STAY CONNECTED
by Mark Driskill, LICSW-S Back in grad school my very first class was called Human Behavior Through the Life Cycle. The big takeaway? Our physical, emotional, and social selves keep evolving from birth to very old age. Most theorists group the journey into five broad stages: infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and late adulthood. After two […]
by Amy Neiman, LMSW June marks Alzheimer’s and Brain Health Awareness Month—a time to reflect not only on the challenges of memory loss, but also on the importance of proactive, compassionate support for those navigating aging and cognitive change. At Collat Jewish Family Services, we believe brain health awareness doesn’t begin with a diagnosis. It […]
by LaBrena Friend, LMSW Recently, I accompanied my 98-year-old client “Tom” to a medical appointment. The visit went well, but I noticed on the way home he was unusually quiet. Once we arrived, I gently asked if something was bothering him. Initially, he said nothing was wrong. Having worked with Tom for seven years, knowing […]
By Meredith Stutts, LICSW Do you ever feel overwhelmed, pulled in multiple directions at once? Trying to balance relationships, excel at your job, be the perfect parent and/or care for your aging parents? More than 50% of Americans over the age of 40 are simultaneously caring for both growing children AND their aging parents, otherwise […]
by James Cannon, LMSW Memories are powerful. They can shape our decisions. They also help us reflect on ourpast in ways that alter our point of view or transport us to other moments in our lives. Nostalgia,on the other hand, is more than just a fond memory. Nostalgia is defined by longing. Sometimesthis feeling of […]
by Margaret Lee, LMSW Did you know both January 10th and February 1st are both considered Quitter’s Day? By February 1st 68% of people have abandoned their New Year’s resolutions. Why do we give up so quickly on changes we really want to make? When setting New Year’s resolutions, we often come up with big […]
by Caleigh Rathmell Alevy, LMSW Caring for a loved one is deeply meaningful but can also be exhausting, both physically and emotionally. When caregiving ends with loss, grief can amplify feelings of guilt and isolation. Self-care is essential for resilience and healing. Challenges of Caregiving Burnout, compassion fatigue, and neglecting personal needs are common struggles. […]
by Amy Neiman, LMSW Ms. Green and her sister have lived together for the past 15 years in a house not far from the CJFS office. When her sister first moved in, they did what most close sisters do. They gardened, watched the birds, shopped together and played Bridge. They split the bills and reminded […]
by Mark Driskill, LICSW-S “What people say and what people do is all about them and not about you.” For many years I’ve used this statement as a kind of mnemonic to help me remember that a person’s words and behaviors inform me about them and really have nothing to do with me. Someone may have […]
By LaBrena Friend, LMSW During a recent visit with one of my clients, we had a heartfelt conversation about the upcoming holiday season. We shared our favorite traditions and memories. Between October and December, there are many holidays to celebrate, from Rosh Hashanah to Thanksgiving to New Year’s Eve. However, over the years I have […]
by Caleigh Rathmell Alevy, LMSW As I exchange pleasantries with a passerby, my children often ask, “Who was that?” Their curiosity never gets old. Sometimes, the person is a friend and I explain how I know them; but often it’s a “stranger” and I’m simply acknowledging them with a wave or a smile and a […]
. At some point in college or my early twenties, my grandmother gifted me a scrapbook full of poems, stories, cartoons, and musings, all of which had spoken to her at different times in her life. I like to think it encouraged me to start gathering my own pieces which I have saved in my […]
by Mark Driskill, LICSW-S For most of our working life, retirement planning is about money—how much do I need and when will I have enough? While money is key to successful retirement, there is so much more to consider. In addition to income, our professional life is often a significant part of our identity and […]
by LaBrena Friend, LBSW Mother’s Day is a special day where we take time to honor the women in our lives. It is a reminder to reach out and express our love and gratitude. For me, this year is bittersweet as it marks a decade since my mom’s passing when I was only 30 years […]
Socializing with others makes most of us feel better about ourselves and about the world. For people affected by dementia, social interaction has a proven additional benefit: improved communication and cognitive function. This is certainly the case at CARES, CJFS’ respite program for people affected by memory and movement disorders such as dementia and Parkinson’s. […]
by Amy Neiman, LMSW I told myself that 2024 would be less stressful. Seriously. I had a conversation with myself while I was walking my dogs. I was going to be more organized. I was going to plan out dinners for the week. I was going to walk these dogs every day – rain or […]
By Mark Driskill, LICSW-S I remember watching cartoons as a child and seeing one in which a character had an angel on one shoulder and a devil on the other. Each of these was trying to influence the main character to behave in a particular way. Sometimes I remember this when I talk to clients […]
by Amy Neiman, LMSW Finding the right way to speak with a child or teenager about death, war or terrible uncertainty is not easy. It is our job as parents to reassure our children even when we ourselves are feeling vulnerable. We want to be truthful but not give them more information than they need […]
By LaBrena Friend, LBSW When an older adult is experiencing new age-related problems, their friends and loved ones may not always recognize what is wrong. But by taking a few proactive steps, you can find out if an older adult you know or care for needs help – and you can be part of the […]
by Pam Leonard, LBSW, CDP Twice a week, in my role as director of the CJFS CARES dementia respite program, I co-facilitate virtual support groups with Lise Grace (CARES Assistant Program Director) for family caregivers of people with dementia. CJFS initiated these support groups more than twenty years ago, before CARES existed. We offer these […]
