News & Impact

J Weekly By Patricia Corrigan …S.F.-based Jewish Family and Children’s Services provides respite care four hours a week and Graham visits her parents in San Francisco every weekend. “My father was my heart and soul. He was supposed to teach my kids to play tennis and to play music. And he can’t,” she says. “Because my mom has been bound to her home for three years now, she has lost her youth, her ability to work and all her friends.” Read more at the J Weekly >… Read More

J Weekly Excerpt: A Bay Area woman struggling with mid-stage Alzheimer’s was obsessed with getting the mail. Her husband, serving as her caregiver at their home, let her bring in the mail each day, but later she would forget and want to do it again. And again. When her husband repeatedly told her the mail had already come, the woman would become agitated. “She couldn’t hold on to the fact that she had already brought in the mail, and her husband felt that he had failed her,” said Andrea Korsunsky, director of Jewish Family and Children’s Services’ Center for Dementia… Read More

Even in the best of times navigating today’s complicated healthcare system can be confusing.  But for older adults, like Leo, who are experiencing serious or life-threatening conditions, it can be especially daunting. After Leo underwent a bilateral knee replacement surgery the results were mixed. Though Leo had been convinced by his doctors that the surgery could enhance his quality of life at age 80, weeks after surgery his recovery was stagnant and he was experiencing a great deal of pain. Leo says, “My doctor said surgery would be ‘no problem’ and I thought, ‘no problem’, but it was not so… Read More

When Annie’s husband, Dennis, passed away she was initially overcome with sorrow. For five years Dennis had suffered from Alzheimer’s, and Annie, 78, had been his loving primary caregiver. He was the focus of her life just as he had been for over 50 years. Now that Dennis was gone Annie suddenly felt lost and unsure how to move forward with life on her own. Months after his death, Annie wasn’t coping well—sleep was elusive and she had lost her appetite. Dennis’ death brought more than just sadness and grief for Annie. It emerged that Dennis had left their estate… Read More

There’s nothing like nuzzling with a friendly, four-legged creature that has plenty of unconditional love to share. Scientific and empirical evidence indicates that animals offer comfort and joy to isolated seniors battling with depression. While numerous pet therapy programs exist, JFCS’ Canine Corps program is unique because it fosters ongoing and meaningful three-way relationships between clients, volunteers, and their dogs. Barking up the Right Tree For eight years JFCS has been matching trained canine companions and their owners with clients in San Francisco, Marin, Sonoma County, and the Peninsula. Like many JFCS initiatives, the program is designed to help the… Read More

Half of Bay Area residents over 85 are currently experiencing some form of dementia, and by 2020, the region is expected to see a 49% increase in residents with Alzheimer’s disease – not including other related conditions. With so many individuals and their families facing the challenges of these conditions, the need for dedicated local support has never been greater. That’s why, one year ago, JFCS launched the Center for Dementia Care—part of Seniors At Home, the Bay Area’s largest provider of senior care—and took a pioneering leap in enhanced support for people with Dementia-related conditions, and their families… Read More