Edythe Kurz Educational Institute Conference 2024
Mental Health in Older Adults Unique Needs, Evolving Approaches
WJCS Awarded $35,000 Grant from Aging in America
Westchester Jewish Community Services (WJCS) is proud to announce it has been awarded a $35,000 grant from Aging in America to support Geriatric Care Management. The grant will support Geriatric Care Management services to low-income, frail elderly individuals throughout Westchester County to maintain and enhance their physical and emotional quality of life. “For many seniors, especially those who live alone, life can become progressively more challenging and isolating, compromising their ability to age well and safely in place,” said WJCS CEO Seth Diamond. “Stressors, such as chronic medical conditions, the loss of a spouse, lack of connection to family or ...
WJCS Awarded Field Hall Foundation Grant to Support Vulnerable Seniors
Westchester Jewish Community Services (WJCS) is thrilled to have been awarded a $40,000 grant from the Field Hall Foundation for Geriatric Care Management. This support is especially needed because addressing the issues faced by the elderly is becoming increasingly important as the population in Westchester County ages. It is the fastest growing age group in Westchester, with people over age 65 representing 18.4% of our county’s population in 2022. Seniors living on limited incomes in Westchester often face financial insecurity. More than 39%—45,000 people—in Westchester live in poverty, which is higher than Rockland, Nassau, or Putnam counties. “Seniors face ...
Helping Seniors Age in Place with Dignity & Providing Caregiver Support
Twenty percent of the population in Westchester is over age 60. Of those age 65 and older, 39% live alone. Growing older is not just physically challenging; it’s also emotionally challenging. Many seniors face health and mobility limitations. Those who enjoyed and are no longer working often lack a sense of purpose and vitality. Innovative program, services, and fitness, recreational, and educational activities help seniors maintain a sense of identity, self-esteem, and self-worth. Emotional and practical support, both individual and in groups, helps caregivers who are often overwhelmed with stress and added responsibilities, navigate their challenges and feel less ...
Aging in Place with Dignity
By Judy Fink, LCSW and Heidi Weiss, LMSW, MHA The fastest growing segment of the U.S. population is composed of people 85 years of age. This is especially true in Westchester, where 20% of our population is over the age of 65. Most seniors prefer to age safely and well in their homes and communities. Yet needs vary depending upon each individual’s situation, family, friends, and the community in which he or she resides. A thorough assessment of each senior’s situation is required to find the best solution to meet his or her needs At Westchester Jewish Community Services ...
WJCS Named a Community Champion
WJCS helps seniors throughout Westchester County to help them stay engaged in their communities and age in place safely with dignity. We are thrilled that WJCS has been recognized as a Community Champion by the Westchester Public/Private Partnership Membership Fund for Aging Services. Among the many programs and services offered by our Senior Care program, supervised by Judy Fink, LCSW, are: Care and Case Management which involves our staff assisting clients, families, and caregivers by providing them with the information and assistance they need, whether it is via phone calls, emails, or home visits. “We ensure that seniors obtain ...
Now What? 6 Steps After an Alzheimer’s Diagnosis
Has your loved one been recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or Dementia? If so, all of a sudden, you probably have a lot on your plate…. Maybe you have been putting off making financial and legal plans for the future. Perhaps you are rethinking your living situation. Here are first steps you may want to take after a diagnosis: Contact an elder care attorney to discuss your financial planning and need for a power of attorney, will, and advanced directives. Connect your loved one to proper medical care, including a gerontologist and a neurological team. Evaluate your home environment to ensure ...
Caring For Caregivers
Donna*, an only child in her late fifties, suspected that her mother’s Alzheimer’s was progressing. Her mom, a widow living alone in Bronxville, seemed increasingly confused when they spoke on the phone, plus Donna, who lived and worked in Las Vegas, was starting to receive phone calls from concerned neighbors. She decided to come east for a brief visit to get a handle on the situation. Once Donna saw her mom’s declining state, she felt increasingly anxious about leaving her. She decided to quit her job and move permanently back to New York to be her mother’s caregiver and advocate. ...
What a Year 2022 Has Been!
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