JF&CS

Envision Your Future in Your Current Home

Tue, 16 Jun 2015 18:34:00 GMT

Posted by Kathy Burnes

Universal design seems like a no brainer. Who wouldn’t want to live in a home and community environment that is flexible, easy to use, and requires minimal physical effort across the lifespan? Think of a sidewalk curb cut. It’s a simple and ubiquitous design that has universal utility.

JF&CS and the Salem Council on Aging hosted Envision Your Future in Your Current Home at Salem State University on June 4 for older adults on the North Shore to learn about the importance and feasibility of adapting their current home environment.

Valerie Fletcher, executive director of the Institute for Human Centered Design (ICHD), gave a fascinating presentation that introduced the concepts of universal design, provided an education on exciting design developments around the world, and offered practical low-cost solutions that enhance comfort, confidence, and a sense of control.

Though there was a ton of great information, here are five practical takeaways:

Though aging does not cause falls, falls are the leading cause of injury-related death for adults age 65 and older. Most falls occur in the home and stairs are a major cause. Try using non-slip adhesive strips on stairs, install railings on both sides of stairs, eliminate overhangs on steps, and provide a contrast color at the edge of the stair to make it easier to see.
Light is critical for vision and mood. The amount of light we need at 20 years of age doubles at 40 and doubles again at 60. Maximizing daylight whenever possible and introducing it into the home from more than one direction (skylights, opposing walls) can help. Balance natural light with electric lighting using LED bulbs to immerse the space with light and minimize shadows. Task lighting for reading, sewing, working on crossword puzzles, etc. should be located above and behind the person and should provide multiple levels of brightness.
Check out Washlets (made by Toto), also known as bidet toilets, a highly advanced system in hygiene and comfort. As people get older and frailer, it’s harder for them to perform good personal hygiene and it’s often a triggering reason – think urinary tract infections – for a move into a skilled nursing facility or a trip to the hospital. They are used everywhere in Japan and are engineered to improve ease of use for people of all ages and abilities.
Visit ICHD in Boston (near North Station). It’s a cool place. You will be able to experience not only the Washlet but other universally designed products!
Variation in ability is ordinary, not special, and affects most of us for at least part of our lives. So we must become "user/experts." We can’t expect effective design without the input of people whose abilities are different than the norm and who know where design fails and what works. We are the change agents in making universal design principles a normal part of community living!

Kathy Burnes is Director of the JF&CS Center on Aging in Community, which sponsors programs and projects that promote social engagement, mental health, and quality of life for older adults and their care partners. These programs build on the power of local communities to encourage positive aging through social connection, the arts, spirituality, and support. Prior to coming to JF&CS in 2007, Kathy worked as a senior research associate at Boston College’s Center for Corporate Citizenship and at the National Center on Women and Aging at Brandeis University. Kathy also worked for AARP and Operation ABLE of Greater Boston. She has a BA from the University of Michigan and a MEd in Rehabilitation Counseling from Northeastern University.

Salsa, Sangria, and Dementia

Tue, 09 Jun 2015 17:45:00 GMT

Posted by Beth Soltzberg

Last Thursday, 15 people gathered in a festive, private room at Jose’s Mexican Restaurant in Cambridge to delve into the difficult topic of coping with a parent’s dementia. Joanne Peskowitz, care manager for JF&CS Your Elder Experts, and I facilitated a lively discussion that ranged from laughter to tears as participants shared their concerns and hard-won wisdom.

Those involved in a parent’s care are often juggling many responsibilities. They are dealing with an ongoing emotional and practical upheaval, but they tend to have very little time to get support. By holding this event in a wonderful restaurant with delicious food, we hoped to offer a nice evening out along with support and information.

Topics discussed included the varied ways that families respond to dementia, the importance of recognizing the particular grief that comes when dementia alters a relationship, and ways to keep people with dementia and their care partners socially connected and engaged in pursuits that hold meaning for them. The following points came up again and again during the evening:

Listening with a truly open mind is the best way to figure out what a parent’s needs are.
Even when someone’s words don’t make sense, you can “listen” to behavior and nonverbal communication.
This is a very hard journey. Care partners struggle with the sometimes perplexing and challenging ways that dementia has changed their relationship with their parent and often with other family members as well.
There is no perfect way to “do” this. Care partners need support and to be forgiving and compassionate toward themselves as they cope with a parent’s evolving symptoms and needs.

If you’re interested in joining the discussion, you can join us at Balancing Act, a monthly evening support group for adults whose parent has dementia. The group meets monthly at JF&CS Headquarters in Waltham. For more information, please contact Beth at bsoltzberg@jfcsboston.org or 781-693-5628.

Beth Soltzberg, LCSW, MBA, manages the Alzheimer’s/Related Disorders Family Support program and works as a coordinator with the Parkinson’s Family Support Program. These programs of Jewish Family & Children’s Service encompass support, education, and the arts.Beth’s work includes facilitating caregiver support and education groups, and designing new offerings for families affected by Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. Beth earned her MSW and MBA from the University of Chicago and a certificate in end-of-life care from the Smith College School of Social Work. She holds an advanced credential in hospice and palliative care social work

The Healing Power of Dance

Wed, 03 Jun 2015 14:40:00 GMT

Posted by Jon Federman

“Music is primal,” explains Art Sullivan, resident dance instructor at JF&CS. “It is the last memory there when all the others are gone. It resides in the same part of the brain as our primal fears. It triggers memories residing deep within the core of the brain.”

When music is combined with physical movement in the form of dance, studies have shown that it can have a positive, healthy effect on humans. Starting with the premise that the body, mind, and spirit are interconnected, dance can be an effective healing technique for people with developmental, medical, social, physical, and psychological impairments. It uses the body’s movement as a door to mental and physical well-being.

Art sets movement to music specifically selected depending on the make-up of his classes. “If I’m leading the elderly, I use music from the Great American Songbook because it is familiar to them and brings back happy memories. Similarly, if Alzheimer’s patients are involved, music from their youth can bring a very favorable response,” he adds.

A recent study led by the Albert Einstein College of Medicine found that certain human experiences like dancing can actually turn on genes that facilitate growth in the human brain and can actually stop or slow the production of “amyloid plaques” (the significant factor of Alzheimer’s disease ) in the brain.

Dance has been shown to help other populations, as well. For children with autism spectrum disorders, it can build new motor, behavior, and communication skills. It has also shown great success with people suffering from addiction, substance abuse, eating disorders, and depression and can help those recovering from psychological trauma who may have difficulty verbalizing their feelings.

Even people with chronic illnesses and immunosuppressed people can benefit from dance. The “Lebed Method” is a movement program designed by doctors to promote drainage of the lymphatic system and increase range of motion -- problems often faced by those who have undergone treatment and surgery for breast cancer.

Art Sullivan is trained in the Lebed Method and is currently developing a way to incorporate some of these dance techniques into his work with people with Parkinson’s disease. He also offers a class for seniors who have fallen and broken bones. “They’re afraid of moving because of mental trauma. I get them to do simple, slow movements to music, starting from a seated position. We stretch and then we coordinate opposite movements. I try to get them to visualize their movements in their own homes and to be less dependent on mobility devices, canes, and walkers,” he explains. “In time, they conquer their fears.”

“What I do is not about a performance,” adds Art. “I’m not looking for them to be perfect. I want to bring them out of isolation, whether it’s at JF&CS or at a nursing home. I see people from different backgrounds come together and continue to socialize after class. Aside from the therapeutic benefits, it’s just fun for them – they don’t even realize that it’s exercise.”

Please contact Art Sullivan at asullivan@jfcsboston.org for more information.

Jon Federman is the JF&CS Staff Writer. A practicing attorney for more than 15 years, he is thrilled to bring his legal and persuasive writing skills to the JF&CS Marketing Communications department. Jon has a BA from Tufts University and a JD from Boston College Law School. In his spare time he is an exhibiting photographer and an award-winning cartoonist. Jon lived in London, England for five years before returning to Boston in 2011.

Why I Volunteer at the Memory Café

Wed, 20 May 2015 12:54:00 GMT

Posted by Leah Levine

When I found out that my grandmother had Alzheimer’s disease, I was too young to understand. In my ten years of life, I had learned that ‘disease’ meant ‘sick,’ and sickness was cured by a few simple things: medicine, soup, and rest. My parents gently explained that these usually reliable methods wouldn’t help my grandmother; she wasn’t going to get better.

Alzheimer’s disease is the only leading cause of death in the United States that cannot be prevented, cured, or even slowed (alz.org). It causes memory loss, confusion, and difficulty functioning. This progressive disease leads to a complete loss of ability to respond and eventually death.

I was not told these details then, but I learned over the years as I watched my grandmother slowly lose her ability to walk, feed herself, and even speak. When she moved to a facility, visits were scary at first; I hung back with my little sister and observed from a distance. My grandmother had been a math teacher, teaching middle and high school students after earning a graduate degree in mathematics, a rare accomplishment for a woman at the time. Now her abilities to add, subtract, and multiply, along with her interests in cooking, knitting, and community service, were eclipsed by this terrible disease. My grandmother loved babies and children and took enormous joy in her grandchildren. On one visit, as I hugged her goodbye, her eyes suddenly focused on me, and I heard her whisper “Pussycat…so… so beautiful… love… love you.” And for a second, however brief, there was a small glimmer of recognition in her eyes.

Since then, I have been determined to find a way to help. In high school, I volunteered at an assisted living facility dedicated to those with the disease, reading stories and running activities. Though the residents needed help walking and remembering where their rooms were, they had incredible stories and life advice to offer me each week.

Last spring, I volunteered at the first JF&CS Memory Café through a community service club at Brandeis University. The café gives people with dementia the chance to relax, drink coffee, and converse in a situation free of the pressure of everyday life coping with the disease.

My grandmother passed away a few months ago. With Alzheimer’s disease, you lose your loved ones twice. Although we lost her slowly to the disease’s symptoms years ago, this was different. Even though she couldn’t come to my bat mitzvah or high school graduation, make her special brownies for me and my sister, or even talk on the phone, I always counted on her presence in our lives. As my family went through this loss, it only strengthened my resolve to help.

I am now active in a newly formed club at my university, Students to End Alzheimer’s Disease (SEAD), I have started a fundraiser in my grandmother’s honor, and I continue volunteering at the Memory Café. I believe that the most important way to help people struggling with this disease is to let them know they are not alone. The Memory Café has given me the opportunity to hear wonderful life stories from people coping with the symptoms of Alzheimer’s and dementia. It also helps me remember the wonderful and vibrant woman my grandmother was.

Great Joy in Human Relationships

Mon, 18 May 2015 17:11:00 GMT

Posted by Betty Ann Miller as told to Jon Federman

When I was a teenager, I survived Stage III Hodgkins, a lymphatic system cancer. The intensive year-long radiation and chemotherapy left me weakened and prone to chronic medical issues. Those challenges deepened my compassion for others and eventually drew me to JF&CS - first as a client and then as an active supporter.

In 2001, I participated as a client in a Jewish Healing Connections (JHC) spiritual support group for caregivers and people living with serious illness. I needed some professional emotional support for managing my daily life. Almost everybody has moments that are unbearable, but there are some of us who live in those times more often than not. That supportive experience was profoundly important to me at the time.

I was so impressed and moved by the program’s mission that after my support group ended, I became a member of the newly created JHC advisory committee in 2002. I transitioned from someone who came to JF&CS to be helped to someone who could be a creator of the next wave of supportive activities for others. I personally feel very connected to the kinds of experiences that folks have when they’re in difficult times. The opportunity to comfort, listen, and be present with another person in moments of loneliness or distress is profoundly meaningful. I feel honored to be part of JHC, whose mission is just that.

Many people don’t have support systems, loved ones, resources, or community. I want to be one of the voices who says "don’t forget them, help support them." I try to raise awareness and get people involved in helping others in the Jewish community who are dealing with the challenges of illness, loss, and isolation. I have always found great joy in human relationships, especially in times of need, and I would like to continue to make a difference by helping people who are facing trauma and crisis in their daily lives.

That is why I’m passionate about Jewish Healing Connections and JF&CS.

Yom Hashoah at JF&CS

Thu, 16 Apr 2015 14:41:00 GMT

Posted by Elyse Rast

Yesterday, JF&CS employees joined together at JF&CS Headquarters to commemorate Yom Hashoah, hearing from Schechter Holocaust Services Advisory Committee member and Holocaust survivor, Jack Trompetter. At the end of the program, I shared the following with all in attendance:

Sunday was Boston’s Holocaust Commemoration at Faneuil Hall, which JF&CS proudly co-sponsored with other leading Holocaust agencies. The program was entitled Liberation: From Darkness to Light, since this year marks the 70th anniversary of the liberation of the death camps and the end of the Holocaust and WWII.

I brought my two children to the commemoration since the messages imparted were important reminders about remembering the past while creating a better present day. I asked my 13-year-old son why I brought him and his sister along, and he responded in a typical, sullen adolescent way that he had to go because I made him and because he’s learning about the Holocaust in school. When pushed further, he responded that it would help him learn empathy and he would be a kinder person. That night I realized the program’s impact when I saw him reading The Diary of Anne Frank.

One of the first speakers at the event, Rolf Schuette, the Consul General of Germany to New England, advised the audience to, “Remember. Do not forget. Tell the story of darkness. And take action.”

My favorite speaker was Max Michelson, a long-time member of the JF&CS Schechter Holocaust Services Advisory Committee. Max spoke beautifully about his experiences during the war and ended his speech with a call to action. He said that after 70 years, anti-Semitism is back and Jews are being treated like “historical children perpetually crying wolf.” Max continued by saying that everyone has a duty to be vigilant, learn what is happening around Europe, and to a lesser degree the US, and to vigorously stand up to Holocaust deniers and to those who hate Jews.

One last person I want to mention is the winner of the Israel Arbeiter Holocaust Essay Contest, Donaldo Jean-Baptiste, a senior at Malden High School. His essay was about standing up wherever there is injustice and always speaking your mind, especially when it’s difficult. This is an admirable thing for anyone to say; however, it was especially commendable in this case since Donaldo’s mother and father were killed during the war in the Republic of Congo. He saw unspeakable violence and suffering, including at age 11 when he witnessed the day his school was turned into a slaughter house. Donaldo concluded his essay saying, “Until the end of my last breath, I swore to myself that I would never be silent whenever and wherever I saw human beings endure suffering and humiliation of any kind.”

These four comments from Sunday’s program stood out to me because they offered similar messages from four very different people.

My son, Jake, lives with both his parents in an affluent Boston suburb and sees the world very differently from Donaldo who grew up in poverty during a war. However, both understood the importance of remembering the past and looking at the world with an empathetic eye.

The Consul General of Germany and a Holocaust survivor also see the world from two very different vantage points, but both offered messages of vigilance and action.

Personally, I think we need to see the world from all these perspectives. We need to be kind and empathetic to those in need while always remaining aware of what’s happening in the world around us.

Elyse Rast is the Manager of Outreach and Education for Schechter Holocaust Services. For the past 20 years Elyse has taught children ranging in ages from 3-18 and specializes in Holocaust education. Currently, Elyse runs Jewish teenage empowerment classes at Prozdor Hebrew High School and is working on her PhD in Education at Lesley University. Elyse has two kids and two cats and lives in Westwood.

A Voice for Survivors

Mon, 06 Apr 2015 14:42:00 GMT

JF&CS News Spring 2015

When JF&CS President-elect David Schechter attended a Hakalah dinner a decade ago, he had no idea that JF&CS even had a Holocaust Services program, let alone that it had already existed for ten years. A JF&CS Board member since 2003, David listened attentively that evening to a story told by Holocaust survivor Dr. Robert Berger. "His story inspired me to get involved," says David. Shortly afterwards, David made a substantial donation to JF&CS, specifying that the entire amount go to the Hakalah/Holocaust Services program. He still remains an active, supportive member of the Advisory Committee.

Schechter Holocaust Services (SHS), as it is known today, relies primarily on funding from the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany as well as philanthropic sources like the Dorot Foundation to achieve its goals. SHS ensures that survivors of Nazi persecution can age with dignity, preserve their self-respect, and enjoy a sense of independence. The program provides comprehensive no-cost assistance to survivors, including emergency financial assistance, homecare subsidies, assistance with reparations and restitution of assets, and advocacy and help accessing community resources.

The social part of the program includes Café Hakalah, a monthly social and cultural gathering of Holocaust survivors, and the Holiday Visitor program, where volunteers visit survivors on major Jewish holidays and maintain ongoing contact with survivors in need of companionship. They also participate in the annual Chanukkah and Passover events coordinated by JF&CS Jewish Healing Connections.

"We are passionate about making a difference in the lives of people who experienced such tragic events. We are a voice for survivors, when needed, so that they can live with dignity," explains Carol Laibson, SHS Case Manager.

Clients range in age from their 70s to 100. With age, they often become frailer and have increasing needs. "Our goal is to ensure that every survivor can remain in the living situation of their choice," says Elyse Rast, SHS Manager of Outreach and Education. "We are tremendously successful when we utilize flexible resources to meet the needs of our clients," Elyse emphasizes. Carol adds, "We act as a comprehensive safety net for survivors. We try to find every resource possible, both within JF&CS and outside the agency. It does take a village.'"

One recent story demonstrates how the many different departments at JF&CS act in concert to help survivors. Chaya* is an 89-year-old survivor from Germany who came to this country alone at the age of nine. She lived in foster homes until she married at 18.

Chaya has been a JF&CS client for many years. Early on, her SHS case manager helped her obtain financial assistance for heat, food, clothing, telephone bills, and medicine as well as homecare subsidies and companion care. Her case manager also helped re-establish contact with distant family members, complete applications for hardship fund reparations, and connect her with an elder law attorney to sort out long-term care planning.

Increasing dementia has recently made it unsafe for Chaya to live at home. Her case manager worked with a geriatric care manager from Your Elder Experts at JF&CS to get the medical care she needed and to find an assisted living option. Her case manager even helped orchestrate Chaya’s move . One month later, Chaya was happier than she had been for quite a long time. Her family was confident that she was in the right place and that she was well cared for. "This gives us such peace of mind," says one family member.

Holocaust survivors tend to present greater challenges than the typical JF&CS older adult client. Their early traumas often linger into old age. Institutional settings can trigger unpleasant memories, and it is essential that these concerns be addressed. "It's important that we work with institutions and home health aides on the importance of safety and trust issues in the lives of survivors," Carol explains. "Sometimes survivors do not want to impose on anyone. Quite often, they don't ask for help, so we have to read between the lines."

Despite the numerous complexities and challenges facing survivors, families, care givers, and case managers, Schechter Holocaust Services gets results. Whether it is a client’s new hearing aid or reparation and restitution payments that enable a survivor to live more comfortably in her own home, there is a sense of justice in seeing a Holocaust survivor supported, cared for, and living with greater dignity. As more than a few clients have said, "I don't know what I would do without JF&CS."

*Name changed to protect privacy.

For more information, call 781-647-JFCS (5327) or email your questions via our contact us page.

**Challenge Grant for Schechter Holocaust Services**

Jewish Family & Children’s Service is proud to announce that we have received a generous challenge grant of $50,000 from the Seed the Dream Foundation for Schechter Holocaust Services. This gift will fund critical hours of homecare that survivors need to live safely and comfortably in their own homes, as well as emergency expenses such as rent or utilities assistance, emergency food, and medicine. In order to receive this gift, we are charged with raising $75,000 in 2015 from individual donors. All of this funding will be used to keep Holocaust survivors safe and healthy.

“Please join me in helping the many Holocaust survivors in our community get the support they need as they grow older,” states David Schechter.

For more information or to make a contribution toward this $75,000 in matching funds, please contact Ruth Maffa at rmaffa@jfcsboston.org or 781-693-5059.

Creating a Supportive Parkinson's Community

Wed, 01 Apr 2015 18:46:00 GMT

JF&CS News Spring 2015

By 2006, Dale Okonow had become very familiar with the challenges facing people with Parkinson's disease, their families, and their caregivers. His father suffered from the disease for years and Dale knew that while monies were being spent on research to find a much-needed cure, there was little, if anything, being done to help people with Parkinson's and their families cope on a day-to-day basis. “I saw first-hand the severe emotional and physical toll [my father’s] illness took on my mother and the rest of our family. Although my parents lived in Florida, I saw the need in the Boston community for a program that could provide support and comfort to those people in our area who had Parkinson’s, their families, and caregivers,” Dale explains.

“I had been involved in JF&CS as a Board member for several years and had seen the great work JF&CS was doing with similar support programs for the elderly,” adds Dale. That is when he, along with real estate developer and investor Mitchell Robbins, approached Sy Friedland, who was the CEO of JF&CS at the time, with their vision for the Parkinson’s Family Support program. With both of their fathers suffering from the disease, Dale and Mitchell understood the need for such a program, and together they provided the seed money for it.

Join the Okonows in supporting the Parkinson’s Family Support program.

Make your gift today.

Thanks to the Okonow and Robbins families, JF&CS has been providing a supportive community for people with Parkinson's and their families for more than eight years. In addition to support groups, the program also provides art-based therapeutic activities, information, referrals, and resources. Tools and approaches for self-management of Parkinson’s disease (PD) are all part of the programming. Nancy Mazonson, director of the program since its inception, adds, "Parkinson's Family Support is here to help with the challenges of living with PD and to help improve quality of life.”

Over the years, the therapeutic programming component has expanded dramatically. There is now a therapeutic drumming group as well as a dance and movement group, which was recently described by David Leventhal, Director of Dance for PD at the renowned Mark Morris Dance Group, as "one of the most established in the nation." There is even a chorus for people with Parkinson's and their caregivers, called the Tremble Clefs.

Interestingly, the Tremble Clefs is led by Dale's wife, Marilyn Okonow. In 2009, the Okonows received an update from Nancy Mazonson about a new singing program she was starting for people with Parkinson's. When the original choral director did not work out, Marilyn offered to help. Unbeknownst to Nancy, Marilyn had years of professional voice and music training.

After graduating from Cornell University, where she studied music and voice performance, Marilyn received a masters in music education from the New England Conservatory of Music. She had a successful career as a professional singer, pianist, and arranger, appearing with her quartet in Philadelphia, Atlantic City, and New York. While raising her two children, Marilyn was a driving force in developing a music curriculum for the Rashi School and she has also been a frequent cantorial soloist at Wellesley's Temple Beth Elohim.

When Nancy described the program to her, Marilyn said, "I can do this!" and she became the group's director.

Six years later, Marilyn's passion for the Tremble Clefs only gets stronger. "I have become emotionally attached to all the singers. To watch everyone come week after week, through the rain and the snow, with the challenges they face in just getting out of the house, is incredibly inspiring to me," says Marilyn. "The group is very close and everyone supports one another. There is a strong sense of community. They leave humming and with smiles on their faces. For a period of time each week they can forget about their immense challenges and just have fun. Their entire demeanors change once they start singing."

During practices and performances, Marilyn tries to reinforce some of the concepts of formal speech therapy, using vocal techniques specifically designed for people with Parkinson's. "One of the effects of Parkinson's is that people sometimes lose the ability to speak loudly and be heard properly. Singing helps them learn to project their voices. We work on breathing techniques, posture, enunciation, consonant and vowel production, phrasing, and dynamics, just as any chorus would. Rehearsals are run just as any chorus rehearsal. Musical elements are discussed and worked on, and it is the immersion into the music itself that has a profound effect on the singers, along with the experience of making music with others," explains Marilyn.

"Our participants notice an improvement in their ability to speak, thereby allowing them to be heard on the phone, for example, or participate in normal conversation. But it is the power of music expression at the heart of the Tremble Clefs," she adds.

Despite the challenges they face, Marilyn describes seeing spouses holding hands. "It's hard not to see the love and the dedication they have for one another. They motivate others to be positive in life and to play the hand that has been dealt to them as best as they possibly can. One woman, who lost her husband to Parkinson's, still sings in our chorus," she marvels.

The significance and reputation of the Tremble Clefs has not gone unnoticed in the professional musical community. “As a person whose mother, her two sisters, her brother, and their mother (my grandmother) all suffered from Parkinson's disease, I feel a particular connection to your group and your efforts,” remarks John Oliver, conductor and founder of the Tanglewood Festival Chorus. “The power of choral singing to connect and engage people of all ages and backgrounds cannot be overstated. When singing together, we are united in the creative process and the barriers in our lives that prevent us from connecting with one another are overcome. The work of [JF&CS] with the Tremble Clefs is a tremendous opportunity for those living with Parkinson's disease,” he notes.

Both Dale and Marilyn are deeply involved in Jewish philanthropy in Greater Boston. Dale, a partner at the Watermill Group, a private equity investment and management firm in Lexington, serves on the CJP Board of Trustees and is Chair of the CJP Committee on Development. He also co-chaired the 2012 CJP Annual Campaign. Additionally, he is a member of the Board of Trustees at the Rashi School, the Board of Directors of the Friends of Yemin Orde Youth Village in Israel, and the JF&CS Board of Directors. Dale is also on the Hematology/Oncology Visiting Committee of the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, where he helped establish the Okonow/Lipton Family Lymphoma Research Fund, and he serves on the Board of Directors of the iF Foundation, a charity that does economic development work in Haiti.

Aside from directing the Tremble Clefs, Marilyn serves on the Hematology/Oncology Visiting Committee of the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, is on the Board of Directors at the Vilna Shul/Boston's Center for Jewish Culture, and is the outreach coordinator for the Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Boston. She is also on the JF&CS Board of Advocates and was the 2012 recipient of the Simone Lottor Exceptional Service Award for volunteering as musical director for The Tremble Clefs.

Dale and Marilyn are now working to find donors in order to permanently endow the Parkinson's Family Support program so that it will be financially stable in the future and so that all who participate in the program, from those afflicted with the disease, to their caregivers, spouses, siblings, and adult children, can enjoy an improved quality of life.

“My hopes for the future of the program are to grow our service offerings and widen our geographic base and reach in Greater Boston – to serve as many Parkinson’s patients and caregivers as possible. Eventually, I would like to see our program develop so it can be rolled out on a national scale to JF&CS agencies all over the country,” adds Dale.

For more information, call 781-647-JFCS (5327) or email your questions via our contact us page.

Bringing Elders Together

Tue, 31 Mar 2015 17:32:00 GMT

JF&CS News Spring 2015

Claire and Norton Sherman met on a blind date more than sixty years ago. They fell in love and were married in 1955, moving to Norton’s hometown of Newton and starting a family. Through the years, the couple has experienced the joys and sorrows that make their way into every long life. Now they find themselves in a unique position -- as both supporters and clients of Jewish Family & Children’s Service.

“We are so fortunate to have Claire and Norton Sherman as visionary leaders who, ten years ago, recognized the need to provide services for isolated and frail older adults,” said Marjorie Sokoll, MEd, Director of Jewish Healing Connections. “We feel so blessed for their leadership. This would have never been possible without their support.”

The partnership began with the Shermans’ desire to support Jewish elders. They met with Marjie and decided to bring clients of the JF&CS Friendly Visitor Program, which matches isolated elders with weekly visitors, together at two communal gatherings – a Passover Seder and a Chanukkah party.

For many elderly Jews in Greater Boston, isolated and alone, the holidays can be a sad time. Happily, because of the support of the Shermans, these elders celebrate the holidays together, connecting with each other and with the next generation.

“At this age, invitations are few and far between. No one wants to feel like a third wheel. Even at friends’ houses, you’re sort of outside looking in the window,” said Claire. “Here you’re an insider -- you’re an integral part of it.”

When Norton was diagnosed with kidney failure and went on dialysis, he began receiving services from the JF&CS Visiting Nurse Association. “Your life is completely changed when you’re as sick as Norton. You can’t go out, you have a strict diet, and if you deviate you end up in the hospital,” said Claire. “That’s why I appreciate now what it means to get out of the house in a way that I didn’t before. At the Seder, we’re treated as first class citizens, not as old people. I see it both ways – as a supporter and a client.”

When he’s able to come to the celebration, Norton speaks to the group about the importance of gathering Jewish elders in community and creating connections. “As he’s become older, Norton realizes the importance of this even more,” said Marjie. “His words are always inspiring.”

The celebrations have grown to sixty older adults, coming from various JF&CS programs including the assisted living and nursing home Shabbat program, Schechter Holocaust Services, mental health, and geriatric care.

“It’s grown in stature and size, blossoming from a small casual Seder into something that is very important and that a lot of people look forward to,” said Claire. “I enjoy the group participation, how people respond to the singing. It’s a noisy, vibrant, living thing. JF&CS has done a wonderful job.”

The program has thrived over the years because of the generosity of many volunteers who give people rides to and from the party, welcome guests, and assist them during the meal.

Additionally, volunteers at Temple Beth Avodah of Newton and CJP Women’s Philanthropy gathered in December to make gift bags for the guests at the Friendly Visitor Chanukkah party. Seventy-five women decorated mugs and packed tea, lotion, tissues, gift cards, and warm socks for party guests to take home with them.

“This is a great opportunity for people who wouldn’t normally have a lot of time to volunteer but who care about older adults and want to contribute to their quality of life,” said Sue Spielman, MPA, Coordinator, Friendly Visitor Program and Caring Communities Resource Network. “These are gifts that are really treasured.”

Students have also lent a hand, from high school students in the JCC Diller Teen Fellows leadership program to a capella singers from Brandeis University and students from Boston College Jewish Law Student Association. The student volunteers join elderly clients to listen, tell stories, sing songs, and share a meal.

“We couldn’t run programs without volunteers. The students are energetic and willing to do whatever needs to be done to make the elders comfortable, happy and welcome,” said Sue.

“We want older Jewish adults to know that the Greater Boston community remembers and treasures them,” added Sue. Thanks to the generous support of Claire and Norton Sherman, they do.

For more information, call 781-647-JFCS (5327) or email your questions via our contact us page.

Memory Cafés: A Welcoming Space for People with Dementia

Fri, 20 Mar 2015 13:24:00 GMT

Posted by Beth Soltzberg

Almost a year ago, JF&CS started the second memory café in Massachusetts. A memory café is a welcoming, social gathering for people with dementia and their care partners.

Memory cafés have spread across Europe and recently across the US. Each café looks different. They meet in coffee shops, museums, social service agencies, houses of worship, and libraries. Their common threads are a focus on the enduring personhood of those with dementia rather than on the disease and a chance for those with dementia and their care partners to enjoy socializing without worry of stigma or judgment. Memory cafés help keep the growing number of families affected by dementia woven into the fabric of community life.

A large number of café “regulars” now value the JF&CS Memory Café as a highlight of their month. But more memory cafés are needed across our state. Each should be unique and tailored to the needs and style of its neighborhood.

With this aim, JF&CS has launched the memory café Percolator network. The “Percolator” network meets quarterly to enable those starting or running memory cafés to share resources and ideas.

The Percolator’s Café Directory shows the broad range of café pioneers in our region. Memory cafés are currently running in a home in Marlborough that during the week hosts a social day program, the Westwood Library, housing for the elderly in Framingham, and various sites in Brookline.

Helping people find cafés to attend is one of the Percolator’s goals. "Having an organized network and a directory makes it much easier for Alzheimer’s Association helpline staff to refer people to local memory cafes," says Bonnie Bigalke, Care Consultant at the Alzheimer’s Association of MA/NH. We hope that in the next year, many more memory cafés will start and thrive.

I recently received an e-mail from a woman who regularly attends the JF&CS Memory Café with her husband who has dementia. She and her husband had become very isolated because it was hard for him to do the things he used to do and old friends drifted away. Coming to the JF&CS Memory Café was a breakthrough; the first new activity that he enjoyed and an opportunity for her to get out and have fun with her husband and others who “get it.” Having learned about another café through the directory, they now attend both.

“I hope there will be more cafés in the new year,” she wrote. “I am ready to become a café groupie.”

Would you like to attend or start a memory café? Please contact Beth Soltzberg at bsoltzberg@jfcsboston.org or 781-693-5628 for more information about memory cafes or the Percolator network.

Beth Soltzberg, LCSW, MBA, manages the Alzheimer’s/Related Disorders Family Support program, and works as a coordinator with the Parkinson’s Family Support Program. These programs of Jewish Family & Children’s Service encompass support, education, and the arts.Beth’s work includes facilitating caregiver support and education groups, and designing new offerings for families affected by Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. Beth earned her MSW and MBA from the University of Chicago and a certificate in end-of-life care from the Smith College School of Social Work. She holds an advanced credential in hospice and palliative care social work.