The Chelsea Jewish Foundation was recently awarded a $75,000 grant by The Boston Foundation. The grant money will go toward training staff and volunteers as well as developing operational procedures for the Leonard Florence Center for Living, a ground-breaking new component to the Chelsea Jewish Foundation’s network of healthcare facilities set to open early next year.
“I am so pleased that the Chelsea Jewish Foundation received this support from The Boston Foundation,” said Barry Berman, CEO of the Chelsea Jewish Foundation. “The Leonard Florence Center for Living is going to have a tremendous impact on the lives of the elderly and disabled. I am honored that The Boston Foundation recognizes the innovative nature of this project.”
The Leonard Florence Center for Living will provide a new model of skilled nursing care that creates homes for elderly individuals as well as for those with disabling conditions such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and multiple sclerosis. The complex will consist of ten 7,000 square foot condominium-style Green Houses, with each house containing ten private bedrooms arranged around a common living room, dining area, and open kitchen, serving a total of 100 residents. A team of nursing assistants will provide meals, laundry and personal care needs for the residents. A separate clinical support team made up of nurses, social workers, nutritionists, and other healthcare professionals will visit the houses regularly to provide clinical services.
“The Green House model will allow individuals to receive assistance with daily living and clinical care on an as needed basis as well as free them from the constraints of an institutional schedule, promoting autonomy and choice,” said Berman. For more information on the Chelsea Jewish Foundation and the Leonard Florence Center for Living, call 617-887-0001 or visit www.leonardflorencecenter.org.