Jewish Family Services Receives Grant to Provide Wellness Workshops for Senior Adults

September 2024

By Julie Loftis, JFS Marketing Specialist

Jewish Family Services (JFS) is thrilled to announce the award of a new grant from Mecklenburg County to support wellness workshops for adults aged 60 and up who have experienced trauma, grief, or loss. This grant, spanning one year, will fund six workshops held in various locations throughout Charlotte at no cost to participants.

Building on JFS’ experience of providing wellness workshops through a previous grant with the Jewish Federations of North America, JFS is looking forward to the opportunity to expand the scope of offerings for the wellness workshops and increase the number of seniors served. Our previous sessions have not only provided crucial support for seniors dealing with trauma but have also fostered a sense of community and connection among participants. One attendee shared, “These workshops have been a lifeline for me. They’ve helped me find peace and connect with others who understand what I’m going through.”

The purpose of the workshops is to provide a fun and engaging way for seniors to acquire skills that improve their ability to manage situations that trigger previous trauma they have experienced. This is done by implementing non-traditional therapeutic interventions by trauma-trained facilitators. The workshops will cover various aspects of wellness, including mental health, physical well-being, and social connection. Each session will be facilitated by experienced professionals who specialize in trauma and senior care.

We are excited to announce the first workshop in this new series, “Wellness through Movement,” which will be held at The Village on Morehead beginning Sept. 6. It will incorporate seated and standing yoga postures, tai chi, and other movement techniques, as well as mindful breathing and experiential exercises. A second series, “Wellness in Creative Expression,” will occur in October at The Barclay at SouthPark. Participants will use markers, pens, and cut-out words and images to create a wisdom journal, a scrapbook that captures their personal insights and experiences. This creative approach aims to provide a therapeutic outlet for self-expression and reflection, allowing participants to explore and celebrate their life stories in a supportive and encouraging environment.

The additional four workshops will be held in different locations across Charlotte to ensure accessibility for all participants. Specific dates and venues for the remaining workshops will be announced soon.

Trauma can have a lasting impact on individuals, especially seniors who may have fewer resources and support systems. These workshops aim to provide participants with the tools they need to cope with their experiences and improve their overall quality of life. Howard Olshansky, executive director of JFS, emphasized the importance of this initiative: “We are incredibly grateful for the support from Mecklenburg County. This grant enables us to continue our mission of supporting seniors in our community. We have seen firsthand how transformative these workshops can be, and we are excited to expand our capacity to impact the emotional health of our aging community”

For more information about the upcoming workshops and JFS programs and services, please visit our website at jfscharlotte.org or contact us at (704) 364-6594.