New Models To Help Seniors Age In Their Communities

By Lane Levine
Community Network Director
CHAI: Comprehensive Housing Assistance Inc.

On July 3 of last year, 30 neighborhood residents, many of them seniors, piled into Risyl Edelman’s home on Glen Avenue. Although they came for 30 different reasons – some to make a safer community for themselves and their neighbors, others to get things back to how they used to be and still others to get a ride to the doctor once in a while – they all had one overriding goal in common.

These residents were here to plan an innovative initiative for their community. Northwest Neighbors Connecting would support seniors hoping to remain and age in their community.

They began by writing this mission statement:

“Northwest Neighbors Connecting is a support system comprised of individuals offering and seeking support in the Northern Park Heights community. We engage each other, professionals, volunteers and community organizations, to provide a “round-the clock” network to assist us and our neighbors with social interaction, transportation, household upkeep, and day-to-day activity. We envision an interdependent community in which all residents are safe, secure and connected.”

Northwest Neighbors Connecting (NNC) has grown – in numbers, in acts of support between members, in sophistication, in breadth – to an organization ready to go. By its launch in March, Northwest Neighbors Connecting plans to have 100 members signed up, who are driving each other to appointments, teaching each other skills, holding social events, making friendly check-in calls, preparing for emergencies together and much more. NNC wants to be the force in Northern Park Heights that transforms the way we care for one another.

NNC is the first of what will be a series of organizations in Northwest Baltimore fashioned after the Village Model – a mutual support system intended to support seniors to age well in their community. The idea of the Village is that people have access to support from their neighbors in accomplishing the tasks that get a little harder, and that become a little more of a barrier, as the years go by.

With Villages popping up all over the country, we are seeing seniors able to remain in their communities and no longer feel pressured by life’s difficulties to move to assisted living or nursing homes. In the coming years, we expect NNC to flourish and other Village-style organizations to start, ultimately forming the Supportive Community Network.

How did we get here? NNC, and the overarching Supportive Community Network, got their start when THE ASSOCIATED: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore decided that the agencies that have been serving our growing number of seniors can only reach a portion of the people who actually need support.

And, a lot of the support people need is the kind that only their neighbors can give them – little favors here and there, rides to appointments and some social connection.

After a year of research and work involving various stakeholders, THE ASSOCIATED decided to try out the Village model, and provide support to the community so they could organize and meet their own needs. They looked to CHAI, your local community development organization, as the organization to initiate the work.

NNC began organizing out of CHAI back in March, with humble conversations on a one-to-one basis. We talked to our neighbors and spoke with people we knew had something to offer and something to gain. From each person’s perspective, each person’s suggestions, we began to form a structure that reflected the needs of this neighborhood. We built slowly — hosting meetings in people’s kitchens and dining rooms, small information sessions in apartment buildings, brainstorming sessions during a walk around the block – however we could get together, we did.

Now, NNC has about 80 active members and eight committees – all vibrant with the work of figuring out how to care for each other. Our Service Coordination committee is figuring out a system to provide seniors with volunteer drivers to the doctor, hair appointment or grocery store; our Advocacy committee is developing ways to support our members in dealing with difficult retailers, landlords or public agencies in their lives. Our Outreach committee is reaching out to synagogues, condominium boards and libraries – and hosting diversity dialogues to make our internal community better able to treat each other with respect. The list goes way, way on.

Our Social Events committee has been especially busy. They hosted an Emergency Preparedness training in January.

Call to be a part of NNC – as a volunteer, as a member – 410-662-6620 or email us at nncbaltimore@gmail.com – get connected!

On January 27th, come on by the Myerberg Center from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. for a White Elephant Sale – you never know what you’ll find! And then on February 27th, we will have a Wine, Cheese and Art party at the Elmont Condominiums – 6317 Park Heights Avenue. Join the fun!

Join us for our official Launch Party on Sunday, March 10, 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. at the Pikesville Senior Center. There will be something for everyone.

Caring for Aging Parents with Honor and Reverence

By Shelley Weinreb
Marketing Coordinator
CHAI: Comprehensive Housing Assistance, Inc.

From baby carriage to wheelchair, life has a way of coming full circle. We start out being totally dependent on our parents and often end up being totally dependent on our children. Many ‘baby boomers’ dealing with aging parents must balance functioning as their parents’ decision maker with according their parents the honor and respect they deserve.

Judaism places a high priority on honoring parents. “Honor thy father and mother” is one of the most well known of the Ten Commandments. The Jewish tradition teaches that the mitzvah includes both honoring and revering.

To honor our parents means to care for their needs, such as:

• bring them food
• prepare meals
• do grocery shopping
• manage the payment of bills
• handle banking
• take them to the doctor

To revere our parents means to distinguish clearly between who is the parent and who is the child, knowing that the two are not equal. Examples include:

• not raising your voice or speaking disrespectfully
• not contradicting a parent (even if they’re obviously wrong)
• not sitting in their designated place unless first getting permission
• not waking a resting parent

A story is told in the Talmud of the son of a jeweler who refused to disturb his sleeping father when representatives from the Temple in Jerusalem came to his door, wishing to buy precious gems for the High Priest’s breastplate. The key to the family’s diamond vault was under the father’s pillow and the son would not wake his father, even at the cost of losing a fortune in diamond sales. The next year, a rare and valuable red heifer was born to a cow in the jeweler’s herd, and representatives once again came from the Temple to pay a large sum for its purchase. This time, the father was not sleeping, and the previous year’s loss was more than fully recouped. The Talmud praises the son’s selfless act as a laudable example of honoring one’s father and mother.

The Torah promises long life as a reward to those who honor their parents. Perhaps one reason is that caring for parents — especially when they are elderly – can take up a lot of time. By adding extra years to a person’s life, G-d “compensates,” so to speak for the time spent.

Of course, just doing the mitzvah is its own reward. After a lifetime of our parents giving to us, it feels good to give back to them.

For more information on CHAI’s many services available for seniors, call 410-500-5315.

If you’d like to volunteer for CHAI’s Northwest Neighbors Connecting volunteer support network for seniors, call 410-500-5307.

Is NOW the Best Time to Buy a New Home?

5 Ways to Prepare for Buying Your Bargain Dream House
By Shelley Weinreb

More and more, we’re hearing reports that the housing market is making a comeback. Ask any realtor and they’ll tell you that people are starting to buy again. And with good reason–prices are still very low and there are plenty of quality, bargain properties on the market.  So could this be the perfect time to shop for your dream home?

If you’re thinking of buying a new home, here are five smart insider tips you can start doing now to maximize your success:

1. Get your credit in shape. Nothing kills a good deal like bad credit. The last thing you want is to lose out on a fantastic home because of “issues” with your credit.  Now is the time to examine and correct any errors or negative items before they sabotage your chances.
2. Study, research, inquire. Thanks to the Internet, information on just about any real estate topic known to man is available in seconds.  Want to know about housing prices, tax rates, schools, shopping and even the lifestyle of a particular neighborhood? It’s all searchable online. Websites like www.trulia.com and www.nabewise.com provide insight into many aspects of a neighborhood’s character.
3. Attend CHAI’s Smart Homebuyer’s Workshop. Every month, CHAI offers its three-hour homebuyer’s workshop packed with no-strings-attached information and advice for first time and seasoned homebuyers alike.  Want to know which credit report website to trust (that’s not trying to sell you something)? How to get homebuyer grants, awards and interest-free loans? What to know what to look out for to avoid common and costly mistakes?  CHAI is your source for unbiased, great information to help you find and afford a home.
4. Stash your cash. Stow away as much as you can for your down payment and closing costs. Even if you think you’ve saved enough, tighten your belt and pile up a few extra pennies. That cash cushion will come in very handy for repairs and those inevitable expenses that pop up once you move into your new home.
5. Get rid of what you don’t need. Lighten your load. Sell, donate, give away what you’ve been holding onto but don’t use. You’ll have less to move and more space to live in.  Plus it’ll feel great to start off in your new home with less clutter.

Perhaps the best advice for the hopeful homebuyer is … patience. Your dream home is out there. Don’t grab the first thing that comes along if it’s not what you really want. It’s still very much a buyer’s market. Also, now’s not the time to make any major financial changes like starting a new business or buying a new car. Hold off on big purchases until after you’re in your new home.

Get more details on CHAI’s next Smart Homebuyer’s Workshop>>

For more information on how CHAI can help make your dream of owning a home come true in northwest Baltimore City, call 410-500-5309.

New Professionals … Leadership … Cohort …. Fellowship … Professional Development … Recruit … Retain … Train

By Cindy Goldstein
Executive Director of DFI

What do all of these buzz words have in common?

As the Friedman Fellowship enters into its fourth year, the Darrell D. Friedman Institute for Professional Development at the Weinberg Center (DFI) is pleased to introduce to you its newest cohort of outstanding new Jewish communal professionals working in the Baltimore area. The Friedman Fellows are nominated by their organizations and selected among an outstanding and promising group of new Jewish professional leaders who are in the field up to three years.

DFI has been selecting a cohort of up to 10 participants each year since the fall of 2009, awarding fellowship funds to be used over a two-year period to new professionals working in Jewish organizations, synagogues and agencies in Baltimore. The fellowship enables them to have a mentor and to engage in professional development opportunities that enhance their professional skills and Judaic competencies. These experiences lead to excellent service in their work and to career advancement in the Jewish communal field.

The Friedman Fellowship is supported by an endowment created by community leaders and donors. It was matched by the Weinberg Foundation, all of whom recognized Darrell Friedman when he retired as President and CEO of THE ASSOCIATED. We are therefore able to attract and retain new fresh grow leadership in the field and to Baltimore. This is a “perk” for an organization and a fellow, allowing them to grow professionally thanks to the generosity of our community’s leadership and THE ASSOCIATED’s strong commitment to professional development.

This fall we are introducing KADIMA, a leadership development pilot program facilitated by Beth Gansky, leadership coach, created for the Friedman Fellows, to assist them in clarifying and developing their professional  and leadership goals, to provide tools to advance their careers and to create a cohort and network of these new professionals to  further their learning and collaboration in our community. Participating will be our newest cohort, listed below, along with our continuing 2012 fellows: Molly Amster, CHAI, Melissa Berman, JCC; Brad Cohen, Baltimore Hebrew Congregation; Marisa Danto, THE ASSOCIATED; Rabbi Kelley Gludt, Beth Am;  Nechama Goldman, AJOP; Caren Leven, Oheb Shalom;  Loryn Strauzer, BHI.

Our newest cohort, selected this fall of 2013, include:

• Sora Brill, Donor Services Representative, THE ASSOCIATED
• Carly Frank, Campaign Associate, THE ASSOCIATED
• Ilana Knobel, Special Events Coordinator, UMD Hillel
• Darren Levin, JLIC Rabbi, Johns Hopkins University Hillel
• Lane Levine, Community Network Director, Comprehensive Housing Assistance, Inc.
• Amanda Max, Children’s Service Director, Jewish Community Center
• Lara Nicolson, Family Engagement Associate, Center for Jewish Education
• Jessica Shimberg, Associate Director for Jewish Life and Learning, UMD Hillel
• Ahuva Spetner, Program Director, JEPGirls of Maryland

For a complete list of all Friedman Fellows, and to apply for next year, visit www.thedfi.org>>

Ve’ahavta Lereacha Kamocha

By: Maayan Jaffe
Communications & Marketing Manager
THE ASSOCIATED

May 6 is going to be an active day for the Baltimore Jewish community – especially for those living in our neighborhood. CHAI’s “Good Neighbor Day” will refocus the organization’s annual spring event as a day of community giving, specifically by and for those living in the Glen, Cross Country, Fallstaff, Mount Washington and Cheswolde neighborhoods. It is becoming a day exactly as it sounds, a day of working together to strengthen and beautify our neighborhoods, as well as to help our senior residents prepare their homes for the summer. But it will still be a day to roll up your sleeves and have some fun!

CHAI board member Doni Greenwald says that for the past four years he and his family have volunteered on CHAI Weatherization Day and Senior Home Repair Day. He doesn’t consider himself a “handy guy,” he says with a smile, but he really gets into the work: raking leaves, trimming hedges and changing batteries in smoke detectors.

“It’s a great family event. I usually bring my kids, and they love it!” Doni says. “The seniors we visit appreciate seeing the kids as much as they appreciate the work we do.”

This year, the day will be even more meaningful for him and his family, says Doni. Volunteers are being encouraged to rally their neighbors to action, to inspire and encourage them to organize their own neighborhood projects, with the help and support of CHAI and the neighborhood associations. Examples of group projects could include park clean-ups, bulb/tree/community garden planting, yard and storm drain cleaning, alley/synagogue/church clean-ups, and assisting vulnerable members of the community.

“No one wants to take and not give,” says Doni. “The frum community is one of CHAI’s primary beneficiaries. Good Neighbor Day presents an opportunity for members of the frum community to show their appreciation for what CHAI does by giving back – to the organization and to each other.”

Glen-area resident David Brucker knows just how true Doni’s statements are. In his upper 80s, the retired registered nurse says that without the help of CHAI and its volunteers he would have long ago been moved into a geriatric facility. “When you get a little older and have been in the same home for a long, long time, it becomes a very comfortable place. It can be very traumatic to have to move to a new environment,” David explains, recalling how, during the fall’s Weatherization Day, a team of cadets from the area fire house performed basic yard work and removed debris to prepare the grass for the winter – something he could never have done on his own nor afforded to pay for.

“I live on social security – at least I try to live on social security. Maybe it is better to say I survive on social security. CHAI volunteers are a big help to me in many, many ways, and it is a wonderful thing to see they can do,” David says.

“It is clearly a part of our teaching to respect the elderly, to care for the elderly, but also to care for one another – for our neighbors,” says Richard Fradkin, an active CHAI volunteer. “This is doing for your neighbors as you would have done to you. It is wonderful to see the smiles on the homeowners’ faces, to see the people who live in our neighborhoods and need our help – and to do something about it. They can be the littlest things, but they make a big difference.”

CHAI executive director Ken Gelula agrees: “We are fortunate to live in our community. Let’s show our appreciation by taking time out of our busy lives to roll up our sleeves and help each other and our neighborhoods.”

Do you want to get involved, too? Visit http://www.chaibaltimore.org for more information about the May 6 volunteer day. You can also contact Chedva Rose at crose@chaibaltimore.org or 410-500-5325.

Kindness is in the Details

CHAI’s Senior Program Repairs Houses…and Hearts

Imagine meeting a 93-year old woman living alone who asked if you knew a doctor who made house calls because she couldn’t navigate the stairs to leave her house. Suppose, in talking with her, you found out that her husband, siblings and friends had passed away and she seldom had visitors.  What if she confided that she had spinal stenosis, periodic mini strokes, carpel tunnel syndrome, and arthritic knees and could no longer walk down steps? Would you know how to help her? Thankfully, for this woman and others like her, there’s Comprehensive Housing Assistance, Inc. (CHAI)—specifically CHAI’s Senior Home Repair & Modification Program. Behind this straightforward, simple name lies a program that transforms lives and lifts vulnerable seniors out of physical harm and financial risk. The SHRM Program does a lot more than just repair homes; it intervenes with housing-related solutions that address the physical, emotional and cognitive needs of its clients.

Before I started working for CHAI, I had no idea the program even existed, much less what it did. I was amazed to discover the tremendous good work accomplished through this program for seniors and people with disabilities who live independently at home in Northwest Baltimore City or adjacent Baltimore County neighborhoods.  Many of whom either have no children or their children are not able to advocate or intervene on their behalf.

The story related above is that of a real CHAI client. Rona Gross, CHAI Senior Home Benefits Coordinator stepped in to help “Mrs. Vivian M.,” as we’ll call her. Rona visited Mrs. M. and assessed her home environment’s safety and functionality to see the effect they had on Vivian’s physical, emotional and cognitive abilities. Then, problem by problem, Rona began to unravel the tangled web of complications that immobilized Vivian and kept her from living a healthier, happier life. With the help of Rona and her fellow CHAI staff members, Mrs. M.’s situation immediately began to improve.  Rona was able to arrange a number of vital services on Vivian’s behalf, including:

• Home safety assessment
• Physician and occupational therapy referrals
• Assistive devices and equipment, such as a special chair cushion and smaller walker
• Home modifications to address her disabilities, including a bathtub renovation for easier access
• Remodeling contractors hired at cost
• Referrals to Baltimore County Department of Aging for telephone support  and County Ride volunteer car driver program
• Volunteer companion services to reduce isolation
• Senior Home Repair funds to pay for safety and accessibility-related expenses

Just after Hurricane Irene, Rona visited Mrs. M. and found that she was without power and a working phone. (Earlier, Rona had bought her a prepaid cell phone and taught Vivian how to use it.) Rona purchased more minutes for the phone, charged it, replaced Vivian’s flashlight batteries and explained the BG&E recordings so she would know when to expect the power to come back on. Kindness is in the details.

Today, Vivian is able to safely move around her house, go out if she chooses to and even get in and out of the bathtub by herself, thanks to resources provided and modifications made by CHAI. These changes have helped Mrs. M. be more relaxed and given her hope about the future. Through it all, Rona has been there to offer encouragement and support.

Reflecting on her experience with Vivian, Rona remarked, “I believe Mrs. M. has experienced what another one of our clients said as I left her home with our repairman… ‘You don’t just fix houses; you fix hearts.’”

If you know a senior or person with disabilities who could benefit from CHAI’s SHRM Program, call Rona Gross at 410-500-5315 or rgross@chaibaltimore.org.