with the residents, and it was incredible how they knew every answer,” Thiel said. “People don’t give seniors enough credit. They often think that seniors aren’t paying attention. Then you play a game of trivia with them, and you realize they know more than you do.”

Throughout the residency, Thiel has been able to gain valuable experience and leadership skills that will help guide her over the course of her career.

“This program is so important and valuable, not just for the student to gaining real-world experience and opportunities in the day-to-day operations of a facility,” Quintanilla said. “But also, for the facility, having fresh eyes and having another team member being part of quality improvement projects to enhance the daily lives of residents

“One of the best things about Ally is her initiative,” Quintanilla continued. “She’s not afraid to ask the right questions and she’ll follow through on her own. My hope is that Ally continues her career in health care. She is such an empathetic, caring, and intuitive person. That is such a value to health care.”

As she approaches her May graduation, Thiel doesn’t know what the future holds but she would never rule out a return to Ovation Communities.

“Trish Cohn always says, ‘all roads lead back to Ovation.’ So, we’ll see what my future holds.”

Ovation Communities is excited to announce its new Professor in Aging, Dr. Murad Taani. This position is supported by the Jewish Home and Care Center Foundation. Dr. Taani succeeds Dr. Christine Kovach who retired in 2020.

Question: Tell us a bit about your background.

Dr. Taani: I grew up in Jordan and earned my bachelor’s degree in nursing there in 2007. In 2010, I moved to the United States and subsequently completed my master’s in public health at New Mexico State University in 2014 and doctorate in nursing at UW-Milwaukee in 2017. During my graduate studies I also worked as a nurse in medsurg, oncology and critical care, and worked in research and as a teaching assistant. My current role is assistant professor in UWM’s College of Nursing, where I teach nursing students and conduct research around improving quality of life in older adults.

Q: Why did you decide on the career path you are on today?

DT: I have always been interested in science and research and had a desire to impact lives in positive ways. Nothing is as interesting and rewarding to me as helping older adults. I am also very passionate about conducting research, learning about the aging process, and promoting health in our older adult population.

Q: What research projects are you currently working on?

DT: Through a grant from Bader Philanthropies, we are in the first phase of a study on lung health. We are looking at ways to improve lung health, strengthen respiratory muscles, and increase physical ability in older adults. The team will be recruiting participants for the study in the next month or two, and the project is expected to take about two years to complete.

Q: What are you most excited about in your new role as Ovation’s next professor in aging?

DT: I want to thank Ovation Communities for this wonderful opportunity. It will allow me to focus on my passion of promoting health in aging adults. I work with many organizations and have never seen one as dedicated as Ovation is to helping people live longer, better, healthier lives. Together, I hope we can increase our research capabilities to continue to improve the health and wellbeing of Ovation’s residents, and older adults nationally and internationally.

Q: What trends in older adult wellness are important to pay attention to?

DT: There are a few areas that are especially important right now: improving physical performance and physical ability to keep people independent longer; addressing social isolation especially during the pandemic; and investigating causes and treatments for cognitive impairment.

Q: What are your initial impressions of Ovation Communities?

DT: I have found Ovation to be a place that truly cares about its residents. Everyone works seamlessly as a team and goes above and beyond to provide the best possible care in every aspect of daily life, not just health. I am so grateful to have this opportunity to work with them. Ovation is really an unbelievable, wonderful residential facility.

Ovation Communities is committed to providing high-quality programming for its residents. Thanks to a recent generous endowment gift to the Jewish Home and Care Center Foundation, a new Chai Point Classical Music Fund has been established allowing for the return of live classical performances.

“We are beyond grateful for this gift and excited to see all the joy the Chai Point Classical Music Fund will bring to our residents, many of whom are classical music lovers,” said Tanya Mazor-Posner, Jewish Home and Care Center Foundation Vice President of Development. “Many of us haven’t been able to go out and hear live music over the past year, so we wanted to bring the music to Ovation.”

Classical music is often recognized for its calming effects and recent studies have found it can also positively enhance memory. The musical performances will be available to all residents through both in person and remote options.

For 115 years Hand in Hand has supported Ovation Communities by providing companionship and comfort for residents and staff, and funding essential services and equipment. Over the past year and a half, this group of dedicated volunteers has been more important than ever.

“The relationship we have formed with Hand in Hand, has allowed us to continue to provide residents with the best care and services,” said Jewish Home and Care Center Foundation Vice President of Development, Tanya Mazor-Posner.” In addition to residents, Hand in Hand has also shown an appreciation for our dedicated staff.”

With Ovation’s frontline workers going the extra mile to care for residents throughout the pandemic, Hand in Hand initiated and continues to sponsor a monthly staff luncheon. These grab and go events allow employees to enjoy a catered meal during a busy workday and help boost morale and show appreciation during an especially challenging time.

In addition, a grant from Hand in Hand recently funded the purchase of a Sit to Stand Lift for the organization. The new device allows caregivers to help residents change positions safely and securely. Residents can hold onto handlebars and the lift does all the work. The Sit to Stand assists with essential activities like getting out of bed or up from a chair. Over the years Hand in Hand’s grant program, through the Jewish Home and Care Center Foundation, has ensured residents have access to new technology that enhances their care.

Hand in Hand volunteers continue to focus on lifting spirits and extending friendship throughout the community. To find out more about volunteer opportunities, contact Tanya Mazor-Posner, [email protected]

“Hand in Hand is a very high impact volunteer organization that has been around at the Jewish Home in since its inception in 1906. Over time it has morphed into a group of dedicated people whose purpose is to support Ovation’s staff and residents in a variety of ways.”

–Phil Himmelfarb, Hand in Hand chair

While the pandemic has presented many challenges in providing enriching activities for residents, it also presented some very unique opportunities. This summer, Israeli educator and Ovation collaborator David Bitan led numerous virtual tours of Israel for residents and community members.

David toured locations throughout Israel which showcased Jewish history, Israel’s history, military prowess, culture, and charming slices of Israeli life. These tours were featured and recorded on Zoom and have now been posted to the Foundation’s YouTube channel so that residents and other community members can enjoy them at their leisure.

“To bring Israel to the community in the midst of this pandemic is one of the most fantastic ideas that we came up with in partnership with one another,” Bitan said. “To connect Ovation’s residents to Israel, its landscapes, and historical sites, warms the heart and soul.”

Virtual tours have included:

The Old City o f Jerusalem
Neveh Zedek neighborhood of Tel-Aviv
Tel-Faher in the Golan Heights
Caesaria,
Um El Umdan (in Modiin)
Old Jaffa
a kibbutz tour
Zichron Yaakov
The Kastel and Mini Israel.

This program was made possible through a grant by the Jewish Home and Care Center Foundation.

Founded in 2016 by Judy Margolis, former Ovation Art Committee Chair, and Randy Crosby, Ovation CAO, Art | Ovation is a program that brings in professional and amateur artists to the halls of Ovation Communities.

The Art | Ovation galleries at both the Jewish Home and Chai Point feature work in a variety of mediums such as sculpture, painting, and photography, and often feature the hidden talents among Ovation’s residents.

“Having the art exhibits on a regular basis creates a positive vibe in the culture of the place. It energizes the place; it also gives people a conversation starter,” Randy says. “We’ve brought in a lot of interesting and really good art exhibits, and we’ve been really fortunate to have people who are interested in exhibiting their work.”

Currently on display in the Chai Point Gallery, is the work of current resident, Vladamir “Dima” Kushnaryov. Dima was a microbiologist who worked at the Medical College of Wisconsin for many years. He picked up the skill of painting toward the end of his career.

“It happened so that my son was reading the newspaper and saw an ad from an art store where they offered classes for beginners,” Dima says, “So, he told me, ‘Dad, why don’t you start painting?’ I had never painted in my life before, so he was very generous and offered to pay for the class.

“My nature as a researcher, I like challenges, so when I started to first paint, nothing good came out of my painting,” Dima continues, “So, then I started to take it more seriously. One day, our instructor said that the most difficult medium is watercolor, and here I was asking, ‘is it the most difficult? Then I will do that!’”

Dima’s work includes a variety of landscapes in different settings. Some are from his trips to Ireland, and some are inspired by the trails he walked when he lived at Sarah Chudnow. His favorite paintings are of the various dogs he has encountered, such as Erica, Mr. Becket, and Clyde.

Among the previous installations Art | Ovation has featured was Chai Point resident Shirley Langer’s collection of international walking canes.

“My husband happened to become ill while we were in Spain,” Shirley says, “He was hospitalized, and they recommended that we go home. When we left the hospital, my husband said ‘No way! Maybe we can find a store that sells canes.’ So that is what we did.

“I thought that I would make this a collection, so now wherever we go, we buy a cane,” Shirley continues, “I was first surprised to be asked to display my collection for Art | Ovation. I said, ‘you know more about displays more than I do, so if you’d like to, you’re very welcome to.’”

Displaying various mediums of art across both Ovation campuses has helped improve not only resident’s wellbeing, but it also benefits the employees and returning volunteers. Everyone gets to experience the balance that art and creativity bring to a well-rounded life.

“The pride that people have had in being able to have this, it’s like a travelling art gallery throughout the whole complex.” Trish Cohn, Chai Point Executive Director says. “For me, the arts are so important. When you think about this community, it is really a culture that knows about art, and really likes to be immersed in art, and immersed in different experiences.”

If you or someone you know want their art displayed at Ovation Communities, please reach out at: [email protected]