Village by the Shore Fall/Winter 2014
Give the Gift of Village
Village Update
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ovember marks the one year anniversary of Village by the Shore. Over the past twelve months, the membership base has tripled and nearly a dozen Service Partners have been added, but it’s the countless number of events, transports, referrals, workshops and services that make the Village so valuable to the community. This year, the Village featured a variety of social activities. Members celebrated the holidays with a luncheon at Shore Diner. The festive affair brought individuals together for a meet and greet holiday celebration. The Card Party, in June, became a signature event with 100 guests playing Bridge, Canasta & Mah Jong. Held at Harbor Pines Golf Club,
the afternoon featured a fabulous buffet, specialized exhibitor tables, amazing door prizes and an incredible raffle. Village by the Shore continued with specialty events such as an open Medicare forum, health and wellness seminars, and disease management workshops. Looking forward, members will take part in social events including a movie night, bus trip, and holiday event. Village by the Shore is on track to grow even more in its second year. With new leadership and Service Partners being added regularly, the focus for 2015 will concentrate on volunteer and membership recruitment. Whether receiving support, helping your neighbors, or providing expert services, everyone can join in the excitement of Village by the Shore as it expands into its second year.
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ooking for the perfect present for a parent, neighbor, or friend? A Village by the Shore membership offers a variety of services for adults (age 50+) in Atlantic County. While the Village is not a physical location, it is a membership that enhances the lives of individuals in the community. By giving the gift of a Village by the Shore membership you can: • Provide an active and engaging approach to neighbors helping neighbors with food delivery, grocery shopping, friendly visits, and more • Introduce members to social and educational events such as health and wellness seminars, book clubs, luncheons, day trips, concerts, workshops and classes • Bring vetted and even discounted services to members with a network of reliable, trustworthy, and quality Service Partners offering home repair, housekeeping, plumbing, landscaping, etc. • Access to two transportation rides per month as well as initial in-home assessment, resource and referral concierge, and care coordination Membership is only $18 per month, or $180 annually. Household and seasonal memberships are also available. A Village by the Shore membership is a wonderful gift option that will last the whole year through. For more information, visit jfsvillagebytheshore.org. To give the gift of Village, contact 609-822-1109 or jfsvillage@jfsatlantic.org.
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I Meet the Director: Melissa Bollinger I B oomer Health: A New Generation of Healthcare I Staying Healthy This Winter 1
Meet the Director
Service Spotlight
Melissa Bollinger
Health & Wellness Programs
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illage by the Shore has placed a tremendous amount of focus on health and wellness. Our Village members have access to a wealth of resources that can help them improve the management of their current healthcare issues, or learn how to prevent the development of certain diseases. According to the National Council on Aging, approximately 92% of older adults have at least one chronic disease and yet only one percent of health dollars are spent on efforts to improve overall health. Not only is prevention the preferred and most cost-effective method of managing the health complications that come with aging, but it is clinically proven to add to quality of life. Recognizing the need for increased efforts, the Village offers a plethora of health and wellness programming. On staff at JFS is a skilled clinical team who provide services for adults and older adults that focus on understanding and managing health. More than 60 percent of Americans are affected by the top four chronic diseases: heart disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes. JFS offers workshops to cover these topics as well as The ABC’s of Good Nutrition, Fall Prevention, and Keeping Your Mind Sharp. In January 2015, JFS is slated to begin conducting a series of ten 6-week workshops on Living Healthy with Chronic Disease. Overlapping workshop schedules will be arranged throughout the year in a variety of locations to allow easy access to all interested individuals. This workshop is led by Nurse Educator, Maggie Weaver. A vital member of the care management team, Maggie directs seminars, educational outreach, and provides disease management techniques for Village members in addition to conducting in-home assessments and disease management. Whether members are being offered lower cost exercise programs, utilizing care coordination, being properly referred to inhome therapy services, taking advantage of seminars, or receiving medication management, members have access to an instrumental tool in managing their health. A Village by the Shore membership ensures access to many of these imporMore than 60 percent of tant services all year round. Maintaining Americans are affected by a healthy lifestyle and wellness educaheart disease, cancer, tion is as important to stroke, and diabetes. aging as getting an annual check-up. At JFS, our clinical care team is just a phone call away.
Boomer Health
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elissa Bollinger joins Jewish Family Service as Director of Village by the Shore. Bollinger’s responsibilities include promoting, managing and directing the day to day Village operations including memberships, programs, social events and service partner coordination. She also serves as a liaison with the Village’s community partner organizations. An experienced professional in the
“I am excited to be part of the expansion of Village by the Shore and the community services this great program offers.” healthcare industry, Bollinger is one of the area’s most well-versed and reputable leaders. Holding roles in senior advocacy, healthcare administration and marketing, Melissa maintains professional relationships across South Jersey as she promotes the various options adults and older adults have to age in place happily and healthfully. Melissa’s focus resides in strengthening current services that are offered to Village members and expanding volunteer opportunities. She feels there is an opportunity for everyone, regardless of age, to get involved in the Village. In addition to her role at JFS, Melissa recognizes the value of giving back to her community. She spends time as an Alzheimer’s Association Support Group Facilitator and serves as a hospice volunteer for patients and families. Melissa also enjoys writing as an independent boxing analyst and journalist. Bollinger has a B.S. in Health Policy and Administration from The Pennsylvania State University. To contact Melissa Bollinger directly, email mbollinger@jfsatlantic.org or call 609-822-1108 x 211.
Boomer Health
A New Generation of Healthcare
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ook out! Here they go again! The 75 million Americans who make up the baby boom generation are leading the country through yet another sweeping societal change. With the youngest of the baby boomers turning 50 in 2014, and the older boomers entering retirement, they will affect how caregivers and policymakers shape the health care system in America for decades to come. Despite a longer life expectancy, boomers have higher rates of hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes and obesity. The statistics surrounding the aging of the boomer generation can be depressing, but there are reasons to be optimistic. An increasing number of providers are implementing care models geared toward the health of the elderly. Given the link between healthy lifestyles and subsequent health in this age group, the study demonstrates a clear need for policies that expand efforts at prevention and healthy lifestyle promotion in the baby boomer generation, but what are the options? How can boomers participate in low-cost and preventative measures for these diseases that cost so much money to maintain or prevent? In what could be the most hopeful news of all, health care may be on the cusp of major advancements. The boomers have shown an inclination to adopt new technology. Baby boomers
are expected to receive a lot of their care in the future over the Internet and phone. Health care is trending to have a significant ehealth component. It does already, but nothing like is anticipated in the next five to ten years. Baby boomers are going to be leaders in that area. Practitioners that travel to their patients, or who use media outlets such as the internet to more frequently interact with their patients are experiencing high levels of success, better managing chronic disease and preventing unnecessary hospitalizations. This form of healthcare, known as mobile health, allows practioners to monitor medical status or remind patients to take a medication. Mobile health offers a way to replace or enhance office-based care. Community-based initiatives such as Village by the Shore allow older adults to access resources for controlling chronic disease more easily than ever before. For example, diabetes patients are getting education on such topics as monitoring and checking their blood sugar levels, and access meal planning and grocery delivery to better balance their diets. Boomers will be taking part in programs such as Village by the Shore to increase their awareness of what resources are available and also for health and wellness support. Remaining happy and healthy as the population ages has never been more important than right now.
GET INVOLVED. BE A VILLAGE VOLUNTEER. Pet walker
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Grocery delivery
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Friendly visitor and more!
Contact Leigh Turner at 609-822-1108 x114 lturner@jfsatlantic.org
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Staying Healthy This Winter
he leaves are changing into beautiful reds and yellows and temperatures are starting to drop, meaning this is the ideal time to prepare for the upcoming winter season. According to the Healthy Aging Partnership, adults and older adults should keep these tips in mind to help ensure safety and optimum health this winter.
Prepare yourself
It is important to dress warmly and keep dry. Older adults are more susceptible to hypothermia, which occurs when too much heat escapes from the body. Wear layered, loose-fitting clothing, hat and gloves when going outside. Non-skid boots or other shoes with plenty of traction are ideal for winter weather. Good nutrition is even more important during winter. Food provides the fuel we need to keep warm. Hot food and warm drinks are best to warm the body.
Prepare your home
Stock up: being prepared is the best way to stay healthy and happy. It’s hard for anyone to be out and about when there’s snow and ice to contend with. Stock up on necessities such as batteries, snow melt or salt and non-perishable foods. Keep your thermostat set to at least 65 degrees. To conserve energy, heat only those rooms that you use. Close off the attic, garage, basement, spare bedrooms or storage areas. Shifting energy use to offpeak times also helps with conservation. For example, run your dishwasher after 9 p.m. Fires are more common during the winter months. If you are using a heater make sure it is plugged directly into an outlet and out of your direct walking path as it could become a tripping hazard. Keep heaters away from furniture, newspaper or other flammable materials.
Plan for snow
Shovel frequently. If you plan to shovel yourself, get out early and often as shoveling fresh snow is easier and lighter. You’ve heard it before, but lift with your legs and keep your back straight and don’t forget to take breaks—shoveling is strenuous on your heart, no matter what age. Plan ahead. Many individuals can’t or shouldn’t shovel snow. Make arrangements for a friend, neighbor, volunteer or business to handle snow removal. Laying down salt or snow melt before a storm helps keep driveways and walkways clear. Even with the best preparations winter is a difficult time for many. Village by the Shore was designed to help members with volunteer services from shoveling to grocery delivery so that you can snuggle up with some hot cocoa and enjoy the holiday season.
Village by the Shore 609.822.1109 villagejfs@jfsatlantic.org 607 North Jerome Avenue, Margate, NJ 08402 jfsvillagebytheshore.org
JFS is an affiliate agency of the Jewish Federation of Atlantic and Cape May Counties and a partner agency with United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey in Atlantic County.
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