Jewish Community Housing Corporation of Metropolitan NJ

Many assumptions could be made when choosing a senior care option. It’s important to be aware of what the senior care facility offers and more importantly — what they don’t offer at all. Our staff at Lester Senior Living understands how important senior care factors are often overlooked, and have made a list of what you shouldn’t compromise on when it comes to your loved one’s professional care. Don’t overlook the different levels of senior care offered. Making the move into assisted living is not something that should be rushed. Just like the home-buying process, it takes time to visit each place to see if you can envision living there before making an investment. Arguably, one of the most important factors before moving into a new place is deciding whether or not you can see yourself there in the future. The same goes for assisted living facilities. It’s important not to overlook the types of care offered at each community, and if that care can be accessed under the same roof. Th...

Matzah ball soup is usually the go-to comfort food for us, but we can’t sleep on a good mushroom soup on a cold winter’s night. Not to mention, mushroom soup or krupnik is very relevant to our roots. Back in the day, the Jews of Eastern Europe had krupnik almost daily because of their connection to the wild mushrooms that grew in abundance nearby. The key to this recipe is the slow cooker. Cooking the soup on low heat for 8 hours really lets all the flavors marinate, giving you a taste that will have you going back for seconds – and maybe even thirds.  Serves 4. Cook Time: 8 hrs (for best results).  Mushroom Soup Ingredients: 8 oz. portobello mushrooms 8 oz. shiitake mushrooms ? cup barley  2 onions (chopped) 4 garlic cloves 6 carrots 4 celery stalks 2 bay leaves 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 2 tbsp tomato paste 3 cartons the broth of your choosing (we recommend vegetable broth) Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper  Directions for ...

February is Heart Awareness Month and you’ve probably heard all about how diet and exercise can keep your heart healthy by now. But, did you know that sleep directly correlates to heart health? REM and non-REM sleep is actually crucial for your heart rate. In this article, we will go over how this affects your heart health and different ways seniors can achieve better sleep.  Heart Rate During The Stages of Sleep  Each cycle or phase of sleep affects the speed of your heart rate and contributes to the health of your heart. When we first drift off to sleep, our heart rate starts to slow down to its resting rate – meaning our hearts don’t have to work so hard to pump blood throughout our bodies. This stage of light sleep (or Non-REM sleep) is how most of us spend half of the night.  When we enter the next phase of sleep, deep sleep, our blood pressure drops and our heart rate slows even more – up to 30% below the resting rate. Then there is an even deeper sleep REM (r...

Valentine’s day can be difficult for anyone who has lost a loved one, but that doesnt mean the day has to be filled with sorrow. Spending Valentine’s Day with a senior who has lost a loved one is often a more special and meaningful experience. It’s a chance to remember that this holiday is more than a Hallmark card and chocolates, it’s about showing and spreading love. If you’re not sure where to start, we have a few ways to make Valentine’s Day more memorable with your senior loved one. Cook a special meal.  Even if you’ve never cooked before, it’s never too late to learn! Gather the ingredients and try to make your loved one’s favorite meal.They’ll appreciate the effort, and more importantly, the time spent together. If you need some ideas of what to cook, our chefs at JCHC share special recipes to the blog every month. Have a movie night.  Pop some popcorn, grab their favorite snacks, and ask mom or dad what their favorite movie is. It’s a ...