PEABODY — Barry Berman, CEO of Chelsea Jewish Lifecare, an affiliate of Legacy Lifecare, has been honored with the 2025 Dr. Herbert Shore Award of Honor by the Association of Jewish Aging Services (AJAS). This prestigious award, AJAS’s highest honor, recognizes an executive professional who exemplifies the organization’s goals and ideals and provides exceptional service to older adults and individuals with severe disabilities.
Karen Flam, chair of the AJAS Awards Committee and a past recipient of the award, traveled from Montreal to Chelsea to surprise Berman with the honor. Berman was sitting in the lobby of the Leonard Florence Center with Ruth Katz, president and CEO of AJAS, when Flam appeared, accompanied by Chelsea Jewish Lifecare staff, residents, and Berman’s family members.
“I am surprised and overwhelmed with gratitude,” Berman said after receiving the award. “I have known about the AJAS Award of Honor throughout my entire career, but I never imagined I would be the recipient of this important honor. The fact that my peers are the ones who voted for me means more than I can say.”
Berman has dedicated 47 years to serving the long-term care community in Chelsea and surrounding areas, pioneering innovative models of care. He is a past board member of the Chelsea Soldiers’ Home and has served on the Massachusetts Governor’s Council of Assisted Living, as well as on the boards of the Massachusetts Assisted Living Facilities Association, the Massachusetts Aging Services Association, LeadingAge Massachusetts, and the ALS Association Massachusetts Chapter.
“I was so happy to be with everyone at Chelsea Jewish Lifecare to honor Barry where he ‘lives,’” Flam said. “Barry exemplifies what it is to lead with a heart and a brain. He so deserves this recognition!”
Berman is also a recipient of the “Leaders of Tomorrow” award from McKnight’s Long Term Care News, the “Award of Honor” from LeadingAge for his work in expanding aging services, and the “Changemaker Award” from the Center for Innovation.
“Barry demonstrates for all of us every day that it is possible to bring mission, vision, and humanity together to always do the best for residents,” Katz said. “The Dr. Herbert Shore Award of Honor is AJAS’s most prestigious award, and we are thrilled to present it to Barry Berman. It is an honor to count Barry and Chelsea Jewish Lifecare among our members.”
About Chelsea Jewish Lifecare
Chelsea Jewish Lifecare is redefining senior care and re-envisioning what life can be for individuals living with disabling conditions. Its eldercare community offers skilled and short-term rehabilitation residences, specialized care for ALS, MS, and ventilator-dependent individuals, assisted living options, memory care, independent living, adult day health programs, and homecare and hospice services.
About Legacy Lifecare
Legacy Lifecare Inc. is a nonprofit management collaborative that supports small-to-mid-sized organizations with the infrastructure needed to succeed in today’s senior care environment. Affiliates include Chelsea Jewish Lifecare of Chelsea and Peabody, Armenian Nursing and Rehabilitation Center of Jamaica Plain, Elizabeth Seton Residence and Marillac Residence of Wellesley, Stone Rehabilitation & Senior Living of Newton, and Saint Joseph Living Center of Windham, Connecticut.
About the Association of Jewish Aging Services (AJAS)
AJAS is a nonprofit organization promoting elder services guided by Jewish values through education, professional development, advocacy, and community relationships. Its members work to provide the highest quality care to older adults across North America.
