Sierra Pointe Retirement community in Scottsdale is a bit different from many independent senior communities.
According to Peter Lesio, marketing director, the difference at the 14-year-old facility is this: “All our apartments are rentals; people don’t own their own living space. In the independent living industry, there are two different types of communities: all rentals or a required buy-in. Most other facilities require people to buy their apartments or condos.”
Even more important is the level of commitment the staff has to making sure all of the residents are happy, comfortable in their environment and have enough activities to fulfill their needs. The staff members strive to ensure residents are enjoying their time by planning a multitude of events, including many that are Jewish in nature.
Janet Pettycrew, activities director for three of her four years as part of the Sierra Pointe family, has worked diligently with Rabbi Levi Levertov and his wife, Chani (co-founders of Smiles on Seniors, SOS), and Eric Kaye from Jewish Family Services to create an ongoing menu that addresses all the holidays and extra events.
“We have a list of things we offer at Sierra Pointe for anyone who’d like to participate and attend,” says Pettycrew. “We try to represent all of the cultures and religions represented within our community. “
Programs for Jewish residents include:
First Thursday of every month: Jewish services.
Third Thursday of every month: Discussions with Rabbi Levi. Third Friday of every month: Shabbat services with Eric Kaye (brings his guitar, wine and challah).
Every Friday evening: Transportation to services including those at Congregation Beth Israel, Temple Chai, Congregation Or Chadash and Congregation Kehillah.
Last Friday of every month: Shabbat dinner in the dining room.
“We also provide transportation several times during the year to Shabbat dinners at SOS Center located at 2110 East Lincoln Drive in Phoenix,” says Pettycrew. “We also proudly sponsor the Purim Extravaganza at SOS Center, which we do every year.
“We have an annual Hanukkah Party (includes a craft of some kind) that we do with SOS and Rabbi Levi here at Sierra Pointe.”
Pettycrew adds that Sierra Pointe has a Shavuot holiday program in May and a High Holiday party in September, both with SOS and Rabbi Levi. She says that families of residents are encouraged to join in on the parties.
“One of our residents contacted Chani, and she comes (I believe) once a month and meets with residents in a meeting room on the second floor,” says Pettycrew. “This group has grown from one or two to several. Since this is something the residents wanted to do on their own, I’m not too plugged in on it, but I’m sure they are enjoying it.”
While the activities staff sees their role as mainly providing a space for SOS and Eric Kaye, Pettycrew says the staff members also love to participate in the lively discussions with the rabbi and find themselves singing right along with everyone during Kaye’s performances.
“In general, the most popular activity here is the Total Body Conditioning class we hold on Monday-Wednesday-Friday, but after that, Rabbi Levi and Eric have the biggest attendance,” she says.
Rabbi Levertov says he and his wife started SOS to reach out to the retirement communities, and Sierra Pointe made it easy for them to come in and find out what the residents wanted and needed.
“I heard from the children of some of the residents first,” says Rabbi Levertov. “Janet and her staff have been welcoming and very helpful. Actually, what I try and do here is not so much hold services, but I want to give everyone something new to think about and have fun!
“It’s so wonderful to start a workshop on the holidays and
do something totally different. Such as on the High Holy Days – we do apple-dipping, we have also brought in a shofar and someone from an actual shofar factory (to) come in to show how they are made. Rather than just do a Shabbat, we do a challah- making workshop. I think it’s important to experience things in a new and different way.
“All this adds another dimension to the various events and gets some pretty exciting discussions started.”
Rabbi Levertov adds that while he came up with the initial program, he’s always open to hearing new requests from the residents. “We also encourage those outside of our faith to join us and for families to come in as well,” he says.
Some of the most popular programs are the holiday parties, which the rabbi says attract well over 50 people. The discussion groups have grown to between 20 and 30 people.
The best part of SOS’s alliance with Sierra Pointe is that they accommodate everyone who lives there to the best of their ability, according to Rabbi Levertov and three-year resident, Fran Cohen.
“Rabbi Levi keeps us thinking. I love going to almost all the activities that he and his wife provide. Eric is wonderful! He comes with his guitar, and we all just enjoy the singing and music so much. It’s just all so very special! I’m a very active bridge player, and I’m always on the way to one of my matches – but I always make time to hear what Rabbi Levi comes to teach us. His wife is just lovely. Some of us ladies wanted a more intimate discussion group, and she now comes with pastries and we have such a great time,”says Cohen.
Cohen adds that there are many residents at Sierra Pointe who were part of the Holocaust, and that they feel very comfortable and at home here, “which is not always the case at other places.”
Eric Kaye says he loves coming to Sierra Pointe to sing and play for the residents. “I’ve been coming here for a year now. I do go to one other facility; this is my hobby. When the opportunity came about, I honestly wasn’t sure that I’d do it for very long.
“Everyone is so active – I love coming! I host a Shabbat service, I sing old songs that I know the residents will remember and cherish, I do some of my own pieces and then I finish with some of the more modern Jewish musicians. They all have fantastic voices. They’re proud of their heritage; they’re having fun and love interacting during the hour I’m up there with my guitar.
“I love doing it and seeing them have such a great time – and it bringing them so much joy fills me with joy as well. No way would I miss coming here. I consider it to be an amazing blessing to get to know them and that they allow me the honor to perform.”
