Hebrew SeniorLife’s Wolk Center Earns Level 2 Age-Friendly Health System Status: A Milestone in Senior Care Excellence

Hebrew SeniorLife, the largest nonprofit senior care provider in New England and partnered with Harvard Medical School, has exciting news. The Deanna and Sidney Wolk Center for Memory Health has earned recognition as an Age-Friendly Health System, level 2, from the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI).

The Wolk Center specializes in memory health and provides comprehensive care for older adults facing cognitive and behavioral challenges, including Alzheimer’s and other dementias. To receive this recognition, the center had to show its commitment by documenting three months of data that reflected its quality care tailored to each patient’s individual needs and values.

This isn’t the Wolk Center’s first acknowledgment. It joins Hebrew SeniorLife’s other top facilities—Hebrew Rehabilitation Center in Boston and Hebrew Rehabilitation Center in Dedham—which received similar recognition in 2022 for their high standards in long-term and rehabilitation care.

The Age-Friendly Health System initiative, backed by The John A. Hartford Foundation and IHI, follows the 4M quality framework. This framework focuses on four key areas: What Matters, Medication, Mentation, and Mobility. The aim is to ensure that care aligns with what seniors value, avoids harm, and improves their overall well-being.

Dr. Alvaro Pascual-Leone, the medical director of the Wolk Center, shared the center’s unique approach. He emphasized the importance of combining patient care with research. Many clinicians at the Wolk Center take part in clinical trials that aim to find new treatments. This means they not only focus on patients’ immediate needs but also contribute to broader scientific understanding while offering personalized care.

“Being an Age-Friendly Health System means we see the whole person, not just their medical conditions. We’ve worked hard to gather accurate data that shows how we integrate the 4Ms into our care,”

Lingda Hou, NHA, administrative director, Wolk Center

Lingda Hou added that the hardworking team at the Wolk Center is dedicated to providing exceptional care and is proud of this achievement. Their careful data collection has been key to earning this level of recognition.