Hebrew
SeniorLife is an organization in the Boston area that owns and operates
nursing homes, rehab facilities and housing for seniors and the
disabled. It is the largest operation of its kind in the area, but
tragically, it is a horribly run organization - a corrupt, self-serving
agency that has for decades been betraying the trust of the Jewish
community of Boston.
Although Boston’s Jewish population is relatively small, it is disproportionately affluent, and as Hebrew SeniorLife is one of our flagship nonprofits, the Jewish community gives it many millions of dollars per year. Unfortunately, that money is not returned to the community in the form of services. HSL does tend to keep up its properties (although even that is relative, as I understand similar properties in other cities are in much better condition), so they can take their wealthy donors around and show them what they’re doing with the money. Apart from that, they use it to provide their upper management with six-figure incomes and generous retirement packages. When it comes to hiring the people who are responsible for the care and welfare of the residents - middle management, nursing staff, social workers, program directors, etc. - they scrape the bottom of the proverbial barrel.
Hebrew SeniorLife has caused a great deal of suffering over the years by victimizing weak, vulnerable people who are unable to defend themselves. The organization has been threatened from time to time with litigation, but it has a history of paying off the parties so as to avoid damage to its reputation. I assume they feel it is less costly in the long term than hiring competent, caring staff.
I am disabled and have been a resident in one of their facilities for nearly eight years. I have had terrible problems here, both with the apartment itself and with neighbors in varying states of physical and mental decline making egregious levels of noise 24/7, which have caused my health to deteriorate to a point at which I am more debilitated now than I was when I moved in. HSL’s staff has refused repeatedly to deal with these issues, even though they are legally obligated to do so under the terms of my lease, and have encouraged me to call in the police to handle them as they cannot be bothered to do their jobs. They have also, until recently, refused to give me another apartment, although they are legally obligated to do that as well under the terms of the reasonable accommodation law. They have been apathetic at best, abusive at worst and at all times incompetent.
Twenty years ago, my grandfather was in their rehab and nursing home facilities. He also was subjected to abuse, and although he was quite elderly, I feel confident that it shortened his life. It certainly made his final months more difficult and unpleasant than they needed to be. This is a set of problems that are pervasive throughout the organization and that have been going on for a very long time. There is absolutely no interest in improvement or change within their organizational culture.
I recently began threatening the Director of my facility with litigation, and as a result, after seven years of fighting and avoiding dealing with all of the issues I've brought to them, she has finally begun to talk about offering me another apartment, but what has been offered has been unsuitable and has been presented with a tremendous amount of posturing and with unreasonable restrictions attached. At no point has there been any acknowledgment of culpability or wrongdoing on their part.
Many people here are unhappy and have been for most of the twelve years since HSL purchased the property. Many complaints are lodged, but nothing changes. I have therefore started this blog to serve as a support venue for anyone who is or has been, or has had a loved one who has been, a victim of Hebrew SeniorLife.
I would be interested in hearing the stories of others who have been similarly harmed, and in comparing notes pertaining to legal and governmental resources, etc. Even if you're merely disgruntled or have a low opinion of the organization in general, you're welcome.
In addition to this blog, I’ve set up both a Community page and an anonymous support group on Facebook. The Community page is open and unrestricted. Membership in the group must be requested and the identities of its members are visible only to others within the group. If you'd like to join, message me through this blog or the Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Victims-of-Hebrew-SeniorLife/1603719693173867
Although Boston’s Jewish population is relatively small, it is disproportionately affluent, and as Hebrew SeniorLife is one of our flagship nonprofits, the Jewish community gives it many millions of dollars per year. Unfortunately, that money is not returned to the community in the form of services. HSL does tend to keep up its properties (although even that is relative, as I understand similar properties in other cities are in much better condition), so they can take their wealthy donors around and show them what they’re doing with the money. Apart from that, they use it to provide their upper management with six-figure incomes and generous retirement packages. When it comes to hiring the people who are responsible for the care and welfare of the residents - middle management, nursing staff, social workers, program directors, etc. - they scrape the bottom of the proverbial barrel.
Hebrew SeniorLife has caused a great deal of suffering over the years by victimizing weak, vulnerable people who are unable to defend themselves. The organization has been threatened from time to time with litigation, but it has a history of paying off the parties so as to avoid damage to its reputation. I assume they feel it is less costly in the long term than hiring competent, caring staff.
I am disabled and have been a resident in one of their facilities for nearly eight years. I have had terrible problems here, both with the apartment itself and with neighbors in varying states of physical and mental decline making egregious levels of noise 24/7, which have caused my health to deteriorate to a point at which I am more debilitated now than I was when I moved in. HSL’s staff has refused repeatedly to deal with these issues, even though they are legally obligated to do so under the terms of my lease, and have encouraged me to call in the police to handle them as they cannot be bothered to do their jobs. They have also, until recently, refused to give me another apartment, although they are legally obligated to do that as well under the terms of the reasonable accommodation law. They have been apathetic at best, abusive at worst and at all times incompetent.
Twenty years ago, my grandfather was in their rehab and nursing home facilities. He also was subjected to abuse, and although he was quite elderly, I feel confident that it shortened his life. It certainly made his final months more difficult and unpleasant than they needed to be. This is a set of problems that are pervasive throughout the organization and that have been going on for a very long time. There is absolutely no interest in improvement or change within their organizational culture.
I recently began threatening the Director of my facility with litigation, and as a result, after seven years of fighting and avoiding dealing with all of the issues I've brought to them, she has finally begun to talk about offering me another apartment, but what has been offered has been unsuitable and has been presented with a tremendous amount of posturing and with unreasonable restrictions attached. At no point has there been any acknowledgment of culpability or wrongdoing on their part.
Many people here are unhappy and have been for most of the twelve years since HSL purchased the property. Many complaints are lodged, but nothing changes. I have therefore started this blog to serve as a support venue for anyone who is or has been, or has had a loved one who has been, a victim of Hebrew SeniorLife.
I would be interested in hearing the stories of others who have been similarly harmed, and in comparing notes pertaining to legal and governmental resources, etc. Even if you're merely disgruntled or have a low opinion of the organization in general, you're welcome.
In addition to this blog, I’ve set up both a Community page and an anonymous support group on Facebook. The Community page is open and unrestricted. Membership in the group must be requested and the identities of its members are visible only to others within the group. If you'd like to join, message me through this blog or the Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Victims-of-Hebrew-SeniorLife/1603719693173867
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