The Legacy Senior Communities recently held a special volunteer appreciation event to honor the dedicated volunteers who help at each community, The Legacy Willow Bend life care retirement community in Plano and The Legacy Preston Hollow – Dallas Home for Jewish Aged. The event was co-chaired by Florence Kramer and Marilyn Schaffer with the theme “Sweets for our Sweeties,” and the volunteers enjoyed a variety of desserts and fabulous entertainment provided by pianist Leon Ziligson and violinist Lev Kardonsky. For the first time, the communities combined the annual appreciation party, and they provided awards to recognize the volunteers’ service. The awards were presented to volunteers from each community in the following categories: Rookie of the Year, Longest Career as a Volunteer and Most Volunteer Hours.
Each year, nearly 300 volunteers spend an estimated total of 4,000 hours with seniors at the communities. The volunteer program is filled with opportunities to serve the seniors and staff. Whether one is interested in offering computer assistance, performing musically, participating in arts and crafts or leading discussions or book reviews, there are many ways to spend quality time at the communities. Volunteers can also help with specific events and outings. Often times, the most meaningful experience involves simply sharing stories and visiting with the seniors one-on-one. Individuals, groups from synagogues or schools and various corporations volunteer at The Legacy Senior Communities. In addition, many students choose The Legacy Senior Communities to fulfill their school community service requirements or complete their bar or bat mitzvah projects.
“Our amazing volunteers build strong relationships with our residents and become a true part of our communities,” said Cheryl Weitz, Volunteer Coordinator for The Legacy Senior Communities. “We are so appreciative of them, and more importantly, so are the individuals who live in The Legacy Willow Bend and The Legacy Preston Hollow. We just love all of our volunteers and love being able to see the tremendous impact they make with every visit.”
Honored at the event was the devoted team of Rita Rosenthal and Ruthie Kleinman. They have joined residents for bingo every other Wednesday for around 15 years beginning when the Dallas Home for Jewish Aged was located on the Golden Acres campus. Rosenthal and Kleinman were honored with “The Longest Career as a Volunteer” award.
“Volunteering is as encouraging for me as it is for the residents,” said Kleinman. “It’s good for me personally to see these seniors enjoying a game of bingo. Plus, all the staff members are terrific. I am honestly touched by how well the staff works with the residents. They are treated with true respect and dignity every day. I truly enjoy my visits, and just like the residents, I always benefit from the experience.”
“I was embarrassed to be recognized for my volunteerism at the appreciation event. I do it because I love it, and I love The Legacy Preston Hollow community,” said Rosenthal. “I like helping the residents find the letters on their cards while we play bingo, and I always stop by the physical therapy department to visit the staff. I spent about six weeks receiving treatment from them while recovering from a hip fracture, and I just appreciate how much they did for me when I needed their care.”
Diane Yaris is another volunteer who donates her time and skills to The Legacy Senior Communities. At the recognition event, she received an award for “Most Volunteer Hours.” Yaris has been doing administrative work at The Legacy Willow Bend for the last five years on Monday mornings.
“When I first heard that The Legacy Senior Communities was looking for volunteers, I checked into options. I realized that I could use my secretarial skills to positively impact the lives of the staff and residents,” explained Yaris. “I started volunteering my extra time at The Legacy Willow Bend to lighten the staff’s administrative load and allow them more time to devote to the seniors.”
Those honored for 2014 volunteerism at The Legacy Senior Communities were Brian Warner and Sarah Liener with “Rookie of the Year award,” Mike Todres and Rita Rosenthal with Ruthie Kleinman for “Longest Career as a Volunteer award” and Diane Yaris, Carol Soble and Gerald Viaser who received recognition for “Most Volunteer Hours.”
Anyone interested in volunteer opportunities can call The Legacy Preston Hollow at 214-363-5100 or The Legacy Willow Bend in Plano at 972-468-6200.
The Legacy Senior Communities, Inc. is the parent company of The Legacy Willow Bend, The Legacy Preston Hollow and The Legacy at Home.
The Legacy 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 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 Willow Bend, Plano’s first and only life care retirement community, is situated on a 28-acre site at Spring Creek Parkway between Preston Road and Ohio Drive. The Legacy 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 Willow Bend is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit retirement community owned by parent company, The Legacy Senior Communities, Inc. The Legacy Willow Bend, the only Jewish-sponsored life care retirement community in Texas, is open to people of all faiths. For information, call (972) 468-6208, or visit www.thelegacyWB.org.
The Legacy at Home is a home health care option for seniors in the Greater Dallas area that brings an experienced team of professionals to the home to continue recovery from an illness, injury or surgery. The skilled team of nurses, therapists, dieticians, and medical social workers offers coordinated services to ensure each person’s transition is seamless.
The Medicare certified, Community Health Accreditation Program (CHAP) accredited, comprehensive home health agency that began serving families in July of 2011, recently received accreditation from the National Institute for Jewish Hospice (NIJH) as the only Jewish-sponsored home health care agency in the United States.
The Legacy at Home provides Private Duty Services and Personal Care Services. The Private Duty Services include private duty nurses who provide wound care, medication management, and diabetic care IV therapy. Physical, occupational, speech therapy and respiratory therapy is also available. The Personal Care Services offer certified nurses’ aides and personal assistants for assistance with activities of daily living, respite care, and companion services.