Call Us : 518-482-8856

News

  • Home
  • Archive for Uncategorized

On Thursday, May 22, 2014, JFS commemorated a 160-year tradition of giving back to the community by honoring the Golub Family, who also embody the spirit of supporting others. Nearly 140 people gathered at miSci in Schenectady to celebrate the agency’s rich heritage and to honor the Golubs (Neil & Jane; Jerel & Geraldine; Andrea & Mona; and David & Andrea), who received the Anschel Weiss Community Builders Award.
Hosting the event at miSci created a unique, cocktail party style setting, which allowed professional and personal friends of JFS and the Golubs to mingle, enjoy delicious food (Saati Deli & Catering) and listen to a lively jazz trio (A3).
The event raised $57,000, which will directly benefit individuals and families in the Capital Region who might otherwise not have been able to receive needed services. Through the generosity of sponsors, JFS will be able to provide a range of services including: nearly 200 supervised visits to parents and children who have been separated due to divorce, substance use or trauma; 50 individual or family counseling sessions; 75 crisis intervention visits; 80 in-home counseling sessions for the elderly and disabled; 35 psycho-educational groups; and 50 home visits to the elderly to assess for safety and provide support.
JFS is grateful to the many corporate and individual sponsors including:
PLATINUM
Charles Freihofer Baking Company
GOLD
Neil & Jane Golub
MVP Healthcare
Nigro Companies
Price Chopper’s Golub Foundation
Schulyer Companies
SILVER
Albany ENT & Allergy Services
Albany Medical Center
Avila
BAST Hatfield Construction
BEM Sales & Marketing
CDTA
Capital District YMCA
Fact Finders
Fenimore Asset Management/FAM Funds
Karen & Jerry Hausler
JOH
miSci
NBT Bank
Omni Development
SEFCU
Law Offices of Bruce S. Trachtenberg
Wilson,Elser, Moskowitz, Edelman & Dicker

Join the Roman Catholic Diocese Commission on Aging for their 2014 Aging and Spirituality Day presentation, “The Symphony in the Storm.” Speakers Sister Anne Bryan Smollin, Rabbi Monte Sugarman, Dr. Dennis Rassias, and Dr. Chame’ Blackburn will lead a discussion on the delicate connection of finding God’s presence in the storm.
A number of medical and health representatives, along with many community-based organizations, will be on hand. Doors open at 12:30 and the program begins at 2:00 p.m. Lunch will be served.
We look forward to seeing you there!
DATE: Thursday, June 12, 2014
TIME: 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
PLACE: St. Sophia’s Greek Orthodox Church, 440 Whitehall Road, Albany, NY
FEE:  This event is free and open to the public.
RSVP:  Reservations are required and can be made by calling NNORC at 514-2023.

If you missed the May 5th program on “Stress Management with Mindfulness” here are seven techniques/suggestions for incorporating the practice in your daily life:
1)  TAKE CARE OF THE BASICS – Try to remember to eat well, balance exercise with rest, and get sufficient sleep at night. It’s hard to be mindful if you body doesn’t feel well.
2)  GET OUT OF YOUR HEAD! – Engage in activities that ground you get you back “in the body.” For example: Get out in nature, play with pets, enjoy a meal, dance, sing, listen to music, etc. Simple physical distraction can often help break a cycle of thinking about stressful events.
3)  SHIFT YOUR FOCUS – Direct your attention to the needs of others through volunteer work, friendly visiting or even just a phone call to a shut in.
4)  PAY ATTENTION – Practice a technique to hone your ability to focus – meditation, yoga, tai chi, fly fishing, mindful eating, conscious communication, etc. Even just sitting still and watching the birds with full attention can help.
5)  DO ONE THING AT A TIME – Multi-tasking doesn’t make us more productive – only more stressed.  We may appear to be accomplishing more, but in fact, our brain can only really attend to one thing at a time.
6)  EMBRACE IMPERMANENCE – Nothing lasts—good or bad —forever—even though you think it might. If you are feeling stressed about something ask yourself “How important will this really be—in an hour, in a day, in a month, in a year?”
7)  REMEMBER TO BREATHE! – Give yourself permission to take a few deep, relaxed breaths when the pressure builds up. It makes all the difference in the world!
With mindfulness we can fully inhabit the present moment and see life as it really is—not how we fear or worry it might be. It allows us to ride the ups and down that are a natural part of all our lives.
 

Get Hope and Encouragement with Loss

Coping with the death of a loved one is often a painful and traumatic experience. Participating in a bereavement group allows those who have experienced a loss can give people the emotional connection with others who have experienced a similar loss.
This six-week support group will give participants an opportunity to share the myriad facets of grief, learn coping strategies to help them better understand their reactions and feelings, and move through their grief with the support and encouragement of others.
Haven is a non-denominational support program that honors and respects all spiritual beliefs. The group is open to anyone who has experienced the death of someone they love, whether the deceased was a parent, child, relative or friend.
Pre-registration is required and participants are encouraged attend all six sessions to maximize their experience and healing.
DATES Mondays, April 28, May 5, 12, 19*, June 2, 9
TIME 6:00 – 7:15 p.m.
PLACE Jewish Family Services, 877 Madison Ave., Albany
REGISTRATION 518-370-1666 or email 
FEE $15 per session, payable each time or in advance
* No session on Memorial Day, May 26

Do You Want to …

  • Make better food choices?
  • Incorporate regular physical activity into your life?
  • Manage stress in a positive way?
  • Communicate effectively with your healthcare team?
  • …and much more?

NNORC Nurses, Judi England and Pat Gumson, are once again pleased to offer this outstanding, evidence-based wellness program in our
community. With important information and lively group discussion, LIVING HEALTHY will give you important tools to use to build a healthier life— day after day!
This workshop series was created by Stanford University and is offered FREE OF CHARGE. Each participant receives a valuable reference book and relaxation CD. Sessions include a healthy snack break as well.
DATES: April 30, May 7, 14, 21, 28, June 11
TIME: 1:30 – 4:00 p.m.
LOCATION: First Congregational Church, 405 Quail St., Albany, NY
RSVP: Registration is required:  514-2023.
 

JFS is pleased to present the Golub Family with the 2014 Anschel Weiss Community Builders Award. They will be honored at our 160th Anniversary Celebration on Thursday, May 22, 2014 at miSci in Schenectady.

JFS and the Golub Family (Neil & Jane, Jerel & Geraldine, David & Andrea and Mona & Marie) share the same long-standing tradition of supporting Capital Region families. Their generous support of not-for-profit organizations embodies the spirit of this award—Serving Humanity with Humility.

“Going back to the days of our grandfather, pre-1930, there was always a strong incentive to help others and do for the less fortunate,” said Neil Golub. And giving back is in their DNA. “Helping the community is instinctive and often the result of organizations reaching out for assistance. Sharing with the community, whether corporate or personal, or giving time and effort has always been part of our makeup,” added Golub.

The Golubs are also supporters of miSci in Schenectady, and holding this year’s celebration at that venue is a perfect and unique setting for connecting with friends and colleagues, enjoying an array of delicious food and supporting the vital services JFS provides for individuals and families in the community.
“We are honored that the Golubs are celebrating our rich heritage of helping those in need,” said JFS Executive Director Christine Holle. “It seems natural to honor a family that whose legacy is about giving, especially at this time in the agency’s history.”
To become a corporate sponsorship, join the honorary committee or purchase tickets, please call JFS at 518-482-8856. Tickets can be purchased online beginning in April at jfsneny.org.

Do you need help preparing your taxes? Do you want to maximize your return? Is there a change in your status that will make filing taxes different this year?
Each Tuesday during the tax season, the NNORC WILL be helping seniors prepare their tax returns.
DATES: Now through April 15, 2014
TIME: Daytime appointments available
LOCATION: St. Sophia’s Greek Orthodox Church at 440 Whitehall Road, Albany
RSVP: Call to schedule your appointment (518) 514-2023
COST: Free
 

The fastest-growing segment of the American population consists of individuals aged 60 and older. In 1994, one out of every eight individuals in our country was over 65 years old. By the year 2020 it is estimated that one out of every six people will be over 65 years old.  Just because you have 65 candles on your cake, it doesn’t mean that diabetes is inevitable.
Join us for lunch when Dr. Mark Fruiterman talks about “Living Empowered with Diabetes.”
DATE: Thursday, February 20, 2014
TIME: 12:00 p.m.
PLACE: St. Sophia’s Greek Orthodox Church, 440 Whitehall Rd., Albany
COST: The cost for lunch will be $3.00 for members and $5.00 for non-members.
RSVP: 518-514-2023

Question

I’m worried about my mother. My Dad died three months ago and since then her emotions have been a rollercoaster. Some days she cries and can barely get out of bed and other days she tells stories about my dad that have my brother and me in stitches. It’s the down days that have me most concerned. I often wonder if she is really depressed. How can I tell the difference between normal grief and something more serious like depression?

Answer

Losing someone you love is very painful. And the more significant the loss, the more intense the grief will be. People experience all kinds of difficult emotions and it may seem like the pain and sadness will never go away. It’s normal to feel this way, but there are ways to tell whether or not a person is coping with the loss or if they are getting stuck, and potentially depressed.
Grieving is a highly personal and individualized experience and there is no “normal” timetable for healing. Since your father died three months ago, the fact that your mother is still grieving is quite typical.
What is normal about losing a loved one is that the person will feel a variety of emotions, and they will have a mix of good days and bad days. Grief can make a person feel sad, guilty, anxious and fearful. It can also include physical symptoms like nausea, insomnia and weight gain or loss.
In addition, when people are grieving, they can have moments of pleasure or happiness. You mentioned that your mother will tell funny stories about your dad. Reminiscing about a loved one after they have passed helps your mother maintain a connection to your father, and solidifies in her mind the meaning of their relationship. Both are a natural part of the healing process.
Grief can be a rollercoaster and this is what distinguishes it from depression. If your mother is constantly feeling empty and full of despair, overcome with pervasive guilt, or can’t function at home or work, it is an indication of something more serious and it may be time to talk to a mental health professional. However, if her mood vacillates between sadness and an ability to perform normal daily activities, she is likely experiencing the typical ups and downs of grief. Support her, and enjoy her stories about your dad. They will likely help you with your grief as well.

A special program slated for Alumni Groups in February:
The members and friends of the Living Healthy and Meditation Alumni Groups will combine for a special offering by NNORC Senior Health Education Coordinator, Judi England, RN.
Looking for a way to bring more pleasure to something you do every day—usually three times a day?  Join us for an opportunity to learn and practice Conscious Eating.
Conscious or Mindful eating is a shift in perspective, one that has nothing to do with counting carbs or calories. As a practice, it is a tool to experiment with, play with and learn from, and it can be part of an overall lifestyle that seeks to make us more awake, aware and in touch with “what really is”.
In this program we will investigate beliefs we hold about food and eating, explore how stress impacts eating and practice some techniques to bring greater satisfaction and joy to mealtimes.
DATE: Monday, February 3, 2014
TIME: 1:00- 3:00 p.m.
PLACE: B’Nai Sholom Reform Congregation, 420 Whitehall Rd.,
Albany
COST: Free
RSVP: Recommended 514-2023
 

PROVIDING SUPPORT, SERVICES & RESOURCES FOR OUR COMMUNITY

Become a Volunteer OrDonate Now