We all want to live a long life in good health. But to do that, we have to get old. Aging is not easy and sometimes requires support from grown children, service providers, and the community.
Two women I spoke to described some
of the challenges of parents aging at home. Devora Gross is involved with the
care of her mother, Mrs. Ruthie Stein. Mrs. Stein is a fall risk and has difficulty
walking, making it hard for her to get out. Mrs. Gross appreciates the medical
care that comes to the house to see her mother. Her mother would also
appreciate visitors. If you would like to visit Mrs. Stein, please call Devora
Gross at 414-331-3817 to arrange a convenient time.
Mrs. Smith* explained how difficult
it was when her elderly father suddenly deteriorated from one minute to the
next. He was living independently and taking care of himself, when he suddenly
became disoriented and could not be left alone. It was very difficult to
transport him, so the family really needed care at home. “We felt so lost,”
explained Mrs. Smith. “We needed information about who could provide services
like blood tests or IVs at home. We just did not know where to turn. It would
be great if somebody would compile a list of service providers to help families
in our situation.”
Mrs. Smith added, “One of the
things we really appreciated was kindness from the people we met in the
hospital or who came to our home. When you are in such a vulnerable situation, being
treated with respect and sensitivity is most important. My father was an
intelligent, articulate gentleman, and I wanted the caregivers and the people
that interacted with him to treat him respectfully.”
I went on to speak to many service
providers in our community. The information I gathered can be useful to
families and seniors as they age. I found it amazing that every person I spoke
to taught me something new. Most of all, I learned that supporting the elderly
is not a one-person job. Caregivers, whether they are children or employees,
need the support of society. I thank the people who contributed to this
article.
Retired and Inspired
Retired and Inspired is a
thoughtfully developed program founded by Zahava Weiss and Shoshana Goldberg,
both Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants (COTAs), whose professional
experience working closely with seniors revealed a profound and growing need
for meaningful social connection, structure, and engagement later in life.
Their vision was shaped by real moments in the field – most notably when one
client, overcome with emotion, shared that Zahava was her only human
interaction, her sunshine, and her window to the world. That experience
underscored a reality faced by many older adults: long days marked by isolation
and limited opportunities for connection.
In response, Retired and Inspired
was created to offer a warm, dignified, and engaging environment where women
aged 75 and older can come together, build relationships, and experience a
renewed sense of purpose. The program also serves as a valuable resource for
families and caregivers, providing a reliable and enriching setting where their
loved ones are cared for while giving caregivers the opportunity to take a
much-needed break with peace of mind. The program takes place twice weekly, on
Tuesdays and Thursdays, with each session lasting three hours. The program is
currently hosted in the welcoming home of Shoshana Goldberg, but a dedicated
location, which will be fully handicapped accessible, is forthcoming.
Transportation is provided, ensuring accessibility for all participants.
Each gathering is carefully curated
to support social, cognitive, and emotional well-being. Participants enjoy
nutritious, home-style meals, engaging guest speakers, and meaningful
conversation, along with a variety of enriching activities such as adult-level
crafts, light exercise, and live musical entertainment. More than just a
scheduled program, Retired and Inspired offers a consistent opportunity for
connection, joy, and community-transforming what might otherwise be isolated
time into something uplifting and fulfilling.
If you or someone you know could
benefit from a program like Retired and Inspired and for rate information, we
welcome you to reach out. Zahava can be contacted at 443-604-8130, and Shoshana
at 410-402-3537.
L’Chaim Adult Day Center
The L’Chaim Adult Day Center is a
relatively new addition to the Baltimore Jewish community. Located on Seven
Mile Lane, the program is open Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00
p.m., and welcomes both men and women from across our community. Some
participants enjoy coming all five days, others join for just one or two, and
many simply pop in for a few hours to catch a favorite activity. Every day
features a full breakfast and a gourmet lunch, both served under the kosher
supervision of Rabbi Y. Zvi Weiss.
The daily schedule is packed with
energy, offering yoga and exercise along with a variety of engaging activities,
such as art, baking, anagrams, and bingo. The atmosphere is further enriched by
inspiring shiurim, lively visits from local schools, and daily live
music concerts. The Center is thoughtfully tailored to meet a broad range of
needs; while some come for the fun and the chance to socialize with friends,
others come for the professional medical care and oversight provided. A
registered nurse is on-site throughout the day, along with dedicated aides
ready to assist with various activities of daily living.
Because the Center is licensed by
the State of Maryland as a medical adult day care program, many individuals are
able to attend at no cost through insurance such as the Medicaid waiver.
Additionally, most long-term care insurance policies cover the program, and
there are also options for out-of-pocket daily or hourly rates. To make things
even easier, door-to-door transportation is provided, including a
wheelchair-accessible van. With Hashem’s help, the goal of L’Chaim is to
provide a safe, joyful, and spirited environment for the adults in our
community. To learn more, feel free to call the Center at 410-358-6461.
Accessible Therapy
On of the biggest issues for
seniors is transportation for medical appointments. Riki Markowitz of
Accessible Therapy has changed that dynamic. Her business is a mobile
outpatient clinic providing OT, PT, and speech therapy in people’s homes. For patients
with transportation issues, this is a life-changer.
Rikki works with many seniors and
patients with Parkinsons and retains a LSVT Big and Loud-certified technician
on staff. “There are many advantages to seeing a person in their home rather
than in a clinic,” says Rikki. “The therapist learns a lot about the patient and
his or her environment and can make sure the environment is safe.”
If you are interested in getting in
touch with Rikki for yourself or for a loved one, you can call or text her at
410-575-4257.
Jewish Hospice and Palliative Care
I was under the impression that hospice
was a treatment plan that religious Jews did not do. I thought it meant
withholding nutrition and medicine to hasten a person’s death. Chaya Lasson, RN,
the Director of Jewish Hospice and Palliative Care, explained to me hospice
care has evolved and changed over the years. The purpose of hospice care today is
to provide comfort care. Comfort measures, when indicated can include nutrition,
oxygen, and antibiotics.
Hospice care is a benefit covered
by Medicare for people with a terminal illness. Hospice provides comfort care
and symptom pain management. Often, when halacha dictates and it is clinically
appropriate, hospice can provide nutrition, hydration, oxygen, and antibiotic
therapy. Hospice care is personalized and the goals are set by the family with
the interdisciplinary team.
Hospice includes doctors, nurses,
hospice aides, social workers, and a chaplain/rabbi. A pharmacist and a
physical therapist are also available to personalize the care. Hospice also has
volunteers who help the sick person’s family by providing respite for the
caregiver or other services that are needed. When a person is in hospice, all
supplies are included, such as personal care items and a wheelchair or a Hoyer
lift. Each patient has an individual care plan. Hospice even provides five days
of respite care for the patient in an inpatient unit if the caregivers must
attend a simcha or some other event.
Jewish hospice encourages the
patient and their family to stay in touch with their rav to make decisions
according to halacha. Many people in our community have benefited from the hospice
program. Chaya Lasson can be reached at 443-547-7883.
Eldercare Leaders
Yocheved Lieder is a licensed
social worker whose goal is to help people and their families with kavod
and safety. She goes to see her clients in their homes, which makes it easier
to understand their needs. “Looking at the pictures on the wall and the books
on the shelves provides a clue to the kind of life the client wants to lead,”
she says. “It is also helpful to see how the house is laid out. Are there stairs,
and are there banisters on the stairs? Is the kitchen easy to use? Are rugs
anchored?”
Yocheved helps her clients connect
with attorneys regarding legal issues, such as living wills and powers of
attorney documents. She also shows them what services are available. “You don’t
have to reinvent the wheel,” she says. “Other people have dealt with these
issues before.” For example, if a person is having trouble with meal
preparation, Yocheved helps them figure out how to get take-out food or how to
access services like Meals on Wheels. Or, if a person is having trouble taking
their medication as scheduled, she can speak to their doctor. And she can
inform them about a device that reminds people to take their medication, such
as pill boxes with alarms. Sometimes, she might get an OT involved.
Yocheved helps her clients figure
out the best situation for themselves. Some people can remain independent, but
sometimes moving in with family would be the best idea, she explains. She guides
her clients through a wide range of options – from assisted living homes to
nursing homes to continuing care communities – to ensure that the appropriate
level of care is chosen.
Contact Yocheved Lieder at
443-340-0594.
Care Matters for You
Tova Jussim, LCSW-C, is a licensed
clinical social worker and Jewish end-of-life specialist who supports medically
fragile individuals. While some of her clients are young, many are seniors. In
addition to providing emotional and practical guidance, Tova helps clients
navigate end-of-life planning, including identifying who will make decisions if
they become unable to do so themselves. She offers guidance and assistance in
understanding and completing halachic legal documentation. For those who wish,
she can help prepare a legally binding halachic living will, which designates
primary and secondary rabbis to ensure that end-of-life decisions align with halacha.
You can find a link to these forms for a halachic living will on the website of
the National Association of Chevra Kadisha (nasck.org).
To contact Tova Jussim, call
410-645-0010. See her website, CareMattersForYou.com.
Bunny’s Home Care
Bunny’s Home Care is an agency that
provides homecare aides to help clients with activities of daily living. They
provide non-skilled care for help with bathing, toileting, dressing, and feeding,
etc. Bunny works hard to make sure that the clients and providers are a good
match. “It is like being a shadchan,” she says. “Many things must be
taken into consideration when providing a helper for a client. Sometimes the
elderly person lives with their children, and the caregiver has to get along
with the family as well.” Another example is if there is an elderly woman with
dementia who is not very polite. The agency must find a caregiver who can deal
with that and won’t get insulted about being snapped at.
Sometimes, the family in whose
house the elderly person lives wants the aide to do work that is not part of
the job description. Maybe the aide was hired to do light housekeeping and take
care of the elderly person. That does not include cleaning behind the
refrigerator.
I asked Bunny for a tip for
families facing a declining parent. She suggested, “If there are multiple
siblings taking care of a parent, designate one person to oversee each task. It
is confusing to speak to multiple people about one job. One child can oversee
the finances, one hiring an aide, and one for meal preparation, etc.”
Call Bunny at 443-842-6700.
Aventura at the Heights
“At Aventura at the Heights, we
believe that senior living should feel not only supportive but deeply
enriching,” says Sales and Marketing Director, Amanda Schuster. “Our
community is designed to offer a seamless balance of comfort, dignity, and
vibrant daily life, where each resident is known, valued, and cared for as an
individual.”
Aventura provides personalized
assistance tailored to each resident’s needs, along with comprehensive services
that make daily life both easy and fulfilling. Residents enjoy three delicious
meals a day under Star-K kosher supervision, a full calendar of engaging
activities, housekeeping and laundry services, and beautifully maintained
living spaces. On-site physical and occupational therapy, along with an
in-house physician and psychiatric nurse practitioner, ensure that residents
receive attentive, coordinated support without ever having to leave the
community. They also offer short-term respite stays, providing families with
flexible, supportive options when additional care is needed.
Life at Aventura features social
gatherings and cultural celebrations as well as quiet moments of comfort and
support. Residents enjoy a rich array of programming, including classes in
Jewish history and ethics, interactive music experiences and live performances,
and thoughtfully curated activities that engage both mind and spirit. “We
warmly welcome members of the community to visit residents or volunteer,
helping foster meaningful relationships and connection,” continues Amanda. “For
families, Aventura offers peace of mind. We act as a trusted partner, guiding
loved ones through each stage with warmth, responsiveness, and respect.”
At its heart, Aventura at the
Heights is a community where seniors can truly feel at home. To learn more,
please reach out to Amanda Schuster at 443-797-9714.
King David Nursing Home
“Sometimes a person needs
specialized care that simply can’t be provided at home,” explains Dany
Donaty. “Let’s say someone takes a fall or suffers a stroke; after their
hospital stay, they often need focused rehabilitation to regain their strength
and independence. Most of our new admissions come to us for that very reason:
to get back to living life fully.”
At King David, every rehabilitation
stay begins with a personalized plan. No two patients are alike, so each
program is tailored to individual goals and needs, drawing on a full range of
therapies – including physical, occupational, and speech therapy. The length of
each stay varies, depending on progress and personal recovery milestones.
King David also takes pride in
its Star-K certification, ensuring that all meals are strictly kosher. A
full-time rabbi is on staff to support residents’ spiritual well-being, while
an active recreation department keeps daily life engaging, meaningful, and
uplifting.”
Sterling Care
Sterling Care Kosher Assisted
Living is a long-standing and cherished resource in the Baltimore Jewish
community. Originally founded 30 years ago by Evelyn Shnier, RN, its goal from
its inception has been to provide a small, intimate residence that feels like a
true home rather than an institution. The facility is uniquely designed on a
single level, offering a warm and manageable environment where residents can
move about easily and safely.
The heart of Sterling Care is its
commitment to a “heimishe” family atmosphere where Jewish traditions are
at the center of daily life. Residents enjoy strictly kosher meals prepared in
separate meat and dairy kitchens, with special family-style menus for Shabbos
and Yom Tov. The daily schedule is designed to keep residents engaged and
spirited, featuring several sessions each week of arts and crafts, word games,
and live guitar and piano concerts. Regular shiurim, exercise classes,
and holiday celebrations also ensure that residents stay deeply connected to
their heritage and maintain their physical wellness.
The home is owned and overseen by local
medical professionals who provide individualized care and medication
management, with dedicated aides available around the clock to assist with
activities of daily living. Sterling Care is designed to be an accessible and
transparent option for families; they accept long-term care insurance and offer
straightforward monthly rates with no hidden fees. For those looking for a
safe, loving, and small-scale Jewish environment, Sterling Care continues its
decades-long tradition of excellence. For more information or to schedule a
visit, please call 410-318-8999.
Dr. Benjamin Frizner
Many elderly people frequent
doctors’ office often. But these doctors are busy; it is hard to speak to them
on the phone and impossible to arrange a home visit. Dr. Frizner is working on
changing that dynamic. As a concierge doctor, he limits his practice, so that
he has time for each patient. By paying a monthly fee, patients can reach Dr.
Frizner on his cell phone whenever they need him. There is no secretary. Dr.
Frizner is also happy to make house calls within a 20-mile radius of his
office.
If you like the idea of concierge
doctor who has time for you and will come to your home for medical care, you
can reach Dr. Frizner at 443-989-6247. Find out more by looking at his website www.pikesvillemedical.com.
Michael Goldstein
Michael Goldstein’s law firm
provides services in estate planning, elder law, and probate. “It is important
for everyone to have a will in place to ensure their property is distributed
according to their wishes after death,” says Mr. Goldstein. “In addition,
proper planning can help protect assets from the costs of long-term care,
including a potential nursing home stay, and minimize exposure to estate and
inheritance taxes, where applicable. Many clients also seek to avoid probate, the
court-supervised process of administering and distributing a decedent’s assets.”
In addition to wills and trusts, the
law firm prepares powers of attorney and advance medical directives to address
situations in which a client becomes unable to make financial or healthcare
decisions. It also handles guardianship matters when someone can no longer take
care of their affairs.
“We also draft halachic wills to
ensure that inheritance is handled in accordance with halacha,” say Mr.
Goldstein, “as well as assisting families with probate matters when a loved one
passes away to distribute assets and deal with potential creditors.”
Feel free to contact Mr. Goldstein
for a free 15-minute consultation at 410-449-2015 or michael@michaelgoldsteinlegal.com
to determine whether a meeting would be beneficial to you.
Medical Equipment Gemach
The medical equipment gemach
run by Mrs. Chava Esther Tannenbaum has wheelchairs, rollators, walkers, shower
chairs, commodes, toilet assistance, and bed railings. Baltimoreans use the gemach
during the year, mostly for injuries and surgeries, such as knee surgery.
Yom Tov season is busy with out-of-town guests. Instead of shlepping all
their supplies with them, they can take advantage of the gemach’s equipment.
Mrs. Tanenbaum is happy to lend the items. The length of time the item can be
borrowed depends on how many she has. For example, if she only has two of a
certain item that is in high demand, she will want it back sooner. The busiest
time for the gemach is before Succos and Pesach, when out-of-town guests
want to go to shul.
“We accept donations of equipment
in mint condition,” says Mrs. Tannenbaum. You can reach her at 410-764-5947.
Howard Friedman CLU, ChFC
Howard Friedman is Multi-Line
Independent Agent specializing in health insurance for seniors. He told me, “I
have been thinking about posting an advice blog about Medicare. It’s forbidden
by Centers for Medicare, but it would be so useful. Everyone has a relative or
friend who offers Medicare advice at no cost. Typically, they have Medicare,
and having gone through it, they think they know everything about it. They
don’t! Their advice, however, is rarely benign. A mistake in an application or
a misunderstanding of your needs can often not be corrected. Sounds brutal and
it certainly can be.
“I have been an insurance agent and
investment advisor since 2003. I practice in Maryland and Florida mainly, as
well as four other states. I transitioned to an exclusive focus on Medicare in
2018. Not coincidentally, it was the year I turned 65 and qualified for
Medicare. The more I researched what I needed, the more confused I became. Medicare
is a government plan, and it is as complex as anything you can imagine. Agents
train for the entire month of July every year to maintain their credentials.
None of your relatives or friends have done that.
“If a person randomly calls you, please
do not ask them about Medicare; you don’t know them and have no reason to trust
them. Here, your friends and relatives can be useful. Ask them whom they use
and whom they trust. That is a good use of those relationships. I will go out
on a limb and offer advice: Seek out a qualified agent and ask them your
questions. Please call more than one. You have no financial responsibility to
them, ever. We get paid by the insurance companies we contract with.”
Contact Howard anytime at 443-850-4975 or Hfriedman1@outlook.com.
See his website at shopandenroll.com/howard.
.
