Dear Friend,

I am delighted to share two pieces of good news with you, especially during these times of great economic challenges and restructuring required by most nonprofits – like the Jewish Home – in order to remain financially viable.

The Jewish Home of San Francisco has been awarded the Seal of Excellence by Independent Charities of America. This Seal is given to the members of Independent Charities of America and Local Independent Charities of America that have, upon rigorous independent review, been able to certify, document, and demonstrate on an annual basis that they meet the highest standards of public accountability, program effectiveness, and cost effectiveness. These standards include those required by the United States government for inclusion in the Combined Federal Campaign, probably the most exclusive fund drive in the world.

Add to this a fact of which I was not previously aware – of the 1,000,000 charities operating in the United States today, it is estimated that fewer than 50,000 (or 5 percent) meet or exceed these standards, and of those fewer than 2,000 have been awarded this Seal – and I am sure you will understand why I continue to take pride in our Home and all it strives to accomplish and serve.

Another registry that recognizes best practices in transparency and public accountability, and which is highly valued by donors and grant makers, is GuideStar, one of the most prominent national organizations that offer current, comprehensive information about nonprofits. And the good news is that Jewish Home & Senior Living Foundation is now a seal holder in GuideStar Exchange, an initiative designed to connect nonprofits with current and potential supporters. With millions of people coming to GuideStar to learn more about nonprofit organizations, the Exchange allows nonprofits to share a wealth of up-to-date information with GuideStar's on-line audience of grant makers and individual donors.

Through GuideStar's partnership with greatnonprofits.org, supporters can post reviews about Jewish Home & Senior Living Foundation that will be accessible to others searching for information about us.

It is indeed good to have it confirmed that, when it comes to being evaluated in the areas of transparency, cost effectiveness, and the quality of our care, services and programs, the Jewish Home and our Foundation measure up extremely well.

Daniel Ruth
President & Chief Executive Officer

In a study of 9,344 women over age 65, those who reported being physically active as teens enjoyed the lowest rates of cognitive decline: they were 35 percent less likely to experience early signs of dementia than women who had been sedentary. Even late starters who did not begin an exercise regimen until their 30s or their 50s lowered their risk of age-related intellectual decline.

Staying or getting fit need not require spending hours in a gym. Here are a few tips for incorporating movement into everyday life – a sure way to improve overall wellness.

1. Walk the walk and climb every … stair: “Of all exercises walking is the best,” said Thomas Jefferson. Follow his advice by parking your car further away from your destination and walking the extra distance, or treating your dog to an extra-long walk in the evenings. Forego the elevator and take the stairs. This easy form of exercise has the added bonus of burning an impressive 1,100 calories per hour.

2. Make simple resistance movements routine. Stuck in traffic? Take the opportunity to contract your abdominals for 12 seconds with your back pressed against the seat. Isometric exercises, such as this, are extremely effective.

3. Small free weights yield a large return: Preserve upper body tone and bone density with short but focused movements using small weights of 3–5 lbs.

4. Get to the core of the matter: The abdominal core, that is. These muscles hold all our vital organs in place, and support good posture and a healthy spine, things we need to take care of as we get older. A few sit-ups each day, combined with stretches, will keep the tummy trim.

“This has been the best year of my life,” said Sylvia Korn at the June birthday luncheon honoring residents born in that month, and at which she celebrated her 95th birthday. Read Sylvia’s profile to see that attitude does affect altitude.