Legacy at Home Hosts Jewish Sensitivity Program for Caregivers

June 29, 2012 - PRLog -- The Legacy Senior Communities recently expanded its services to include Legacy at Home, a home health care agency for seniors in the Greater Dallas area. Legacy at Home administrators recently invited Rabbi Howard Wolk to educate home health caregivers on certain Jewish customs and traditions that will help them better serve and care for their Jewish patients, as providing a Jewish environment is one of the central elements of Legacy’s mission.

“By familiarizing caregivers with Jewish practices, they will be better able to understand their patients and provide care specifically tailored to each person,” said Rabbi Wolk. “This is sort of a Judaism 101, and we will cover many topics that may come in handy when caring for a Jewish patient. One cannot prepare for every single situation because individual practices may vary, but it is my goal to give as much helpful information to these caregivers as I can.”

The Rabbi began his instruction on important care issues, beginning with answering the group’s questions on preparation for the Sabbath and the Kosher lifestyle. The Rabbi’s focus on the practical application of Jewish traditions is a key part of the training for Legacy staff. The Legacy Board of Trustees is committed to continued instruction of employees as part of our service and quality initiatives.  
“We want to thank Rabbi Wolk for the fun and informative instruction on Jewish life that he provided for the nurses and caregivers of Legacy at Home,” said Elizabeth Mason, administrator, Legacy at Home. “Legacy at Home continues The Legacy Senior Communities’ commitment of honoring Jewish traditions as we continue educating nurses and caregivers.”
“This course is an important part of our staff training program on Jewish culture and traditions,” said Brian Barnes, CFO, The Legacy Senior Communities. “Our core values include respect, care with dignity and sensitivity to patient and family traditions. Rabbi Wolk’s instruction assists our team in providing excellent care for the Jewish families we serve.”
The Legacy Senior Communities, Inc. is the parent company of The Legacy at Willow Bend, The Legacy at Preston Hollow and Legacy at Home.
The Legacy at Preston Hollow is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit, faith-based senior living residence that offers a continuum of care allowing residents to stay in place with assisted living, short-term rehabilitation, skilled nursing, and long term care. Built in 2001, the community features 41 assisted living apartments, 113 skilled nursing beds and a state-of-the-art Medicare unit. The Legacy at Preston Hollow is the Dallas Home for the Jewish Aged and a partner agency of the Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas. The community is family service-oriented and open to people of all faiths. For questions regarding admissions, please call (214) 363-5100 or visit www.thelegacyPH.org.

The Legacy at Willow Bend is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit retirement community and Plano’s first and only life care retirement community. It is situated on a 28-acre site at Spring Creek Parkway between Preston Road and Ohio Drive. The Legacy at Willow Bend offers resort-style services and amenities for active, independent seniors, as well as all levels of health care services on-site. The community features 103 independent living apartment homes, 12 custom independent living villas, 40 assisted living apartment homes, 18 memory support suites, and 60 private skilled healthcare suites.  The Legacy at Willow Bend is the only Jewish-sponsored life care retirement community in Texas and is open to people of all faiths.  For information, call (972) 468-6208, or visit www.thelegacyWB.org.