STAY CONNECTED
by LaBrena Friend, LBSW On our calendars, we just checked off Valentine’s Day – a day when the whole world seems focused on expressions of romantic love. But how do we show love to the older adults in our lives – the parents, grandparents, neighbors and friends who have meant so much in our lives, […]
by Pam Leonard, LBSW, CDP The emotional and physical demands of family caregiving can be overwhelming under the best circumstances. When you add anxiety and self-doubt into the mix, the strain only worsens. Anxiety can lead a family member to believe, falsely, that they are failing in the role of caregiver, and that whatever they […]
by Caleigh Rathmell Alevy, LMSW With 2023 fast approaching, many of us find ourselves reflecting on the past year and resolving to change ourselves, our routines or the interests we will pursue in the New Year. When we make New Year’s Resolutions, we often focus on changes we want to see within ourselves. But what if, instead, we […]
Birmingham Crisis Center Hotline (205) 323-7777 www.crisiscenterbham.org PIRC – Psychiatric Intake Response Center (205) 638-7472 Childrensal.org Glaad/LGBTQ Resource List https://www.glaad.org/resourcelist Collat Jewish Family Services (205) 879-3438 http://cjfsbham.org/ Crisis Text Line Text HOME to 741741 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline 988 United Way Area Agency on Aging of Jefferson County (205) 458-3330 National Domestic Violence Hotline 800-799-7233 […]
>>>TO PRINT A COPY OF THE ORDER FORM, USE THIS LINK: https://cjfsbham.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Mahjongg-Order-Form-2023.pdf If you have any questions contact Stephanie at 205.936.3910. Thank you!
If an adult child accepts a position with an organization where her parent has worked for decades, that says something! At least that’s what we’ve been thinking since Social Worker Caleigh Rathmell Alevy joined the CJFS staff last month. Caleigh’s mother, Lynn Rathmell, has been an important member of our team since 1994 (with one […]
by Pam Leonard, LBSW, CDP: Traveling with a loved one who has dementia can be challenging and intimidating. Families often long to be together over the holidays, but it’s important to be realistic about the challenges and limitations of traveling with someone who is cognitively impaired. Before promising to go, caregivers need to ask themselves […]
by Amy Neiman, LMSW Difficult conversations are well, difficult. As parents, spouses and children, we must have discussions that are challenging and can be life-changing for those involved, but they are never fun conversations to begin. As we watch our parents age, these exchanges often revolve around medical care, housing and what many think of […]
Time and date: 4 pm, Sunday Oct. 23 A Conversation with Author Ivan Maisel, Moderated by Dr. Josh Klapow Where: Red Mountain Theatre Arts Campus, 1600 3rd Ave S., Birmingham, AL 35233 Ivan Maisel, a Mobile native and national sports columnist, is author of I Keep Trying to Catch His Eye: A Memoir of Loss, Grief, and Love. The […]
by Elaine Witt First, her mother fell and broke her hip, leading to a partial joint replacement. Then she fell again, this time fracturing her arm. That was when Maria Whiting knew it was time to move her mother, 79-year-old Blanche Taylor, from her from her home in Pensacola to Birmingham, where Maria has lived […]
by Jennifer Bradley, LPC As a therapist for 25 years, I have had the privilege to work with adults and children of all ages, and I have been seen some changes in our children’s mental health. This generation has a problem, and it’s anxiety. There is a cloud of anxiety that is hovering over our […]
By Pam Leonard The decision to move a family member into a long-term care facility can be difficult. Family caregivers often feel guilty when they begin considering such a move. They may feel it is their responsibility to care for their loved one at home. They may be concerned that a facility will not be […]
by Emily Bebenek Birmingham resident Emily Bebenek, a rising junior at Wake Forest University, worked as a Hillel Connection intern this summer with our Development and Outreach team. Here, Emily reflects on a family trip that opened her eyes to the challenges of aging and caregiving. While my family lives in Birmingham, and my cousins […]
When we face serious health conditions, even those that are normal byproducts of aging, they interfere with our concept of ourselves and our perception of our abilities. This can be frustrating and depressing, and it is tempting to hide these frustrations by hiding our condition.
These conversations are hard to have with your loved ones. I know. But these conversations are not about getting old or sick, they are about empowering your loved ones to direct their future now, when they have the ability to express their wishes and goals and to make decisions for themselves.
by Amy Neiman, LMSW I was a fairly dramatic child. Well, my parents might disagree and say I WAS a dramatic child. I had big feelings and emotions and was wanting to get them out. I “loved” this. I “hated” that. There was no in-between. My mother used to say things like “Amy, your feelings […]
Look back at the 2022 Hands Up Together program supporting CJFS and honoring the Bearman, Krell & Wolnek families!
CJFS services and programs have assisted this family for 30 years in various ways. YOU help us to make a difference in the lives of those we serve.
By Gail Schuster, LICSW Many people think of therapy as a place to “work out” a problem. That isn’t wrong … but for most of my clients, the real “work” takes place between sessions. That’s when they practice the coping strategies they’ve been developing, with my help, in therapy. The goal could be anything from […]
By Marcy Morgenbesser, LICSW, CJFS Clinical Director. Older adults are often referred to CJFS because of one acute problem – say, they’re grieving the death of a spouse, they have serious financial problems or their loved ones have noticed they’re growing forgetful. But while working with the client to deal with that problem, our clinical […]
