Chelsea Jewish Lifecare Announces Vaccine Mandate for All Employees

  CHESLEA AND PEABODY, Mass. (July 2021) – Chelsea Jewish Lifecare (CJL), a highly respected leader in healthcare with campuses in Chelsea and Peabody, announced that it will require all employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19. CJL is a founding member of Legacy Lifecare, a network of nonprofit organizations that also includes JGS Lifecare of Longmeadow, Deutsches Altenheim of West Roxbury, and Elizabeth Seton Residence andMarillac Residence of Wellesley. The network is the first long-term care provider group in Massachusetts to issue a vaccine mandate for its employees.

  “Our top priority is always the health of our residents and our staff,” said Legacy Lifecare President/CEO Adam Berman. “With over 323 million doses administered in the United States, the COVID-19 vaccines have been proven to be both safe and effective. After consulting with experts and careful consideration, we feel strongly that requiring staff to be vaccinated is the most important action we can do to ensure the safety of our long-term care communities.”

  CJL and other Legacy Lifecare affiliates plan to implement the mandate once the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) grants final approval of one of the three vaccines. Receiving the COVID-19 vaccine will be a condition of employment for all staff members and volunteers, with exemptions limited to religious and medical reasons. This is consistent with the network’s approach to the flu vaccine.

  Since last December when vaccines were first made available to health care workers, CJL and Legacy Lifecare have conducted an extensive education campaign titled “Superheroes Saving Lives.” Over 75% of the approximately 1,800 employees throughout the Legacy Lifecare network are currently vaccinated, achieving the national goal for long-term care providers. To further prepare for this mandate, senior leadership will continue to offer comprehensive information about vaccine safety and efficacy, including encouraging employees to ask questions and addressing concerns on a one-on-one basis. In addition, all campuses will offer on-site vaccination clinics to facilitate meeting this important requirement.

  The organization thanked its employees for their incredible dedication, loyalty, courage and compassion. “COVID-19 has been devastating, especially for those of us who care for the most vulnerable,” said Berman. “I am so proud of our staff and how they have persevered throughout these challenging times. They are the real heroes in this story.”

  Berman noted that the organization did not make the vaccine mandate decision lightly. “Simply put, implementing this mandate is the only way we can fully protect our staff and our residents,” said Berman. “I absolutely believe it’s the right decision for us.”

About Chelsea Jewish Lifecare

  CJL is redefining senior care and re-envisioning what life should be like for those living with disabling conditions. The eldercare community includes a wide array of skilled and short-term rehab residences, ALS and MS–specialized care residences, traditional and specialized assisted living options, memory care, independent living, adult day health, aging life care, ventilator care, home care and hospice agencies that deliver customized and compassionate care.

About Legacy Lifecare

  Legacy Lifecare Inc., a nonprofit management resources collaborative, provides small-to-mid-sized organizations access to the infrastructure needed to succeed in today’s complex world. With deep expertise in strategy, finance, operations and support systems management, Legacy Lifecare enables its nonprofit affiliates to preserve their missions and identities while gaining access to sophisticated managerial services and collaborative opportunities ordinarily only available to larger organizations.