Why Give

Image caption: Resident Life staff member Carmen Del Pilar Hay in the Sensory Room for memory care, made possible, in part, by a grant from the Boston Evening Clinic Foundation.

Deutsches Altenheim has always been committed to providing care to all, regardless of ability to pay.  More than two-thirds of our long-term care patients are low-income and eligible for Medicaid.

Unfortunately, Medicaid does not cover the full costs of providing the quality care that is synonymous with Deutsches Altenheim and we anticipate that reimbursement rates will continue to cover less in the years ahead. Relying on Medicaid funding is simply unsustainable.

Your gift closes the gap between reimbursement rates and the true cost of care and ensures seniors in our community will have access to quality, affordable care for generations to come.

At Deutsches Altenheim, we go the extra mile for the people in our care. This is never more evident than during these extraordinary times. Our frontline health care heroes are not only putting their all into the job—they are putting their health on the line—as we continue to confront COVID-19.

Your gift supports the everyday work of our healthcare heroes by funding hero pay for staff working with COVID-19-positive patients, personal protective equipment, annual holiday bonuses, and staff appreciation programs.

On average, we spend $60 per nursing home resident, per day on unreimbursed expenses for enrichment programming

Unreimbursed expenses include those for:

• Social activities like bingo, musical performances, community outings, birthday parties, and more;
• Exercise and wellness programs, such as Thai Chi, chair yoga, and walking groups;
• Music and expressive therapy, especially for those living with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia;
• Spiritual and cultural programming that helps seniors preserve their faith and traditions;
• Technology like iPads and smart televisions to facilitate resident-to-family communication; and
• Innovative enhancements like our new Sensory Room for memory care residents.

Your support enhances the quality of life for all of our seniors by making enrichment programs unfunded by Medicaid possible.

From the cherry-tree-lined sidewalks and comfortable indoor and outdoor living spaces to the state-of-the-art kitchen and top-notch nursing and rehabilitation facilities, a well-maintained campus is foundational to ensuring the health, safety, and wellbeing of our residents and clients.

Your gift helps us care for the Deutsches Altenheim campus that hundreds call home.

On May 10, 1914, the German Ladies Aid Society of Boston opened Deutsches Altenheim’s doors to provide a home for aging German individuals in need. The original home, which is still the centerpiece of our campus today, opened following nearly a year of construction and a fundraising campaign that began in 1891.

While we have long since served individuals of all backgrounds, we remain committed to honoring our unique German-American founding by:

• Ensuring an orderly, well-maintained senior care community that consistently earns well-deserved five-star ratings;
• Fostering a community built on characteristics of trust, transparency, and dependability;
• Promoting cultural traditions through regular and rich programming; and
• Caring for our historic home.

Your gift honors the German Ladies Aid Society’s original intention of caring for the seniors in our community and preserves German characteristics and cultural traditions that enrich the lives of all of our seniors.