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The Newsletter for Chai Care, a program of the Jewish Community Foundation of Broward County JULY/AUG 2018 | TAMUZ / AV / ELUL 5778
VOL. 2, ISSUE 1
T H E
CONTENTS FROM THE DESK OF KEITH GOLDMANN
.............................................................. Page 2
position
HURRICANE SEASON
Are you prepared................................... Page 3 DEMENTIA
More than just memory Artis Senior Living............................... Page 4 FED-ED
Impacting Communities....................... Page 5 A FUNNY MOMENT WITH ROSE
.............................................................. Page 6 MEDICAL MOMENT
Memorial Health Care System Silver Corporate Partner Adults living independently.................. Page 7 OUR MISSION STATEMENT
.............................................................. Page 8 THIS EDITION PROUDLY SPONSORED BY:
Chair, Chai Care: Denise Lettau
"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards" Welcome to the first edition of Chai Times for the 2018/2019 fiscal year. As we have decided to expand the publication to provide you with even more meaningful content, we also thought a name-change was in order.
SØren Kierkegaard Within these six editions of Chai Times, we hope to inspire, inform and educate on things related to the aging process. It is our goal to shed some light on the often-overlooked aspect of the joys of aging. Stay tuned!
MONEY MINDED
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he primary concerns of my estate planning clients have shifted dramatically over the past few years. In addition to worrying about what will happen when they die and who will inherit their assets, the biggest concern of many people is what will happen if they live – that is into their late 80s and 90s. Clients want to know who will take care of them when they are no longer able to take care of themselves, and what will happen if they outlive their money. People are living longer – but not necessarily healthier. In addition, either their children are not local, they do not have a good relationship with their children, or they do not have children. For some, it is very difficult to designate an agent to make financial decisions under a durable power of attorney, or a surrogate to make health care decisions on their behalf in the case of incapacity. This is a very important conversation and decision for them to make. The person or people you appoint will have vast powers over your finances and your health care decisions if you are no longer able to make those decisions for yourself. You have to be sure that you trust them. The alternative could be even worse, which is a court appointed guardianship. A guardianship is when the court declares
that you are legally incapacitated, takes away certain of your rights, and appoints someone not necessarily of your choosing to make those decisions for you. A guardianship can be a very intrusive and expensive process, which is why proper planning with advance directives is so important. In addition to worrying about who will make decisions for them when they are no longer able to, clients are also concerned about outliving their money. The average cost for a nursing home in Florida is over $8,000 a month over $105,000 a year. A short stay in a nursing home will deplete the assets of all but the most wealthy. Clients are interested in strategies that will allow them to protect at least some of their assets for the future and for their heirs, but still allow them to obtain proper care in the future. Today’s estate planning clients talk about life as much as they talk about death. David A. Shulman is the managing
partner of Ginsberg Shulman, P.L., a boutique estate planning, elder law, probate, and trust administration law firm located in downtown Fort Lauderdale. David is involved in numerous local charities including the Jewish Federation of Broward County and the American Friends of Hebrew University.
FROM THE DESK OF KEITH GOLDMANN Did you know that last fiscal year your Jewish Federation of Broward County funded over $10 million in programs and services provided to those in need right here in Broward, Israel and wherever there is a Jew in need? With this investment we are able to: • Address and care for the needs of seniors and Holocaust survivors • Offer programs and services to families of special needs children • Make Jewish living and learning exciting and engaging for many young adults who call Broward their home • Respond to emergencies, such as the needs that arose after Hurricane Irma
The Jewish Federation of Broward County acts in concert with its network of beneficiary agencies to: safeguard educational and social service needs; perpetuate Jewish tradition and heritage and ensure the continuity and survival of Israel and Jewish communities around the world. Thank YOU for being a part of our Jewish community.
Please enjoy our new and improved Chai Times Newsletter providing you more information about our community and resources available. In this newsletter you will find information on preparing for Hurricane Season, Money Minded column, Rose’s Corner, and much more. Thank you to our Chai Times Newsletter Sponsors: Alternative, Artis, and Secured Futures. Do you have suggestions of articles and other information you would like to see us publish? Call me at (954) 660-2085 or send me an email at kgoldmann@jewishbroward.org I look forward to hearing from you.
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Happy Reading!
Keith Goldmann
Vice President – Director Jewish Community Foundation Jewish Federation of Broward County
ARE YOU PREPARED...? ARE YOU SURE...?
SEASON
L
iving in Florida comes with sunshine and beaches but it also comes with Tropical Storms and Hurricanes. The official start of Hurricane season begins June 1st and runs thru November 30th, with the peak during the August and September months. Preparing for hurricane season doesn’t need to cost a fortune and shouldn’t be done once we are under a watch or a warning. You can begin creating your Hurricane Kit now before the season begins. Every household needs to make a Hurricane Kit. The kit should include 3-days’ worth of basic supplies for each household member. It should include the following: • • • • • • • • •
1 gallon of water per person per day 1 f lashlight and a spare set of batteries manual can opener battery-operated radio non-perishable foods paper goods such as plates, bowls, napkins and plastic eating utensils first aid kit hand sanitizer at least $200 cash
You have your kit, now what? Develop your own personal disaster plan on how you will protect your household and property. Most of these things can be done well in advance of a storm warning.
4. Make a plan for your pets. If you plan on evacuating make sure your lodging accommodations are pet friendly. Visit h tt p s : // w w w. p e t s w e l c o m e . c o m / for information for lodging and other pet related travel services. Make sure you have food and extra water for your pets.
5. If your house doesn’t have shutters and/or hurricane impact windows, take measurements of the openings and buy supplies to store in advance. It might 1. Check your insurance coverage. Make sure not be an option to cover every you have hurricane protection. Does it include window in your house. Ensure replacement coverage, flood and wind protection? you have at least 1 adequately protected room and bathroom. 2. Secure important papers (photo IDs, 6. If you are taking prescription insurance policies, stocks, bonds, birth certificates, drugs, make sure you have an marriage license, deeds, medical records, etc.) in a extra supply on hand or have waterproof container or a zip-lock bag. 3. Know your evacuation zone and the nearest shelter. The Broward County and Red Cross Evacuation centers should be a place of last resort. Evacuation Routes and Shelter Information can be found at http://www.broward.org/Hurricane/ Pages/Default.aspx. If you have special medical needs, a medical condition or disability and you choose to stay in your home in the event of a storm you should pre-register with Broward County at http://www.broward.org/Registry/Pages/default. aspx. This registry is a tool municipalities use to evaluate, plan and assist residents in response to an emergency.
every household needs a hurricane kit
a prescription available to get refilled. Once a hurricane warning has been issued or the Governor declares a state of emergency you can go to your pharmacy and obtain a 30-day supply without a price increase, even if you recently refilled your prescription. 7. Keep a list of important phone numbers. (e.g. family members, doctors, insurance agents, employees)
8. If a storm approaches, be sure to keep a full tank of gas in your vehicle. Also make sure that you have sufficient gas for your generator once the storm has passed. 9. Plan your tree-trimming and bulk waste pick-up. Contact your City’s Public Waste Department to schedule or find out the next date for your pickup. Don’t wait until the last minute to trim your trees, plan now. 10. Get alerts. You can subscribe for Public Safety and emergency alerts from Broward County via the AccessBROWARD program. You can register at https://access.broward. org and make your selection for alerts needed. For additional resources and information visit the Broward County Hurricane Preparedness Guide at http://www. broward.org/Hurricane/Documents/ HurricanePreparednessGuide.pdf CHAI TIMES 3
DEMENTIA
More than just memory by Mary Underwood VP Memory Care Services, Artis Senior Living
When people hear Alzheimer’s, they usually think about memory. Does the person remember her family? Does he remember where he lives? Does she remember how to do her favorite things? But Alzheimer’s disease, and other forms of dementia, impact more than memory. Because Alzheimer’s is a disease of the brain, there are many other aspects of a person’s life that are affected. A person with dementia often losses the ability to recognize objects, faces, sounds, colors, and/or smells. This is known as agnosia. The damage in certain parts of the brain because of dementia is the cause of this. A person with dementia does not necessarily forget what a cup is. But instead, the eyes see the cup but the brain cannot process that it is a cup. A mom could tell you her daughter’s name and describe what she looks like. But when she sees her, the brain is unable to process recognition. A dad could hear the phone ring but interprets it as a siren. Communication is also a common aspect of life that is impaired because
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of dementia. This loss of ability to understand or express speech is called aphasia. Not being able to call a fork a fork is not necessarily because the person forgot that it is a fork. The person may see it as a fork and know what it is used for but the brain is unable to formulate the right word. Other signs of aphasia include substituting the intended word with another word, using made up words, and having difficulty putting words together. Aphasia does not only affect how the person expresses himself but also in the ability to understand written and/ or verbal communication from others. It is not uncommon for a person to lose the ability to read. Even when they are able to grammatically read the word, there may not be comprehension of what was read. Also, understanding what others are saying or asking could be difficult. This is especially true when there is too much information provided at once or when there are too many outside distractions. In addition, sarcasm and figurative speech may be misinterpreted. When we say, “It’s raining cats and dogs”, the person may have difficulty figuring out
the meaning and take it literally. There are also changes and deficits in physical ability due to dementia. Completing physical tasks due to a disconnect in the brain is known as apraxia. This can be seen in every tasks such as dressing, brushing one’s teeth, and even walking. The person could feel the button of his shirt and have the dexterity in his fingers to button the shirt. But the message the brain is sending is disconnected from the rest of the body. When you ask the person to stand up, he may understand you and have the physical capabilities but his brain is unable to send the messages needed to make the movements happen. Caregivers sometimes interpret this as the person being stubborn or resistant. Unfortunately agnosia, apraxia, and aphasia can all be impacting the person at the same time at varying levels. It is important to understand that an impairment in one area does not necessarily mean the same level of impairments in others. These areas are all separate from the person’s memory issues related to dementia.
IMPACTING COMMUNITIES by Bruce Yudewitz Chief Operating Officer Jewish Federation of Broward County
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hirty seniors at risk living in rural communities in the southern region of Israel near the Gaza and Egyptian borders will have access to meals and socialization at a senior center, 22 Jewish Teens living in the Ukraine will be able to attend a one week Jewish summer camp to explore their Jewish identity, help for Jews in need in Venezuela, 90 Jewish children from Broward County will be able to attend a Jewish overnight camp, over 40 high school age teens will have a life changing experience in Israel, and 50 homebound seniors living in Broward will be able to receive meals at home. These are just some of the examples of what we are able to do as a result of the contributions of current donors and those who left legacy gifts to the foundation. The Federation Board of Directors along with the Board of Trustees of the Jewish Community Foundation recently approved grants for these and a longer list of programs and services for our community and for Israel and Overseas Jewish Communities. These decisions are not easy. The volunteers who serve on the Impact Teams of the Federation’s Strategic Funding Process are individuals who are donors to the Federation, have served or currently serve on agency committees, volunteer at agency programs funded by the Federation, and are representative of a variety of constituencies of our community. They all are passionate
about the area of concern addressed by their Impact Team, Jewish Identity, Social Services or Israel and Overseas. They spend much time throughout the year to better understand the programs, and their impact year. They visit the programs we fund, review agency program reports. They look at the challenges facing the Broward Jewish community, and what are the effective approaches to solving those challenges. All to determine how best to utilize Federation financial resources to address these needs. Each of the Impact Teams established priorities and guidelines for the types of programs they seek to fund. Based on those priorities and criteria agencies and organizations are asked to submit program funding requests. The Impact team members must read through these program funding requests, determine if they program can achieve its stated goals and access what impact it will have. Staying
late
into
the
evening
these teams of dedicated volunteers have to evaluate the best use of your contributions to the Federation and the funds left to our Foundation to achieve the maximum impact. They try to balance current needs with emerging needs, with phasing out program support where it has less impact or need with helping fund new approaches. And all within the limits of funds that are available. While they can’t address all the needs and fund all the programs presented, their work still makes a real impact for our community and for those who will benefit from those programs. We are thankful to all the agency volunteers and professionals who develop the proposals and provide the quality programs and services funded by the Federation and to the participants of the Impact Teams whose work and effort help insure we continue to positively impact Jewish Life now and in the future. CHAI TIMES 5
(c)Ann D. Koffsky
On a lighter note, a funny moment with Rose
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by Rose Boyarsky
“a stingy husband who saved during his entire life his money into a big “k’nippel” told his wife, when the time will come to leave this world, the money should be going with him. Yes, honey your wishes will be kept, said his wife. You always trusted me. After he died she told her best friend about it. Her friend could not believe it asking "You mean you really followed true" Yes, said the wife, I put the money into my bank account, and I put a check with him.”
COLOR ME...
MEDICAL MOMENT
Community Program Provides Education to Older Adults about Living Independently
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the population of older Americans is growing, and senior are living longer. And while many of these aging seniors keep an active lifestyle, many other seniors who are 80 and older face many challenges in maintaining their independence and overall health.
the crucial difference to their ability to live independently.
“It’s important for seniors at risk of losing their independence in their homes that they get connected with resources that will help them make adjustments to their living environments and their lives to help them maintain a good quality of life,” said Tim Curtin, administrative director of Community Services, Memorial Healthcare System.
ALLIES’ home-visiting model collaborates with communitybased agencies and employs a team of dedicated social workers to connect seniors to the services and resources they need for meals, transportation, medical care and access to activities. The in-home ALLIES Safety Support program helps ensure that participants can “age in place” via environmental safety scans – assessing their living spaces for environmental hazards including excessive clutter and furniture, security, lighting, loose throw rugs, barriers to safe movement.
One of these resources in the community is the Memorial ALLIES (Adults Living Life Independently, Educated & Safe), which is located within Memorial Senior Partners Centers, which offer classes, programs and activities (lectures, movie outings, arts and crafts, games, exercise, and more). ALLIES demonstrates that strategies like connecting seniors to existing community resources, making small adjustments in their living environments, and sharing tips for healthy living can make
Curtin points to the importance for seniors to have access to resources that include home visits, prevention education, active socialization, screening and assessments, case management and supportive services.
Community-conducted interactive educational sessions cover topics such as nutrition, elder care laws, Medicare fraud, fall prevention and stress reduction. All ALLIES participants enjoy automatic free enrollment in Memorial Senior Partners. To reach Memorial ALLIES, call 954-326-0920.
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WE ONLY PROVIDE W-2 CAREGIVERS INSURED
BONDED
SUPERVISED
For worker’s compensation, unemployment and liability.
Allows for client’s personal property protection if needed.
All caregivers are overseen by, and report to a supervisor.
BROWARD
MIAMI DADE
954.622.0588
305.652.0066
Lic. # HHA299991246
Lic. # HHHA299992273
PALM BEACH
561.921.9031 Lic. # HHA299993391
WWW.ALTERNATIVEHOMEHEALTH.COM | TOLL FREE: 855.622.0588
WE AT CHAI CARE... Provide a holistic, donor-centered approach to advocating for older adults who are facing the challenges of aging, disability or injury. Chai Care assures that donors receive valuable, cost-effective care and an array of services that arise from health and medical related issues through the aging process. Chai Care helps donors and their loved ones understand the options and costs relevant to managing their daily lives. Debbie Gober | Board Chair
Esther Shacket | Chair, Jewish Community Foundation
Doug Berman | Vice Chair, Board
Bill Gross | Chair Elect, Jewish Community Foundation
Michael Balaban | President and Chief Executive Officer
Denise Lettau | Chair, Chai Care
Nikki Packer | Chief Development Officer
Keith Goldmann | VP and Director
OF BROWARD COUNTY
5890 South Pine Island Road • Davie, FL 33328
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954-252-6900
jewishbroward.org
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