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Our History

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About Us

Our History

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Our History

Our History

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1919

The United Home for Aged Hebrews was founded by the Krakauer Charity and Aid Society, a group of charitable Austrian Jews, whose president, Solomon J. Manne, proposed sponsorship of a home for the aged. He served as the first president of the Home.

1921

The house on Pelham Road became home to residents in 1921.

1929

Ten years later, 51 elderly men and women in need were being cared for in a large two-story frame house surrounded by three park-like acres on Pelham Road in New Rochelle.

1934

A three-story, red-brick addition to the original building was made possible by a generous contribution from Adolph Arber. The United Home was at that time the largest institution of its kind in Westchester County with 155 residents who, with the exception of married couples, slept in “well ventilated” dormitories.

1954

Ground was broken for a $1.5 million building to replace the original house and 1934 wing. Construction was financed by charitable contributions, fund-raising activities and a minimum of State aid.

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1957

The Saul and Ada Gutner Pavilion opened, and the new 102-bed facility was hailed as “an entirely new concept in living for the elderly in need and the first major departure from the institutional atmosphere of the traditional old age home.” The building incorporated the newest architectural concepts with modern social thought. The T-shaped building had a unique saw-tooth design that—for the first time in any home for the aged—allowed each resident a completely private living-bedroom with double exposure. Two solaria per floor, a dining room, and large reception rooms offered ample space for group activities.

1976

A $750,000, three-story wing was added to the 1957 building, increasing the Home’s capacity by 50 percent. The air-conditioned addition contained a roof patio, glassed-in rooms in the hospital area with oxygen and vacuum piped directly to each bed, and new laboratory and X-ray rooms.

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1976

The Lola and Saul Kramer Pavilion, a $5.25 million skilled-nursing facility, was built with the assistance of a mortgage loan from the New York State Medical Care Facilities Finance Agency. The four-story building brought the United Home to a 270-bed capacity. A beauty parlor, gift shop, tea room, medical suite, recreation therapy room, lounge, nursing and administrative offices were incorporated into this addition.

1980

Low-Savin Residence (Soundview Apartments), a nine-story apartment building for independent seniors, opened its doors adjacent to the nursing home. Financed by the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Low Savin Residence’s 135 units were soon filled with a long waiting list. Sixteen of the units are outfitted for individuals with physical disabilities.

1983

United Home launched a Long-Term Home Health Care Program. Known as the Lombardi Program—or nursing home without walls—the program reached out to care for the elderly, infirm and disabled in their own homes with nursing and support services.

1988

The name United Hebrew Geriatric Center was adopted to reflect the array of senior care services the organization provided.

1991

Westchester Ladies’ Auxiliary dedicated a fountain statute and garden to the residents of United Hebrew Geriatric Center.

1996

AZOR Licensed Home Health Care was launched, extending our award-winning services into the community to serve those who chose to stay in their own home.

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2003

The Beverly and Alfred J. Green Pavilion—Willow Towers Assisted Living—opened its doors. This spectacular addition to the United Hebrew Geriatric Center campus opened with 126 apartments and an array of amenities for supportive living. Winner of the National Association of Home Builders Platinum Achievement Award, the residence includes a two-story, glass-enclosed dining atrium, community rooms, a 24-hour café, and the Phoenix Memory Care Neighborhood, a secure, specialized unit for residents with Alzheimer’s and related disorders. Willow Towers is the first assisted residence in Westchester County to obtain triple licensure from New York State, allowing residents to live there as their healthcare needs become greater, without having to move to a skilled nursing facility.

2006

UHGC holds a historic groundbreaking ceremony for a new nursing and rehabilitation center, the Lucile and Joseph Skalet Pavilion. The state-of–the-art, 143,000-square-foot facility propelled United Hebrew into the future with a new skilled nursing facility to better serve seniors in Westchester County. Along with the renovation of the Kramer Pavilion, this expansion reflected our dedication to caring for our seniors in a non-institutional, resident-centered way.

2009

In our 90th year, United Hebrew Geriatric Center is renamed United Hebrew. The new name and logo honors our founders while reflecting the essence of United Hebrew’s comprehensive services: united for our residents, caregivers, and their families. United Hebrew names its campus The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Campus, named for The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, which endowed our organization with a very generous gift.

2009

With the combined Kramer Pavilion and new Skalet Pavilion, United Hebrew is now a 296-bed state-of-the-art nursing and rehabilitation center.

2014

United Hebrew of New Rochelle Certified Home Health Agency was launched to provide skilled nursing and rehabilitation therapy services to those who choose to stay in their own home.

2014

United Hebrew holds “Breaking Down the Walls” ceremony, kicking off a $23 million renovation of our vacant nursing pavilion to create Willow Gardens Memory Care, Westchester’s first nonprofit residence devoted exclusively to people affected by Alzheimer’s and other dementias, and Meadow Lane, an independent senior housing complex for low-income adults.

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2016

Willow Gardens Memory Care and Meadow Lane Apartments open their doors, expanding United Hebrew’s campus of comprehensive care with 32 new senior housing apartments and 41 new units devoted to support for individuals with memory impairment.

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2019

United Hebrew celebrated its Centennial! Now serving 1,000 seniors daily on our campus and in the greater Westchester community.

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2022

Responding to community demand, United Hebrew expanded its memory care community with 17 additional private beds opening at Willow Gardens Memory Care – The Patricia and Malcolm H. Lazarus Pavilion. Nationally recognized for its commitment to quality care, Willow Gardens can now accommodate up to 69 residents with cognitive impairment.

United Hebrew Launches new brand

2024

Following a 25-year period of rapid growth and transformation on our campus, United Hebrew launches a new brand to better reflect our expanded services and communities. A new brandmark and tagline, “Where Seniors Thrive,” promotes that we are a model for integrative senior living — a thriving community of active and engaged adults.