Family caregivers, especially those within the Jewish community, will have the chance to learn about caregiving and senior housing options through a series of virtual online events. The first session will begin on Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022.
Jewish Family Service (JFS) of Metro Detroit and Jewish Senior Life (JSL) are working together for a new four-part series with the goal to educate, empower and connect family caregivers. The series is all part of the program called, “(Care)giving and Taking: Making Time for You.”
The sessions will be accessible via Zoom and will allow participants to hear from several guest speakers on senior housing options, as well as connect caregivers with resources for estate planning and teach how to care for those who may have experienced trauma. The series will kick off the second Thursday of every month:
- Jan. 13, 2 p.m.
- Feb. 10, 2 p.m.
- March 10, 2 p.m.
- April 14, 2 p.m.
The kickoff event on Jan. 13 will include five speakers: Becky Eizen and Lynn Breuer from JFS, Barbara Giles from JSL, Norman E. Richards, an estate planning attorney, and Robin Hamilton, a caregiver resource specialist.
Attendees can also hear from Rabbi Elimelech Goldberg with Kids Kicking Cancer, with a focus on self-care tactics, and Dr. Micky Golden Moore, with a focus on the uniqueness of how we experience grief and loss.
After the series is over, program organizers Missy Lewin and Tracey Proghovnick said they will conduct a follow-up survey to assess what else the population might need.
“As sister agencies, we partner regularly, and we thought working together we could really reach a large audience,” Proghovnick said. “Having this support, knowing there are resources out there, and having really great guest speakers lined up to encourage, support, validate and connect is something we’re thrilled to be able to do.”
Proghovnick and Lewin hope the series can provide tools and resources to help people move forward in their family caregiver roles and to let them know they’re not alone.
“There’s something about when you know you’re not alone,” Lewin said. “It’s about how we can make sure we’re bringing that to people because a family caregiver is one of the hardest places to be in, and sometimes we don’t sign up for that.”
Program organizers say those attending do not have to be Jewish, and that everyone is welcome.
The program is being supported through grant funds from the Jewish Federations of North America’s Center on Aging and Trauma.
If you are interested in signing up or learning more, click here.
Jewish Family Service of Metro Detroit has served Detroit’s Jewish community since 1928 by providing personalized services centered around mental health, wellness and safety net services for older adults. Jewish Senior Life provides “inclusive and residential living to older adults in a community that is a secure and supportive environment.”