Making Connections
Dear Friend,

When was the last time you hugged someone outside your household? Shook someone’s hand? Gave a high five? For most of us, it’s been a while. And let’s face it…we could all use a hug, handshake, or high five these days. For clients and staff in our residential programs for adults with disabilities, the end of the tunnel is in sight — they received their first dose of the COVID vaccine last week! It was a much-needed moment of joy and hope. As one staff member put it, “when a client cried (happy tears!) talking about getting the vaccine and being able to hug her mom for the first time in 10 months soon...that's what got me!”
Over the next few months, more and more of us will be vaccinated. But for now, virtual connections provide a vital lifeline in the face of ongoing unrest and uncertainty. The JF&CS team continues to find ways to be here for our clients and community — through support groups, one on one interactions, connections to needed services, and so much more.
 
Let’s use this moment in time to connect with each other and with those around us who might be feeling isolated, worried, or frightened. This issue of Making Connections includes inspiration and advice to help you do just that, and our website features a wide range of support groups, programs, and activities specifically designed to help all members of our community feel seen, heard, and connected.
Be well and stay in touch,


Gail Schulman
Chief Executive Officer

P.S. Have you or someone you know experienced the power of connection through JF&CS? We’d love to hear your story! Email us at info@jfcsboston.org and we may feature your story in an upcoming newsletter or on our social media feed.
Expert Advice: 5 Tips for Keeping Older Adults Connected During COVID
Many older adults have been living with strict social distancing measures for months now. With few opportunities to leave home or host visitors, it’s all too easy for seniors to slide into social isolation.

The good news is that it’s still possible for older adults to stay connected with the people and communities that matter most to them. Your Elder Experts (YEE) is a JF&CS program that works with older adults, as well as their care partners and families, to enhance quality of life, encourage independence, and provide a safe and supportive living environment. The YEE team has put together five tips for helping older adults stay socially engaged and active. Read more.
Amplifying Our Work: Training Professional Caregivers and Experts
JF&CS draws upon the collective expertise of our staff to support educators, clinicians, housing and community service providers, and other experts — expanding our impact far beyond our own agency. Throughout the pandemic, we’ve trained hundreds of staff in senior housing to address issues of isolation. We’ve also collaborated with major hospitals to support those working on Parkinson’s disease and with substance-exposed newborns. Most recently, we’ve helped our partners at Horizons for Homeless Children and other early childhood centers address the trauma of the pandemic for young children and create a “safe space” where their professional staff can process their feelings about recent threats on our government.  
Spotlight On: Support Groups
JF&CS offers a broad range of accessible, inclusive support groups, including groups for Parkinson's care partners, new parents, people who have lost family members, and so much more. You don’t need to manage life’s challenges alone — we are here for you and your family. Learn more.
Tikkun Olam: Many Ways. Every Day.
Longtime JF&CS supporter F. Bruce Cohen asked his family to help him direct his year-end giving…with some really inspiring results!

“We gave each of our nieces, nephews, and children a fixed amount which they could donate to one or two charities of their choice,” shared Bruce. “We are blessed in that they are an empathetic bunch that think of others and engage in tikkun olam in a variety of ways every day.”
One nephew, Edan, suggested making a gift to the Betty Ann Greenbaum Miller Center for Jewish Healing at JF&CS: “When I think about how fortunate I am…I think about all the senior citizens that are usually only able to be social at church/synagogue and holidays. It's sad how deprived they have been this year. With this in mind, I think one area of focus would be on the social isolation of senior citizens.”

Thank you Edan and Bruce for helping JF&CS keep older adults connected and thriving!

The Betty Ann Greenbaum Miller Center for Jewish Healing helps people feel a sense of connection when facing the challenges of illness, loss, or isolation by offering spiritual and communal supports to foster hope, comfort, and wholeness guided by Jewish tradition. Learn more about the Betty Ann Greenbaum Miller Center for Jewish Healing or our Services for Older Adults.
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