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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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
By LaBrena Friend, LMSW We hear a lot about resilience these days, and for good reason. If you’re human, your life will include emotional challenges and setbacks — and for many people, the pandemic is now an ongoing contributing factor. In my social work practice at CJFS, I recently met a client whose life has […]
by Amy Neiman, LMSW We are a society of fixers. We want answers to our problems, and nowadays, we want the answers fast. We pop on our computers or phones. We holler “Hey, Siri” and the answers start rolling down the screen. We have the answer to our discomfort delivered to our door by the […]
Cynthia Bryant, LCSW Television and movies would have us believe that life changes in the blink of an eye. Screenwriters tell stories this way to make way for a tidy conclusion in the allotted time. While it’s true that fortune or tragedy can strike without warning, many of life’s changes occur across an expanse of […]
by Gail Schuster, LCSW Counseling is a process of self-discovery that focuses on feelings and relationships and how we interact with our world. It is a type of learning about oneself that can help people deal more effectively with the ups and downs in life such as stress, self-esteem issues, life-cycle events, grief, relationship […]
by Robin McMilin, LCSW Everyone experiences an occasional restless night, but for those who toss and turn regularly, the inability to sleep can be a source of intense frustration. Difficulty falling asleep and/or staying asleep, a disorder known as insomnia, is more prevalent than people may realize. Insomnia for seniors is even more common, affecting […]
by Gail Schuster, LCSW We all wonder what “normal” is when it comes to different stages of life. One of the stereotypes of aging is that it is normal to feel depressed or anxious. The truth is feeling this way is NOT normal, but it also not uncommon. A recent study from the American Journal […]
By LaBrena Friend, LMSW It seems hard to believe that we have been consumed by the COVID-19 crisis for almost a year now! Most of us are still talking, reading and thinking about the coronavirus and, now, the vaccines every single day. One year in, it’s hard to escape or focus on anything else, and yet, […]
by Marcy Morgenbesser, LICSW Alice, 67, has bipolar disorder and lives alone in a subsidized senior housing community. She has been a CJFS client since 2017, receiving Personal Care and Care Management services, Counseling and riding the Buz-A-Bus. When the pandemic hit, CJFS suspended face to face services, but Amy, Alice’s CJFS Social Worker, continued to […]
by Cynthia Bryant, LICSW The COVID pandemic has obviously impacted everyone’s life. Just when you think you have adapted to the current reality, new information and recommendations emerge. Every day there seems to be a new report about vaccine effectiveness, mask guidelines and daily totals for active cases and mortalities. In addition, we hear of […]
by Amy Neiman, LMSW With four pre-teens and teenagers under one roof, our family has some interesting discussions. Due to the pandemic, they have been hanging out at home even more for over a year. Our discussions range in topics from detailed explanations of Minecraft worlds to college essays and current events. Throw in a […]
by Pam Leonard, LBSW, CDP What can we do to help ensure that as we age, we maintain our cognitive and physical health for as long as possible? We already know the importance of a healthy diet and exercise, and we know it can be helpful to work puzzles, learn about new things and generally […]
