At United Hebrew, creating a community where everyone feels respected and welcome is paramount. The senior living campus in New Rochelle is dedicated to ensuring LGBTQIA+ residents and staff always feel appreciated and supported, demonstrated through an inherently accepting campus culture, inclusive policies, and formal training.

A Supportive Greeting

Visitors and prospective families are warmly welcomed by tiny rainbow flags pinned to staff members’ apparel. The multi-colored adornments immediately convey, ‘You and your family are welcome and should feel secure here,’ regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. The initiative to don the pins throughout the year, not just during Pride month, arose organically when staff discussed ways to express support. This simple gesture signals their collective commitment to providing exceptional care for LGBTQIA+ seniors, many of whom have encountered prejudice or discrimination within healthcare and aging services, and to showing LGBTQIA+ staff that they are allies.

Empowering Authenticity

Rita Mabli, President & CEO of United Hebrew, encourages all to unapologetically be themselves. “We believe in fostering a community where everyone feels respected, valued, and celebrated for who they are. It is more important than ever to create safe spaces for LGBTQIA+ people — including the places where we age,” she says.

This approach has made a positive impact on staff. For example, Bianca Luchetti, an executive assistant at United Hebrew, praises Mabli’s inclusive leadership. A member of the LGBTQIA+ community, Luchetti was initially hesitant to share her sexual orientation due to past workplace discrimination. However, when Mabli met Luchetti’s partner by chance, she immediately welcomed them both. “I sighed with relief, because I didn’t have to be cautious about talking about my partner. It’s been such a positive experience. Everyone here has just been so loving and caring and accepting and truly not making a big deal out of it, because it shouldn’t be,” Luchetti says.

That’s a sentiment shared by Executive Chef and Director of Dining Services for Willow Towers, Norm Fintz. “The team at United Hebrew knew I was gay from day one. I’m not treated any differently, which probably means more — that you’re just one of the family here. Everybody is welcome here. You are treated with respect. I have always felt like this was home,” he says.

Open Communication & Respect

Staff at United Hebrew are committed to practicing inclusivity together. When a coworker recently admitted to Luchetti that he didn’t know much about the LGBTQIA+ community and feared offending anyone, Luchetti offered support and provided tips on navigating unfamiliar conversations:

To avoid mispronouning someone, use names.
To reference someone’s significant other, try the word ‘partner.’
Express genuine curiosity and don’t be afraid to ask questions.

Most people appreciate others’ efforts to understand, Luchetti says. Respectful dialogue is paramount, echoes Fintz, who oversees a team of about 40.

Walking the Walk, Beyond the Rainbow

United Hebrew demonstrates its dedication to equality by investing in formal training to help create inclusive environments for LGBTQIA+ senior adults. The campus recently received the esteemed SAGECare credential after participating in a comprehensive training program that teaches leadership and staff how to connect with LGBTQIA+ older adults through a sensitive and compassionate approach.

“At United Hebrew, everything we do is geared toward being welcoming,” says Nora O’Brien, Executive Director of Assisted Living and Memory Care at United Hebrew. “The training has helped us avoid assumptions and create a space where everyone feels comfortable being themselves.”

United Hebrew’s assisted living and memory care communities have earned the credential, and the plans to expand the program to its nursing home are in progress.

To engage with the greater LGBTQIA+ community, United Hebrew’s Human Resources team recently shared local pride events with staff, asking if the team would represent United Hebrew in the community. Luchetti says this shows United Hebrew’s commitment to pride isn’t just talked about, it’s backed by action.

Additionally, the HR department is working to make its employee benefits package inclusive, ensuring that same-sex couples receive the same health benefits as heterosexual couples, including reproductive health.

A Pledge Implemented

At United Hebrew, leadership encourages staff and residents to be their authentic selves, promising that they will be loved for who they are. This positioning affirms United Hebrew’s new tagline, “Where Seniors Thrive.”

Says Mabli, “When people feel accepted without judgement, they can be empowered to thrive.”

News

News

Latest Blogs

Transitioning a parent to a senior care community is not an easy decision. However, as people age, they may increasingly need help with routine daily tasks due to physical limitations, cognitive changes, or medical conditions that require specialized assistance and supervision.

5 Tips To Cope With ‘Sandwich Generation’ Stress

Pride in Action: Creating a Welcoming Space for LGBTQIA+ Seniors & Staff