Celebrating Older Americans Month in May – “Aging Their Way”

May is recognized as Older Americans Month and this year’s theme is “Age My Way” with a focus how seniors can plan to live safely and comfortably in their homes and communities for as long as possible. This is a core belief within the JFCS Senior Service program making us especially excited to share how we help our seniors age their own way. 

What is Older Americans Month? 

The Administration for Community Living leads the national observance of Older Americans Month (OAM). OAM was established by President Gerald Ford in 1976 to recognize the contributions of older adults across the country and raise awareness of the needs specific to the aging demographic. 

The 2022 theme for OAM is “Aging My Way” which provides an opportunity to highlight the many way older adults can safely remain in their communities in their golden years and the value they bring in being involved. 

How does JFCS help seniors age their own way? 

Aging-in-place support is one of the core focus areas of our senior service department. JFCS believes all individuals are entitled to their right to live their golden years as they choose. Our care managers help navigate the maze of senior care and assist seniors in making the best decisions for care, safety and comfort such as how to safely age in their homes, how to make informed decisions about assisted living, in-home care and plan for long-term medical, financial, and legal situations. Our team of geriatric care managers are here to serve as advocates for our clients, ensuring their needs are heard by family, caregivers, friends, doctors and professionals. 

Beyond care management, JFCS even offers specific senior nutrition programs to ensure that older adults have access to nutritious food on a regular basis, further enhancing their quality of life in their later years. 

What our seniors say is “aging their way”…

Making connections to help seniors who feel isolated… 

The JFCS Friendly Caller & Visitor Program matches volunteers and seniors who feel more isolated or vulnerable, whether due to being homebound, living alone, or other circumstances. When COVID-19 forced many more seniors into isolation for their health & safety, JFCS continued this program matching more volunteers with more seniors.  

Two volunteers shared their perspective on what these regular connections have meant to them, and the senior they connect with. 

Volunteer Michael says… 

I’ve fostered a deep, meaningful, and humorous relationship through my friendly, weekly calls with Ms. Jane. Our calls are centered around positivity, compassion, and encouragement, whether it be a new hobby or to explore a new museum. This has greatly abated the fear of isolation and promoted social connection.  

Ms. Jane looks forward to our weekly calls, to the point where the excitement and enthusiasm is palpable; an experience that is beyond rewarding. 

Volunteer Judith says… 

I continue to speak with Ruth weekly. Our conversations have no topic; we speak as two friends about family, books, happenings in our lives, and reminiscences. She picks the topics, sets the tone and pace. I follow her direction. 

I know Ruth feels lonely, and our talks provide relief each week. I can tell that she looks forward to and enjoys our conversations, for she says so repeatedly and thanks me each week. 

*all names changed for confidentiality

The Commencement of Tax Season – and Scams

NJCCIC Alert about Tax Season Scams

The federal tax filing season began this week and threat actors are quickly targeting taxpayers. The NJCCIC observed phishing campaigns attempting to be delivered to New Jersey State employees, with the intent to download and install malware. Threat actors spoofed the sender’s display name to a known source or entity to convince the recipient to trust the email without verifying its legitimacy. The sender’s display name is purported to be from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS); however, upon further inspection, the sender’s domain name was “irs.com” instead of the legitimate “irs.gov.” Additionally, the email signature claimed to be the “Government department” in the IRS to add a false sense of legitimacy and authority.

The subject line displayed “Information Regarding Your Tax Form” to convince their target to open the email and take action. Although the email referenced an attached “TAXFORM.pdf,” it contained an attached Microsoft Word name “Tax Form.doc” that, if clicked, downloads and installs malware. In addition to the IRS, threat actors may also spoof popular tax brands to trick their victims into divulging sensitive information, which can then be used to file fraudulent tax returns, collect refunds, and engage in other identity theft schemes. Additionally, companies required to provide customers with tax documents may also be impersonated in attempts to convince victims into opening malicious links or attachments.

The NJCCIC recommends users and organizations educate themselves and others on these continuing threats and tactics to reduce victimization. The IRS does not initiate contact with taxpayers by email, text messages, or social media channels to send or request personal or financial information. Please review the NJCCIC Product Beware of Tax Scams to learn more about common tax scams—including tax identity theft, IRS impersonation scams, and fraudulent tax preparer scams—and cybersecurity best practices to help protect your identity, data, and tax refunds. Additional tax scams and consumer alerts can be found on the IRS website.

 

JFCS Senior Services: Going the Extra Mile to “Be There” for Seniors, When We Can’t Be There

JFCS continues to provide an updated list of known vaccine sites on our COVID resource page. We are making every effort to keep the community up to date through the resource page with information available to us.

Our senior services team is working to connect our clients, specifically our senior clients and others who currently qualify for vaccine, to any available and known resources.

Anxieties are reaching a peak level amongst the older adults in our community as the state-wide scramble for vaccine appointments drags on. For members of JFCS Secure@Home and Senior Outreach Service (SOS) programs, there is some solace found in the dedication and compassion of our geriatric care managers.

Our senior service team is going above and beyond for our Secure@Home members and senior clients. We know many older adults are facing challenges securing a vaccine timeslot. For Secure@Home members, the 24/7 support and hard work of our team of geriatric care managers has been the difference between getting a timeslot and not. Members of the program regular updates from the care managers about all available vaccine resources. The up-to-date information has helped many of our program members be connected with vaccine distribution sites and confirm appointments.

During the past year, when many seniors were more isolated and distanced from loved ones than ever before, our senior services team ensured they never felt alone. Whether it was a friendly check-in needed, or finding a volunteer to help with groceries, or helping find and secure COVID-19 tests or vaccine appointments, our care managers were there for our members. The team continues to respond to the immediate needs of seniors with each wave of challenges during the pandemic.

“I keep thinking how many thanks I’m feeling for getting that [registration] link to me. I almost lost an appointment within the next few weeks but was able to book one thanks to your quick action!”

Secure@Home Member

“You both put the arms of angels around me this morning. Thank you for helping me find an appointment for today. Sunny day. Easy trip. Very, Very well-organized site. Date for next vaccine set.”

Senior Outreach Service (SOS) Client

“I am emailing to commend Beth Hammer for her extraordinary efforts to get vaccination appointments for me and other Secure@Home members. She has done far more than what I would expect her to do. And it has worked. Thank you for having such a dedicated and determined staff member!”

Secure@Home Member

Our geriatric care managers are here to help you and your loved ones by providing an umbrella of services to promote healthy aging and “aging in place.”  Full Secure@Home membership benefits include care management, assessment, 24/7 emergency phone availability, information & referral, transportation options, monthly hellos and more. Geriatric care consultations and care management can also be provided at an hourly rate if you are not yet in need of full-time support but as-needed care.

When it can be difficult to find peace of mind, our Secure@Home team is providing comfort and solace to seniors during this pandemic and beyond. If you want to learn more about Secure@Home and our senior support programs, contact our team at 609-987-8100 Ext 203.

Hospice Myths & Truths, Answers to Your Questions About Hospice Care

JFCS and Secure@Home were proud to partner with Greenwood Hospice Team to present on hospice myths and truths. The Greenwood Hospice Team addressed important misconceptions about hospice care and what it means and answered your questions like…

How do I know it is time for hospice care? How is it determined that someone qualifies for hospice?

How do I find the right hospice care for myself or my loved one?

Is there coordination between hospice and the patient’s personal physician?

What if there is no family at home with someone who needs hospice care?

How do you handle it if a patent has dementia and wants something that the family doesn’t want for them?

Presenters:
Beverly Mishkin, LCSW, Director of Senior Services & Case Management (JFCS)
Joy Simons, RN, CHPN : RN/Case Manager and Admissions Coordinator (Greenwood Hospice)
Edwin Arevalo,Jr. MDiv, MSCC : Chaplain/Spiritual & Bereavement Counselor (Greenwood Hospice)
Marcelle McGovern, LSW, MSW: Medical Social Worker (Greenwood Hospice)

View the full webinar recording below:

Daily Webinar Alert: Impact of COVID-19 on Medical Decision Making

JFCS continues to gather important resources for dealing with the impact of COVID-19. We are sharing the below information for an outside resource:

Daily 30-minute Webinar available at 1 PM EST Monday-Friday (through April 24)

“Impact of COVID-19 on Medical Decision Making: POLST and Other Important Considerations for High-Risk People” Hosted by Dr. David Barile, Palliative and Geriatric Physician, Founder & Chief Medical Officer Goals of Care Coalition of New Jersey

The purpose of the webinar is to help educate people and address their questions regarding POLST (Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment) and advance directives for the populations at high-risk for complications of COVID-19 (e.g., nursing home residents, frail elders, people with compromised immune systems and underlying medical concerns) and their surrogate decision makers or healthcare proxies.  Dr. David Barile will explain what a POLST is, why it is an important document, how to complete the form, and under what circumstances someone should have one.  Each session is followed by a Q & A period. Once registered, you can submit your questions.

 To register, go to goalsofcare.org 

The Truth About Long Distance Caregiving

About 1 in 8 family caregivers live more than an hour’s drive from the recipient of the care. Whether you are in a different city, a different state, across the country, or across the globe, as caregiver you want to be there without always being there.

According to AARP, these are five steps to staying informed and effective as a long-distance caregiver.

  1. Establish Access

Caregiving often involves having the legal authority to make financial and healthcare related decisions. Having good information channels to accessing this information is crucial to a long distance caregiver. Try to arrange as much as possible during an in-person visit, when you can work with your loved one to locate, organize and fill out necessary paperwork such as a will, power of attorney and medical care plan.

  1. Create a Team

In the digital age, you can handle many important tasks remotely, such as paying bills and ordering prescriptions; however, you will need others to be your eyes, ears and sometimes hands on the ground. It is natural for long distance caregivers to feel guilty about delegating certain jobs to others, but do not try and do it all. Delegating regular check-ins and more hands-on care to nearby family, friends or professionals can be in the best interest of your loved one, especially in cased of serious or complicated health issues.

  1. Find a Local Coordinator

A local care manager can supply local knowledge and help with caregiving logistics. One option is to hire a reputable caregiving professional, also known as geriatric care manager, aging life care manager or eldercare navigator or coordinator. These professionals are often licensed nurses or social workers and can be valuable mediators or sounding boards when family members disagree on care decisions. A care manager can help make tough choices easier on the caregiver and care recipient – such as knowing when it is no longer safe for a loved one to live at home – by presenting an array of options from a knowledgeable, outside perspective.

  1. Stay in the Loop

Establish ways to communicate regularly with your local team and loved one, whether through organization apps, group emails or social tools like FaceTime and Skype.

  1. Make the Most of Visits

Nothing replaces an in-person visit. When you can manage one, come with a list of things you need to know or discuss.

How can JFCS help you to navigate these challenges?

If your loved one resides in Princeton, NJ or the surrounding Mercer County area, consider a membership in the award-winning Secure@Home program offerings through JFCS. Our Secure@Home team of highly skilled Senior Care Consultants provides a comprehensive umbrella of care management services to help older adults age comfortably, independently and safely in their own homes.

Membership includes a complete home assessment, care plan, 24-hour emergency telephone availability, “Chore Corps” volunteers and regular check-ins, preferred provider list and wellness lectures.

If you are concerned about your loved one, please call JFCS at 609-987-8100 and ask to speak to a Secure@Home representative.

Kosher Meals on Wheels Offers Solutions for Seniors

Meals on Wheels is known across the country for delivering hot meals directly into the hands of older adults. The program is designed for those who face challenges in accessing nutritious, hot meals due to limited mobility and/or limited income.

Why Kosher?

Meals on Wheels is an incredible resource to aging adults who need the accessibility and nutritional resource; however, older Jewish adults could not turn to Meals on Wheels if they wished to maintain a Kosher diet. Kosher Meals on Wheels (KMOW) fills that gap and allows Jewish seniors to maintain their traditions, bringing a sense of comfort as they age.

JFCS delivers Kosher Meals on Wheels to Jewish seniors in West Windsor, East Windsor, Hightstown, Hamilton, Princeton and Plainsboro. Deliveries are made twice a week and include 5 total meals, one for each day of the week. The hot, Kosher meals are prepared by our partner Greenwood House then distributed by JFCS volunteers to our local communities. Greenwood House staff and volunteers deliver KMOW to those in the Trenton, Lawrenceville, and Ewing communities. Meals are $25 per week and some scholarships are available.

Call us at 609-987-8100 to learn more about how to receive KMOW deliveries.

Interested in delivering more than a meal to seniors?

We are always looking for motivated volunteers to serve as KMOW drivers for our local seniors. The older adults who receive meal deliveries look forward to the friendly face and short conversation – many recipients face isolation as well as nutrition challenges as they age. Our volunteers are valuable eyes and ears on the ground for our staff, regularly reporting back if there are visible concerns of declining health or living conditions. Our staff has been able to intervene quickly and provide additional support to the senior in cases where a volunteer has provided valuable feedback.

If you are interested in becoming a KMOW delivery driver, contact our Volunteer Coordinator Eden Aaronson at EdenA@jfcsonline.org.

For non-Jewish seniors who do not need Kosher meals, connect with Meals on Wheels to find delivery options in your community.

How do I Talk to a Family Member about Senior Care Options?

The holidays are a wonderful time for families to gather and share in memories and traditions. However, meals around the table can also spur on questions about the health of our aging family members.

“Did Dad almost trip coming up his own front step?”

“Did Nanna look this frail last year?”

“Does Uncle Stu seem more forgetful?”

Family gatherings can shine a light on deteriorating health in our loved ones and be an opportunity to discuss senior care options from in-home care to assisted living.

What are signs your loved one needs help?

Some of the most common signs of concern include*:

  • Changes in mood or extreme mood swings
  • Cluttered, dirty and/or disorganized house
  • Disheveled clothing / poor personal hygiene
  • Expired/spoiled groceries
  • Confusion and uncertainty when performing once-familiar tasks
  • Forgetfulness
  • Loss of interest in activities
  • Trouble getting up from seated position
  • Unexplained bruises

How to start the conversation?

As with many difficult topics, beginning the discussion is often the hardest part. Open-ended questions are the best way to encourage them to talk. Sit back and really listen to their answers.

These conversation starters may help:

  • How is it living at home alone? Do you still feel safe? (OR give specific examples i.e. Are you concerned about the stairs? Do you have trouble getting into the bath?)
  • Do you feel lonely sometimes? Would you like to spend more time with people your own age?
  • How do you feel about driving? Would you be interested in other options for transportation, so you don’t have to worry about getting where you need to go, car maintenance costs, traffic, parking, etc.?
  • Is it ever hard to manage your finances and keep up with paying your bills?
  • Ever wonder about getting a helping hand with housekeeping and laundry?
  • Would you feel less stress if you didn’t have to worry about the house?

Speaking to your aging loved ones about care options can be difficult, starting the conversation is the first step. Multiple conversations may be needed to understand your loved one’s needs and wishes AND balance those with the best options for a safe, comfortable and fulfilling lifestyle. Remember these tips to have a helpful conversation each time:

  • Talk in person. This isn’t a conversation to have by telephone if you can avoid it. Instead, pick a day when you and your parent are well-rested and relaxed. Block out a time and a location where you can talk without interruption.
  • Empathy, not sympathy. No older adult wants their child to feel sorry for them. But empathy is another matter. Your kind, calm voice and demeanor will show you care – and that you’re trying to understand the fears and frustrations they may feel. The idea of accepting in-home care or moving to a senior living community is tough. You begin to help as soon as you really begin to listen.
  • Don’t rush. Once you’re armed with knowledge, you may feel ready to make a decision. But your parent may need more time. Allow them the time they need to find the words to express how they’re feeling. Coming to an unpressured mutual agreement now will continue to pay dividends as you move forward together.
  • Plan to talk again. And again. As much as you might want to wrap things up in one conversation, the reality is this will likely be a series of talks. Unless your aging family member is in eminent danger, that’s okay. It’s a process, not a once-and-done discussion.

*Signs Loved One May Need Help sourced by A Place For Mom. (link https://www.aplaceformom.com/planning-and-advice)