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

