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On a clear autumn day with the brilliance of color as our backdrop and a hint of crispness in wind, the cars started lining up in St. Sophia’s Parking Lot for our first-ever Car Fit Program. This program hosted by the JFS NNORC and sponsored by the Colonie Senior Services Center, offered clinics, in which trained CarFit technicians assessed a driver in their car to ensure that the mirrors, steering wheel, seat, etc. were at the safest and most appropriate position. Twenty-two senior drivers came through the program.
A team of twelve volunteers assessed our drivers by ensuring that the mirrors were at optimum use, the steering wheel the appropriate height and angel, the seat the proper distance from the wheel and the all-important safety belt adjusted to fit snugly and securely.
Here’s what we discovered:

  • 16 folks were over age 80
  • 18 needed mirror adjustments
  • 16 needed seat belt correction
  • 7 were given information on replacing existing cushions to ensure better vision

We are grateful to Roger Dames and his team of volunteers to help our senior drivers navigate the NNORC and beyond safely. If you missed this opportunity to be part of a CarFit day, we will schedule another assessment date in June. 
For additional program offerings of the NNORC, please call 518-514-2023.

Christine Holle (JFS, Executive Director), Zvi Gellis, Ph.D., (Professor, University of Pennsylvania) and Miriam Adler (Former JFS Executive Director).

Did you know that seven years ago there were over 35 million people over the age of 65 in the United States, and that today that figure has more than doubled? Nearly 10,000 people turn 65 every day in the U.S. Do you know what it means to age successfully, or that there are 43.5 million unpaid caregivers in the U.S?
Answer to these questions are what shaped the Trends in Successful Aging and Caregiving seminar presented by Dr. Zvi Gellis on Sunday, October 28, 2012. Nearly 50 Albany community members joined at the Golub Center to hear information on our growing population, how we are responding to their need for care, as well as innovative programming to address their needs.
The predominant theme in addressing the increase in our aging population was prevention. Dr. Gellis talked about helping seniors maintain their independence by living at home (aging in place), advances in in-home assessment tools to insure senior’s physical and mental safety, as well as support systems to help caregivers.
This was the first lecture in the the new JFS Miriam Adler Family Life Education Series, designed to strengthen and empower families through workshops and discussions on issues affecting all stages of family life. Upcoming lecture topics will include: Evaluation, Safety and Home Adaptation for the Elderly; Use of Technology in Care and Prevention; and End-of-Life Issues from a Legal and Jewish Perspective.
For information or to suggest topics or speakers for upcoming Family Life Education Lectures, please call 518-482-8856 or email info@jfsneny.org.
 

JFS is pleased to announce the appointment of Christine A. Holle as Executive Director. Christine has been with JFS for over 24 years, most recently serving as Director of Finance and Administration.
“We’re delighted by Christine’s promotion to Executive Director and by the renewed energy and excitement she’s brought to the agency,” says Board president Bob Gumson. “We’re looking forward to working with Christine to continue JFS’ 158-year tradition of providing quality services in the community, and increasing awareness and utilization of JFS throughout the Capital Region.”

“I’m excited and honored to now serve as Executive Director,” said Christine.

“Throughout my time with the agency, and under the dynamic leadership of Anschel Weiss and Miriam Adler, there have been many changes in what we do, but the mission and values that are the foundation of our agency remain unchanged. As we embark on the next chapter of JFS’ long history, I envision JFS growing and moving forward by expanding services , developing partnerships and relationships within the community, and getting the word out so all community members know just how vital a resource JFS really is!”

This website was created through the generosity of Meryl and Al Norek in memory of Al’s great grandfather, David Shapiro, publisher of Der Tag.

With a new Mormon Temple being built in the NNORC and the possibility of the first Mormon President, how much do we really know about our Mormon sisters and brothers? What are the core tenets of the Mormon faith?  Are Mormons Christians? A lost sect of Judaism? Why is the Temple central to the Mormon faith?  What happens in the Temple? Why can’t non-Mormons enter a Mormon Temple?
Join us for “Pasta and Possibilities” as Reverend James Kane shares about the Mormon faith and their traditions.  Father Kane is a Roman Catholic  priest of the Albany Diocese and Director of the Commission on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany.  He has been the leader of Jewish/Christian dialogue as well as Muslim/Christian dialogue locally.  We are honored to host Fr. Kane and welcome him to the NNORC to share his insights.
DATE Wednesday, October 31, 2012
TIME 12:00 p.m.
PLACE
RSVP The NNORC office, 518-514-2023 to sign up for this unique opportunity
FEE $3.00 suggested donation for NNORC members; $5.00 for non-members

Current Group

Grief and Loss

When a loved one dies, the emotional impact is as varied as the person we lost. At times, our grief can feel unmanageable. Come and learn from and take comfort from others who have experienced the loss of a loved one.

Wednesdays, October 26 – November 23, Noon-1pm
In-person at 182 Washington Ave Extension, Albany

Facilitated by: Randall Wachunas, BS and Rachel Hemmerstein, MSW Clinical Intern

Fee

This group has a fee of $20 per person, per week.

We accept the following insurances for Support Groups:
  • CDPHP
  • CDPHP Medicare
  • MVP
  • MVP MEDICARE
  • HIGHMARK/BSNENY
  • EXCELLUS BLUECROSS BLUESHIELD
  • BLUECROSS BLUESHIELD
  • MEDICARE

To Join

Contact counseling@jfsneny.org or 518-400-0340

For more information on our Support Groups, please call 518-400-0340 or Schedule a Free Consult

JFS provides a variety of support groups for people of all ages and backgrounds, in-person and remote, facilitated by JFS Clinical staff. 

 

The boom of an aging society is upon us. More than 10,000 Baby Boomers turn 65 each day, a trend expected to continue for the next 19 years. With advancements in the medical field and an increasing emphasis on wellness programs, people are living longer. And, by the year 2040, one in five Americans will be age 70 years or older. Research on aging has surged. While growing older is a normal process that affects all of us, how do we successfully age in our later years? Living longer is one thing. Living well is something else.
This two-hour seminar will explore what it means to age successfully, trends of adults caring for their elderly parent, impact of the increasing life expectancy in the U.S. and the importance of engaging the community in ensuring the well-being of our elderly neighbors.
Adults caring for older parents, professionals working with the elderly in assisted living facilities and nursing homes, social work and medical professionals and the community at large won’t want to miss this timely discussion.
Presenter: Dr. Zvi Gellis
Director of the Center for Mental Health & Aging and Professor in the School of Social Policy and Practice at the University of Pennsylvania. Former Governor’s appointee for the New York Office of Mental Health, Research Director at St. Peter’s Hospital and Home Care Late Life Depression Clinic and Director of the Center for Mental Health & Aging University at Albany, SUNY.
DATE Sunday, October 28, 2012
TIME 3:00 – 5:00 pm
PLACE
The Golub Center
184 Washington Ave. Extension
Albany, NY 12203
RSVP Please call 518-482-8856 or email info@jfsneny.org
FEE Free
CEUs 2.0 CEUs have been applied for through the NYS Chapter of NASW

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