‘Putting Life Into Living’ for seniors

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WARWICK  – “Putting Life Into Living” was the theme at the Jewish Seniors Agency of Rhode Island’s annual meeting, held on May 26 at The Phyllis Siperstein Tamarisk Assisted Living Residence. 

 

Yetta and Maurice Glicksman were the honorary chairs of the event. Jeffrey Savit, CEO and president of the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island, offered greetings, and Rabbi Richard Perlman gave the D’var Torah.

JSA President Jeffrey Padwa, Executive Director Susan Bazar, Funds Management Committee Chair Drew Kaplan, Nominating Committee Chair Jason Siperstein and Women’s Association President Bernice Weiner presented reports.

Vincent Mor, a long-standing member of the JSA Board of Trustees, gave a presentation about long-term care around the world. One issue he highlighted was that seniors are increasingly aging in place and support services are being brought into homes.

Mor also reported that Europe spends as much on social services and support as on medical care. Survival rates are higher in countries that follow this model, he said.

He also spoke about the difficulty of controlling services provided at home and how important it is to spend the money legitimately – for the client as well as the worker.  The challenge is balancing the goals of quality service and independence, he said.

In Japan, Mor said, robots assist with home care.  China, however, is building one nursing home per day as it anticipates its future needs. In India, the birth rate is high, but the elderly population is small – only 7 percent of the population is over the age of 65.  Family members typically care for the elderly in India, Mor said.

Padwa said that JSA’s future is bright and its mission of supporting Jewish seniors is critical.  He said Task Force subcommittees that were formed last year are now working diligently, and announced that Jewish Eldercare of R.I. (JERI) will be expanding its services. 

Padwa presented the Presidential Award to Susan Adler, director of the To Life Adult Day Services Center, JERI, and The Louis and Goldie Chester Full Plate Kosher Food Pantry.

In her Executive Director’s report, Susan Bazar spoke of JSA’s positive impact on elders through its housing, care and programs. Bazar also mentioned the new limited health licensure that Tamarisk was granted by the Rhode Island Department of Health. This licensure allows for the administration of limited skilled services, such as cardiac and diabetic care, simple wound and ostomy care, ulcer management and more.  Tamarisk is the first assisted-living residence in R.I. to receive this designation. 

Bazar also noted that Bonnie Sekeres has been promoted to JSA assistant executive director.  Sekeres serves on Rhode Island’s Long-term Care Coordinating Council,  Leading Age, and the R.I. Housing Resources Commission, and has successfully procured grants, Bazar said. Sekeres’ commitment to preserving the dignity of JSA’s constituencies has been remarkable, she said.

Bazar also announced that long-time board member Martin Dittelman is now an honorary director.

James Galkin presented the Maurice Glicksman Leadership Award and a Kiddush Cup to Dr. Jack Nassau, of Barrington. Nassau graciously accepted this coveted award and reflected on his involvement with the agency; he served as the JSA’s second vice president for five terms and chaired the agency’s To Life Center Oversight Committee.

Fred Franklin, Debbi Gilstein Jaffe and Peter Ziegler were installed as JSA board members, while Padwa was reinstalled as president and Weiner as vice president. Perlman was installed as treasurer and Ruby Shalansky as secretary. 

DIANE DOWIOT is the executive assistant at the Jewish Seniors Agency of Rhode Island, 401-351-4750 or www.jsari.org. 

JSA, seniors, Tamarisk