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May 21, 2004/Sivan 1 5764, Vol. 56, No.35
Jewish elder-care home opens
BETH OLSON
Staff Writer
Like many parents, Barry and Marlene Levy suffered from empty nest syndrome.
After their children went off to college, Barry Levy says there was a "hollow spot" that the couple decided to fill by bringing other people into their lives. They considered taking in foster children or disabled children, and eventually realized the local need for care homes for the elderly.
So Barry Levy, a former limousine driver, and Marlene Levy, who works with visually impaired children in a local school district, sunk their hearts into Levy's Jewels of the Valley, located at 64th Street and Cactus Road.
The Levys hadn't planned a Jewish care home at the start, but when Barry Levy went out to purchase discounted Christmas decorations after the holidays, his heart wasn't in it.
"I thought to myself there's no way I'm going to bring this stuff into my house. It's something I've never done and I guess it's something I just can't do," he recalls.
After some additional research, they realized that Kivel Campus of Care was the only Jewish care option in the Valley, and so they decided to fill that gap.
The facility will celebrate Shabbat and holidays and currently offers kosher-style food, with a kosher option available on request.
Levy will serve as chef at the facility - a job he sees as more than just being a cook.
"I feel that a lot of the need of the elderly ... is they want somebody to talk to and listen to and acknowledge that they're there," he says. "The kitchen is designed so that my counter is lower so that I can sit down and the table is next to it, so if they care to kibitz, I can sit next to them and listen to the story and acknowledge it."
Levy hopes the families of the residents will feel welcome as well. The facility has a complimentary guestroom available for out-of-town family by reservation and Levy plans to do a Sunday brunch for residents and their families.
"I want the families to always feel welcome. If there are grandchildren involved, then they are more than welcome," he says.
Services at the home include house calls by a geriatric specialist, podiatrist, con-sulting R.N. and ophthal-mologist; an English-speaking 24-hour awake staff; and transportation within five miles, including local synagogues.
Facilities include six private rooms, a shared room and a husband-and-wife suite, as well as a movie theater and a library and activity room. An additional 1,500-square-foot activity room is in the process of being completed.
All rooms are soundproof and include electronic monitoring for the safety of the residents.
By July the home will have two residents; the facility can hold up to 10.
Levy's Jewels of the Valley is located at 12201 N. 64th St., Scottsdale.
Call 480-663-3410 or 480-217-5558.
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