Jewish Senior Living Newsletter | January 2015

Jewish Senior Living Newsletter January 2015 - Volume 2, Issue 10

Keeping you connected to our communities.

In This Issue Letting the Light Shine Celebrating Chanukah Across Our Communities

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Thank You for Being Our Friend

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Preventing Senior Scams

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Upcoming Events

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Letting the Light Shine Celebrating Chanukah Across Our Communities

by Rabbi Levi Emmer, Director of Traditions and Spiritual Life The Holiday season can be a time of joy for most people, but while everyone else is busy preparing, cooking, and celebrating, many seniors find themselves home alone. Sometimes, the natural aging process-as well as certain medical conditions-can affect one’s ability to safely celebrate the holidays in a meaningful way.

Chanukah can bring back memories of the most meaningful moments in life, all your favorite dishes, and the aroma that fills the house. “I used to cook up a storm,” said one Chai Point resident.

“In my home, Chanukah lasted eight weeks, not eight days!”

Smells, sounds, and tastes can transport you back to a moment from your youth. These connections to past events bring back pleasurable memories and sensations. But aging causes changes that have a direct impact on the health, well-being and functional abilities of seniors. Some of these changes are so subtle they may go unnoticed.

Our senses receive information from the environment. It is then converted to nerve signals and carried to the hippocampus of the brain where it is turned into a meaningful sensation.

The hippocampus is an important organ in the brain that is responsible for consolidating the five senses into

SCC resident Lee and a student from the JCC K-4 class create Chanukah decorations.

one event and then moving it to shortterm memory.

Can you picture a rose in your mind?

What color is it? The first time you saw a rose, the hippocampus took note of how the rose smelled, the color, the softness of the petals, and placed it in your brain for you to remember and enjoy forever. “To increase enjoyment and engagement, it is important to utilize as many of the senses as possible when presenting events,” says Dawn Adler, director of Adult Day Center and ReCharge!

Holidays can remind us of good times spent with loved ones, but can also be a source of hurt. Knowing that it will not be celebrated with those who are now missed, they can remind us of all the wonderful traditions of our youth.

They can elicit a sense of loss. see “Chanukah Across Our Communities,” page 4

Thank You For Being Our Friend

by Liza Holle, Donor Stewardship Coordinator This past year, many of our donors became like extended family, fulfilling the mitzvah of honoring our mothers and fathers. We have been so blessed with this continued support in furthering our outstanding care based on Jewish values. The Jewish Home and Care Center Foundation provides an annual membership through Friends of the Jewish Home and Care Center, also known as a Friend of the Foundation. Being a yearly Friend of the Foundation has supported our communities in many positive ways.

We are able to be more innovative with musical programs, special themed meals and parties for special events. At the Jewish Home and Care Center, every Thursday our residents enjoy a themed party bringing residents, staff and volunteers together. Joy and laughter fill Peck Hall as residents eat delicious snacks and watch the special entertainment.

Thank you from Daniella from the JHCC acitiviies staff and JHCC resident Reva.

Today, in a time when we are more uncertain than ever about the future of health care, Friends of the Foundation help invest in the heritage of our community and truly help our residents who are in need. At the Jewish Home and Care Center, 70 percent of our residents are on a government- subsidized program. Regardless of a resident’s ability to pay, we are able to provide love, compassion, action and commitment to their care needs. As a Friend of the Foundation, you help ensure future sustainability and allow our communities to go above and beyond in providing service and support for our residents.

Friends of the Jewish Home and Care Center is a membership available to promote annual unrestricted gifts of $25-$100. Members make the difference in the quality of life and the quality of service the Home can provide to its residents and their families. Thank you for being our friend.

The Jewish Home and Care Center Foundation is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization that provides financial support to the programs and services of the Jewish Home and Care Center, Chai Point Senior Living and Sarah Chudnow Community.

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Preventing Senior Scams

by Liza Holle, Donor Stewardship Coordinator Counterfeit Prescription Drugs Counterfeit drug scams are becoming more and more common due to the use of the Internet by older adults trying to find better prices on specialized medications. Since 2000, the Federal Drug Administration has been investigating an average of 20 cases per year; in the 1990s the average amount of cases was five.

Victims of this scam may have purchased an unsafe substance as well as incurred a financial burden.

Every day, seniors become victims to financial scams and fraud. The National Council on Aging and other organizations are considering these scams to be “the crimes of the 21st century.” Senior scam crimes continue to rise, netting $2.6 billion a year and exposing one of five people in this age group. Older adults are an attractive target because some scams apply mainly to them, or because they’re more trusting or more prosperous. Unfortunately, fraud and scams on older adults are extremely common. Below are some common scams as well as actions to take to help prevent yourself or a loved one from becoming a victim.

Tips for Avoiding Counterfeit Prescription Drugs: • Be mindful of appearance. Closely examine the packaging and lot numbers of prescription drugs and be alert to any changes from one prescription to the next.

• Consult your pharmacist or physician if your prescription drug looks suspicious.

• Alert your pharmacist and physician immediately if your medication causes adverse side effects or if your condition does not improve.

• Use caution when purchasing drugs on the Internet. Do not purchase medications from unlicensed online distributors or those who sell medications without a prescription. Reputable online pharmacies will have a seal of approval called the Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Site (VIPPS), provided by the Association of Boards of Pharmacy in the United States.

• Be aware that product promotions or cost reductions and other “special deals” may be associated with counterfeit product promotion.

Health Care Fraud Every United States citizen or permanent resident over the age of 65 qualifies for Medicare. This makes an easy target for scam artists. In these types of scams, someone may pose as a Medicare representative to get older adults to disclose their personal information and then the scam artist will use this information to bill Medicare and pocket the money.

Tips for Avoiding Health Care Fraud: • Never sign blank insurance claim forms.

• Never give blanket authorization to a medical provider to bill for services rendered.

• Ask your medical providers what they will charge and what you will be expected to pay out-ofpocket.

• Carefully review your insurer’s “explanation of benefits” statement. Call your insurer and provider if you have questions.

• Do not do business with door-to-door or telephone salespeople who tell you that services of medical equipment are free.

• Give your insurance/Medicare identification only to those who have provided you with medical services.

• Keep accurate records of all health care appointments.

• Know if your physician ordered equipment for you.

Telemarketing Telemarketing scams are one of the most common schemes used against seniors. Fake telemarketers call seniors asking for money in a variety of ways. Scam artists try to get their victims to wire or send money on the idea that the person’s child or relative is in the hospital and needs money. Many fake telemarketers call representing a fake charity and use solicitation methods for money. see “Scams,” page 5

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Chanukah Across Our Communities continued from page 1

As you age, the way your senses give you information about the world changes. Your senses become less sharp and you may have trouble discerning details.

For many older adults, sensory changes can make holiday celebrations challenging. You may have trouble communicating, enjoying activities, and staying involved with people. Sensory changes can lead to a feeling of isolation.

Research has indicated that an active social lifestyle is more important than ever in helping older adults to maintain a sharp mind, remain connected to the world around them, increase feelings of happiness and develop a sense of belonging. At Chai Point, the joy of using our senses is easily witnessed during the celebration of Chanukah. “We create an environment where our residents get to be part of a vibrant community,” says Trish Cohn, activity director. “We revisit the songs of their youth and the smell of mama’s kitchen to facilitate a wonderful experience.”

Chanukah on our campuses is celebrated as a time for meaningful, joyous commemoration, social connectedness and Jewish festivities.

Through the numerous and abundant holiday programs, activities and services provided, we take pride in the individual care, stimulation provided and attention paid to each resident and his/her needs.

We look at our residents as unique individuals and use evidence-based research to make this holiday a personally meaningful experience. With emphasis on all five senses, we make sure to reach the spiritual and cultural needs of the whole person.

Mishi Pittleman led JHCC and Chai Point residents and guests, as well as Hillel Academy students, through the process of making olive oil for lighting the menorah.

Smell: Making Chanukah cookies and potato latkes in the Adult Day Center and on the fourth floor of the Jewish Home was especially enjoyed because it transported us back to the feeling of “home” and “family time with the children.”

Sight: Menorahs are lit daily in all of our residences as residents are invited to participate in the tradition.

Chanukiyot are set up throughout the buildings to show all who visit that we are celebrating our freedom and heritage. In addition, residents who wish to view the holiday lights of the community are taken on a ride in the van at night to enjoy the sights.

Touch: Jewish Home and Care Center residents and students from Hillel Academy gathered together in celebration and made olive oil the old fashioned way for lighting the menorah candles. The students learned the process of making the oil from olive to flame.

Here are some examples of how our communities celebrate the holiday:

Taste: The traditional holiday fried foods of latkes and jelly donuts were available at all three campuses, and Chai Point offered a Chanukah buffet for dinner one evening.

Hearing: The songs at Cantorfest and rhythm of Maoz Tzur (Rock of Ages) or Svivon Sov Sov Sov can even trigger the hearing of certain voices that have long been missed. Visits from the students at Yeshiva Elementary School and the Milwaukee Jewish Day School add to the joy of the season with the sounds of youth singing the favorite songs from our youth, even with modern touches.

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Scams continued from page 3

Tips for Avoiding Telemarketing Fraud • Don’t buy from an unfamiliar company. Legitimate businesses understand that you want more information about their company and are happy to comply.

• Always ask for and wait until you receive written material about any offer or charity. If you get brochures about costly investments, ask someone whose financial advice you trust to review them.

But, unfortunately, beware—not everything written down is true.

• Always check out unfamiliar companies with your local consumer protection agency, Better Business Bureau, state attorney general, the National Fraud Information Center, or other watchdog groups.

Unfortunately, not all bad businesses can be identified through these organizations.

• Obtain a salesperson’s name, business identity, telephone number, street address, mailing address, and business license number before you transact business. Some con artists give out false names, telephone numbers, addresses, and business license numbers. Verify the accuracy of these items.

• Before you give money to a charity or make an investment, find out what percentage of the money is paid in commissions and what percentage actually goes to the charity or investment.

• Before you send money, ask yourself a simple question. “What guarantee do I really have that this solicitor will use my money in the manner we agreed upon?”

Senior scams are far too common. We hope some of this information can serve as a guide to common scams. Please don’t be embarrassed or afraid to speak to someone you trust about this subject if you feel you have been scammed.

Tips and resources for this article came from: Top Ten Scams Targeting Seniors. (n.d.). Retrieved January 5, 2015, from http://www.ncoa.org/enhance-economic-security/economic-securityInitiative/savvy-saving-seniors/top-10-scams-targeting.html Fraud Target Senior Citizens. (2010, March 17). Retrieved January 5, 2015, from http://www.fbi.gov/scams-safety/fraud/seniors

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1414 North Prospect Avenue Milwaukee, WI 53202-3089 Phone: 414-276-2627

And She Shall Be A Blessing A Celebration of the Music of Debbie Friedman Monday, January 26, 2:00 pm Rubenstein Pavilion The local musical stars come out to remember Debbie Friedman and celebrate her contributions to the world of Jewish song. Join the singing and ruach as the movers and shakers of Jewish music in southeast Wisconsin gather to commemorate the remarkable body of work created by this unique singer/songwriter.

Free underground parking available.

1414 N. Prospect Ave. • jhccmilwaukee.org Like us on Facebook

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Upcoming Events Kehilla Kiddush Saturday, January 17, 2:00 pm Jewish Home and Care Center, Kohl Family Synagogue Prominent Bible Women Series with Rabbi Adams The “First Ladies” – Lilith & Eve Monday, January 19, 2:45 pm Our Matriarchs – Sara, Rebecca, Leah & Rachel Monday, February 2, 2:45 pm Chai Point Senior Living, Multi-Purpose Room Baby Talk Wednesdays, 10:45 am Sarah Chudnow Community, Posner Town Square

Visit www.jewishseniorliving.org for updated activities.