History

The Jewish Convalescent Home began in 1945 in Lynn, as a not-for-profit home providing refuge and care for the community’s poor, needy and sick. Funds for this endeavor were raised by Rabbi Bick and Louis Latvack president of the Home Association. Samuel Galis, on taking the presidency of the Association, noted that the Home was established to “alleviate the suffering of the poor and needy regardless of race, color or creed.” In addition, a few rooms were set aside for returning veterans who wanted to live in a Jewish environment. The home quickly earned a reputation as one of the finest, most caring facilities of its type on the North Shore

By 1951, the Jewish Convalescent Home had changes its emphasis. Responding to the growing number of older people who were without family, the Home became less of a convalescent facility and more of a permanent residence for the elderly. In recognition of this, a second dedication was held and the Home’s name was officially changed to the Jewish Home for the Aged. For many years, the Jewish Home for the Aged provided its elderly residents with nursing services and tender loving care.

In 1964, the National Council on Aging in conjunction with the Jewish Federation of the North Shore recommended that a nursing home facility be built with the potential to expand to 120 beds. To meet these growing and changing needs, a new facility, now named the Jewish Rehabilitation Center for the Aged of the North Shore (JRC) opened its doors in Swampscott in 1972. In 1982, the Shapiro-Rudolph Adult Day Center was dedicated and welcomed 18 participants.

In 1994, the JRC began an extensive three year renovation project, expanding and modernizing the front entrance, adding resident common spaces, additional dining spaces, and a new occupational therapy/activity space. In addition, a beautiful chapel was built on site and all four wings were refurbished.

In 1997, Woodbridge Assisted Living opened its doors in Peabody. The Legacy at Woodbridge opened in 2006, offering apartments for individuals in need of memory care. In 2007, the Jewish Rehabilitation Centers for Living (JRCL) was formed as a not-for-profit organization, with a community based Board of Directors. The JRCL Board included all of the Directors from the JRC and Woodbridge Assisted Living.

In June, 2009, in order to reinforce the concept of continuum of care available through its various entities and programs, the Board of Directors voted to change the name of the not-for profit to Aviv Centers for Living. The Aviv Board is dedicated to the management and growth of the JRC, Woodbridge, S-RADC, Aviv HomeCare and the Aviv Foundation. HomeCare was added in 2008, to offer seniors additional personal or skilled care services in their homes. Restorative rehabilitation services for all ages remain a major component of Aviv Centers for Living which serves over 400 seniors daily with its full continuum of eldercare services.