Page 37 - Healthcare News Sept.-Oct. 2020

HEALTHCARE HEROES OF WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS
A plaque has been placed outside the Julian J. Leavitt Family Jewish Nursing Home to honor those residents of the facility who lost their lives to COVID-19.
and their families. And she has done this through
a number of means, everything from donning PPE and visiting sick and dying residents with COVID
to rallying community organizations to send staff members meals of gratitude; from enlisting crisis therapists and mental-health counselors to offer staff
free confidential counseling to creating prayer and inspiration cards for spiritual support; from helping raise awareness
and funds for JGS’s Employee Assistance Fund to moving furniture, on at least one occasion.
“I’m part of the team,” she explained. “And I made a pretty quick decision — to be truly part of the team, 365 days a year, we do what we’re called upon to do.”
It is sentiments like this that prompted Susan Halpern,
vice president of Development and
Communications for JGS, who nominated Jacobson,
to write that “our heroes are people we look up
to and admire for their extraordinary actions and achievements. They are people we wish to emulate. Devorah’s countless acts of caring and loving-kindness, her concern for others, her efforts seeking justice for all, make her a standout candidate for the prestigious Healthcare Heroes award.”
Indeed, as she talked with HCN at a small table outside the Julian J. Leavitt Family Jewish Nursing
Home — a nod to the precautions being taken to keep all those inside the facility safe — Jacobson repeatedly pointed toward the building and said, “the real heroes are in there.”
She was referring to the frontline workers who confronted a ferocious outbreak of COVID-19 in the
“My only regret was that I could not hold my mother’s hand. Devorah held her hand for me. She let me say goodbye to my mother ... she was there to bridge the gap. It is because of Devorah t”hat my journey was so peaceful.
early spring that would ultimately claim 66 lives and leave staff members fearful of what might happen to them, but still committed to carrying out their jobs.
In many ways, she pivoted within her role, from spending the bulk of her time with residents and families — handling everything from Jewish programming to pastoral care, including one-on- one visits — to now devoting most of it to those staff members fighting the COVID battle but also confronting the many other issues of the day.
Jacobson
Continued on page A38
CHAMPIONS Thank You COVID
COMMUNITY
We salute all the Healthcare Heroes in our community including our colleagues at Greater Springfield Senior Services and O'Connell Care at Home!
A very special thanks to all COVID Community Champions at WMEC!
Holyoke, MA | 413.538.9020 | wmeldercare.org
Congratulations!
Rabbi Devorah Jacobson
She Cares!
We are so proud to see your accomplishments recognized.
Thank you for your countless acts of caring and loving-kindness while supporting our residents, families and staff through these challenging times. From your colleagues at:
Ruth’s House Assisted Living – Sosin Center for Rehabilitation Leavitt Family Jewish Home - Spectrum Home Health & Hospice Care Wernick Adult Day Health Care - Genesis House for Independent Living
770 Converse St, Longmeadow, MA 01106 • www.JGSLifecare.org • 413.567.6211
OCTOBER 2020 A25
2020 HEALTHCARE HEROES
Staff Photo