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TownOnline.com - Local News: Opening up the New England Home for the Deaf
For decades, residents of the New England Home for the Deaf found safe haven on the sprawling campus hugging the banks of the Waters River, even while they were something of a mystery to the community.
Many North Shore residents were familiar, certainly, with the landmark Riverbank building at the crest of the Water Street property. They had driven by on the way in and out of town or seen photographs of it in local and larger newspapers. (See related story on the possible sale of the signature building.)
They knew the specialty services the facility provides its deaf and oftentimes deaf/blind residents enjoyed an impeccable reputation over the many years.
Still, life inside the campus was unknown to most.
With the arrival six months ago of a new CEO and president, all that is slated to change, with grand plans on the horizon for residents of the rest home and independent living complex.
The Board of Directors of the New England Home for the Deaf sought out Dr. Barry Zeltzer to succeed retiring CEO Judith Good during a national search.
"The search committee called me," the soft-spoken Zeltzer said during an interview in his office recently. "No, I was not looking at the time," he added about the job offer. He was still serving as director of the Tampa Jewish Federation in Florida.
A Rhode Island native, Zeltzer, 51, brings to the organization an impressive resume of extensive work with elder services, but this is his first stint working with the deaf.
"I'm still learning to sign," Zeltzer admitted.
This well-spoken, introspective man is committed to improving the quality of life for elders and brings an unassuming zeal to the New England Home for the Deaf.
"There is lots about deaf culture that I'm learning," Zeltzer said. "There are so many lifestyles - each resident has been brought up in his or her own unique way. I feel that the community, as well as the residents, can learn so much from each other."
Wish list
As part of Zeltzer's ambitious "wish list," as he calls it, is the development of an outside healing courtyard, now underway on the property.
"We will construct winding paths with benches, which will all be connected and contained so residents can come and go and be safe," Zeltzer said.
William Fleming Associates of Stoneham, a landscape design firm, is drafting the plans for the courtyard due for springtime construction.
With PhD and MBA degrees, Zeltzer served his doctoral internship in geriatric psychiatry at Butler Hospital in Rhode Island in collaboration with Brown Medical School. He professes the importance of integrating the arts and recreation into the lives of elders and the necessity for them to have an active role in the community.
"We need to be creative and build bridges for a link to the community," he said.
Zeltzer has been in negotiations with Salem State College and Leslie College administrators, he said, exploring a collaboration to develop internship programs at the home.
He plans to use the acreage of the Water Street property to open a research institute, which would explore ways to improve the quality of life for the deaf and a cultural center with annual events such as a MIME festival.
Many residents at the facility have unique talents, which Zelter hopes to tap.
"We have a very artistic couple who lives at Thompson House (an independent living facility on the campus)," Zeltzer said. "They will facilitate a craft workshop and residents will make things like tools and other artistic things."
Zeltzer envisions local children participating in intergenerational programs with residents in dance movement and other expressive arts programs, he said.
"I want to see the children conducting the programs with the elderly," he said.
Noting that the deaf feel vibrations, Zeltzer plans to develop a drumming program for residents, which will encourage them to work in groups to develop social skills as well as incorporating occupational therapy.
As homage to Helen Keller, who once served on the Board of Directors from 1907 through 1908, Zeltzer plans to develop the Helen Keller Library in conjunction with the Helen Keller National Center.
Past accomplishments
Although Zeltzer's goals are brand new for this organization, none of it is new to him.
At the Tampa Jewish Federation, Zeltzer developed a geriatric center, a high school community center and a boys and girls club. He is the developer of the generational theatrical therapy program in Tampa Bay.
"Right now I am producing a video on this with the University of Southern Florida," Zeltzer said.
During his tenure at Victoria Court, an adult day service facility in Rhode Island, Zeltzer developed the first integrational memory loss program to be licensed in that state for assistant living.
"That program changed the rules and regulations at the Department of Public Health," Zeltzer noted.
All of which is impressively documented in the American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, he said.
Meshing the lives of residents with those of the community inspires Zeltzer, he said. He recognizes the rewards it will bring his clients as well the benefits for residents of the community.
"We want to make the New England Home for the Deaf someplace where people want to come," Zeltzer said. "It will be somewhere people can help and learn from one another."
For decades, residents of the New England Home for the Deaf found safe haven on the sprawling campus hugging the banks of the Waters River, even while they were something of a mystery to the community.
Many North Shore residents were familiar, certainly, with the landmark Riverbank building at the crest of the Water Street property. They had driven by on the way in and out of town or seen photographs of it in local and larger newspapers. (See related story on the possible sale of the signature building.)
They knew the specialty services the facility provides its deaf and oftentimes deaf/blind residents enjoyed an impeccable reputation over the many years.
Still, life inside the campus was unknown to most.
With the arrival six months ago of a new CEO and president, all that is slated to change, with grand plans on the horizon for residents of the rest home and independent living complex.
The Board of Directors of the New England Home for the Deaf sought out Dr. Barry Zeltzer to succeed retiring CEO Judith Good during a national search.
"The search committee called me," the soft-spoken Zeltzer said during an interview in his office recently. "No, I was not looking at the time," he added about the job offer. He was still serving as director of the Tampa Jewish Federation in Florida.
A Rhode Island native, Zeltzer, 51, brings to the organization an impressive resume of extensive work with elder services, but this is his first stint working with the deaf.
"I'm still learning to sign," Zeltzer admitted.
This well-spoken, introspective man is committed to improving the quality of life for elders and brings an unassuming zeal to the New England Home for the Deaf.
"There is lots about deaf culture that I'm learning," Zeltzer said. "There are so many lifestyles - each resident has been brought up in his or her own unique way. I feel that the community, as well as the residents, can learn so much from each other."
Wish list
As part of Zeltzer's ambitious "wish list," as he calls it, is the development of an outside healing courtyard, now underway on the property.
"We will construct winding paths with benches, which will all be connected and contained so residents can come and go and be safe," Zeltzer said.
William Fleming Associates of Stoneham, a landscape design firm, is drafting the plans for the courtyard due for springtime construction.
With PhD and MBA degrees, Zeltzer served his doctoral internship in geriatric psychiatry at Butler Hospital in Rhode Island in collaboration with Brown Medical School. He professes the importance of integrating the arts and recreation into the lives of elders and the necessity for them to have an active role in the community.
"We need to be creative and build bridges for a link to the community," he said.
Zeltzer has been in negotiations with Salem State College and Leslie College administrators, he said, exploring a collaboration to develop internship programs at the home.
He plans to use the acreage of the Water Street property to open a research institute, which would explore ways to improve the quality of life for the deaf and a cultural center with annual events such as a MIME festival.
Many residents at the facility have unique talents, which Zelter hopes to tap.
"We have a very artistic couple who lives at Thompson House (an independent living facility on the campus)," Zeltzer said. "They will facilitate a craft workshop and residents will make things like tools and other artistic things."
Zeltzer envisions local children participating in intergenerational programs with residents in dance movement and other expressive arts programs, he said.
"I want to see the children conducting the programs with the elderly," he said.
Noting that the deaf feel vibrations, Zeltzer plans to develop a drumming program for residents, which will encourage them to work in groups to develop social skills as well as incorporating occupational therapy.
As homage to Helen Keller, who once served on the Board of Directors from 1907 through 1908, Zeltzer plans to develop the Helen Keller Library in conjunction with the Helen Keller National Center.
Past accomplishments
Although Zeltzer's goals are brand new for this organization, none of it is new to him.
At the Tampa Jewish Federation, Zeltzer developed a geriatric center, a high school community center and a boys and girls club. He is the developer of the generational theatrical therapy program in Tampa Bay.
"Right now I am producing a video on this with the University of Southern Florida," Zeltzer said.
During his tenure at Victoria Court, an adult day service facility in Rhode Island, Zeltzer developed the first integrational memory loss program to be licensed in that state for assistant living.
"That program changed the rules and regulations at the Department of Public Health," Zeltzer noted.
All of which is impressively documented in the American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, he said.
Meshing the lives of residents with those of the community inspires Zeltzer, he said. He recognizes the rewards it will bring his clients as well the benefits for residents of the community.
"We want to make the New England Home for the Deaf someplace where people want to come," Zeltzer said. "It will be somewhere people can help and learn from one another."