For almost 50 years the Telephone Reassurance (TR) Program at JFS Richmond has provided security and socialization for older adults across the Greater Richmond Area. The program first started when the late Anne Lane, former JFS Executive Director, recognized that elder care was and would be a growing concern in the community. Since then, every […]
Social Connection, a Public Health Priority
A recent scientific study by Julianne Holt-Lunstad, David A. Sbarra, and Theodore F. Robles has indicated that being embedded in high-quality close relationships and feeling socially connected to the people in one’s life is associated with decreased risk for all-cause mortality as well as a range of disease morbidities. These findings provide evidence that social […]
JFS Congratulates its Second Cohort of PCA Graduates
Our most recent cohort of the JFS Personal Care Aide (PCA) School graduated two students on August 30th. Friends and family of the graduates, as well as JFS staff, gathered to honor their accomplishment. The JFS PCA School is two weeks and over 40 hours of curriculum and skills acquisition on how to effectively perform […]
The Caregiver Gain
A 2011 study by Dr. Lisa Fredman, a Boston University epidemiologist, found the gains in caregiving. Recent studies have shown that caregivers proved stronger on cognitive and physical tests. Dr. Fredman disputes the assumption that all caregivers experience a burden in their caregiving through her “healthy caregiving hypothesis”. Her studies provide some evidence that caregivers, […]
Depression at any Age
A Stubborn, Persistent Stigma Surround Depression, Creating Barriers to Care Depression is a devastating mental illness that can affect someone at any stage of life. A recent article by Jo Anne Sirey highlights the continued stigma that surrounds depression as a major barrier to seeking treatment. Sirey states, “Once depression is detected, older adults face […]
New State Scorecard on Long-Term Care Services
A new state scorecard on long-term care services from AARP Foundation, the SCAN Foundation and the Commonwealth Fund an overall concerning picture of uneven, slow progress in providing affordable care for older adults and people with disabilities. Although there has been some advancement by the state, for example, many states have increased proportion of […]
Mental Health and Exercise
The mind and the body are inexplicably linked; a person’s state of mind affects the functionality of their body and issues of the body impacts a person’s mental function. On The Wagon’s Comprehensive Guide to Mental Health and Exercise explain the importance of taking care of the body and mind. Mental Health And Exercise: A […]
The Medicaid Debate
The New York Times article by Ron Lieber raises key concerns about how the current Medicaid debate affects healthcare. Today, the average annual cost of a Home Health Aide in Richmond, Virginia is $39,765, whereas the average annual cost for a Semi-Private Room at a Nursing Home is $84,315. According to the Genworth Cost of Care Survey in 20 years those costs rise to $71,820 and $152,282, respectively. Through innovative […]
Scams & Financial Security
According to the Better Business Bureau, over the last two years, some 70,000 frauds and scams have been reported across the United States. Anyone can fall victim to a financial scam, but older adults tend to be particularly popular targets. Frequently, fraud perpetrated against older adults is not reported until long after the scam has […]
Loneliness and Isolation: A New Epidemic Among Elders
Anyone can feel lonely—even people who are surrounded by family. Asim Shah, MD, professor and vice chair for community psychiatry in the Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Baylor College of Medicine, defines loneliness as an emotion that strikes when someone feels socially isolated. That feeling can set in within a marriage, at […]