OUR APPROACH

For many survivors of the Holocaust, an involuntary move to assisted living or a nursing home can give rise to deep fear and trauma by triggering memories of wartime experiences. Remaining in a familiar and comfortable environment, surrounded by family and community, is especially important to these men and women.

Cultural sensitivity is a hallmark of JSSA’s approach. More than 92% of JSSA’s clients are from the former Soviet Union, and two thirds of our care managers are bilingual in Russian and English. Care managers support clients in their native language while helping them navigate their local communities in English.

JSSA’s whole-person approach to care goes far deeper than supporting the practical needs of our clients. We see and honor each individual we support, bear witness to their unique life experiences, and address their complex situations. Instead of addressing only the most pressing “presenting problem,” JSSA’s compassionate professionals assess each individual and identify the right resources from across our robust constellation of services to strengthen overall healing and well-being.

Our care managers serve the diverse needs of our community’s survivors with cultural awareness and sensitivity. JSSA’s Holocaust Survivor Program services are based on the Person-Centered Trauma-Informed (PCTI) model of care, an approach supported by our partners at The Center on Holocaust Survivor Care and The Jewish Federations Institute on Aging and Trauma. PCTI promotes an individual’s safety and well-being by recognizing the impact of trauma that person has experienced and encouraging individual preference and self-determination. Each year, all JSSA Holocaust Survivor Program care managers receive training in person-centered trauma-informed care.