OCTOBER 20 • 2022 | 19
A
virtual program called [Care]
Giving & Taking: Making Time
for You, started by Jewish Family
Service of Metropolitan Detroit and Jewish
Senior Life of Metropolitan Detroit, has
proved so successful that it is being expand-
ed in partnership with Gesher Human
Services to support more family caregivers
in Michigan.
The initial program ran from January
through April 2022, with four sessions
involving up to 37 participants in a session.
The new program offers seven sessions,
and it is hoped will offer programming to a
larger community, addressing the frequent
challenges of caregiving plus the impor-
tance of self-care.
The series will start on Oct. 25, and then
will be held on the third Tuesday of every
month through April 2023. Programs will
run from 2-3 p.m. and will be recorded for
later viewing for those unable to attend at
that time. Some programs will be devoted
to valuable resources, while others will
focus on the personal wellbeing of the care-
giver themselves. The first 125 registrants
can also pick up a gift bag containing items
applicable to all sessions such as resources,
self-care items and fun tools to help engage
participants during the virtual events.
The program is funded by a grant from
the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Legacy Fund of
the Community Foundation for Southeast
Michigan and a grant from the Jewish
Federation of North America. The proj-
ect was made possible by the partnership
of the Dorothy and Peter Brown Jewish
Community Adult Day Program, a day
program for adults living with dementia,
Gesher Human Services, Jewish Family
Service and Jewish Senior Life. Register at
the events page at brownadultday.org.
Topics being offered include:
• Oct. 25, 2022: Caregiving and social
isolation
• Nov. 15, 2022: Hospice 101 and how
hospice can be beneficial the earlier it is
engaged
• Dec. 20, 2022: Tune into yourself!
Caregiver wellness and empowerment
through music
• Jan. 17, 2023: Estate planning essentials
• Feb. 21, 2023: Embracing the wellness
warrior within through movement, mind-
fulness and motivation
• March 21, 2023: Fall prevention —
reduce fear of falling and increase physical
activity
• April 18, 2023: Nourishment and self-
care: The art of dough making
Brown Program Director Debi Banooni
said the expanded program was being
offered as Michigan’s caregivers face anoth-
er isolating winter, made particularly tough
during the last two years because of the
pandemic.
“We are concerned about caregivers
who put their heart and mind in looking
after the ones they love but
spend too little time taking
care of themselves that they
end up with their own health
problems,
” Banooni said. “Our
program is about providing
contacts, resources and options
and reminding people that
they are not alone.
”
Tracey Proghovnick
Edelstein, director of residen-
tial marketing and community
relations at Jewish Senior Life,
added: “Providing these pro-
grams is imperative as most of
us will either be on the giving
or receiving end of the caregiv-
ing journey at some point in our lives. It’s so
important to be prepared and know others
care about what you are going through.
”
For more information, contact Emily Gordon at
Jewish Family Service: egordon@jfsdetroit.org or by
calling (248) 970-2779. Participants do not have to
commit to attending every program but can pick and
choose those most applicable to themselves and
their families.
Virtual program is free, open to the entire
community and is being offered this fall to assist
caregivers as the colder months approach.
New Program for
Family Caregivers
Debi
Banooni
JN STAFF
Tracey
Proghovnick
Edelstein