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August 1, 2011
Intergenerational Collaboration with DOROT
DOROT recently partnered with Find Your Voice to host the
Intergenerational Playwright Workshop.
February 1, 2011
The Good Cynic Volunteers to Help Old People
Tonic’s resident cynic leaves his comfort zone to try his hand at
some organized volunteer work at DOROT. As it turns out, he’s not particularly good at chess and he likes hanging out with older people.
Autumn 2010
Engaging the Elderly the DOROT Way
In a recently–published article entitled
“The Universal Benefits of Volunteering Between Generations,” DOROT Executive Director Mark L. Meridy describes the vital intergenerational relationships between seniors and volunteers that are at the heart of DOROT’s work. (Reprinted by permission from
Contact, the Journal of The Steinhardt Foundation for Jewish Life, Autumn 2010)
June 9, 2010
On Upper West Side, A Jewish Youth Boom
According to Dava Schub, the Upper West Side of Manhattan “is a neighborhood full of baby carriages, dogs, families of two and three and five.”
Schub should know: as associate executive director for programming at the Jewish Community Center in Manhattan, she sees 2,000 locals of all ages stream daily in and out of the building at Amsterdam Avenue and 76th Street.
An awful lot of them are members of young families. At a recent children’s event, Schub’s team anticipated 20 youngsters; 70 showed up. The proportion of young children among Manhattan residents has been mushrooming for years — and the Upper West Side, with its unparalleled institutional and neighborhood resources, is the top choice for many Jewish families.
All that demand explains why, while much of the region lingers in the real-estate doldrums, glittering new buildings are sprouting like so many dandelions alongside the neighborhood’s historic brownstones and elegant prewar buildings.
The JCC’s newest patrons move into buildings like the Harrison, a new condominium with prewar-style detailing on 76th Street; Ariel West, a soaring glass tower on West 99th Street (with an East Side twin), further north than the traditional prestige buildings; and Linden78, a high-rise on the eponymous street just off Broadway. These new buildings are typically large, glass-clad and laden with amenities like concierge service, children’s playrooms, parking garages and gyms.
And the entire West Side is abuzz about the neighborhood’s first Trader Joe’s, which is set to open soon at The Corner, a building located at the intersection of 72nd Street and Broadway.
“There’s a hunger that’s being filled — families that are now having that opportunity to stay in the neighborhood with the space and resources they need,” said Schub.
One family, she said, bought into the Harrison before it was built, citing its proximity to the JCC and Jewish life. Indeed, Schub and her colleagues even meet with local developers, integrating new residents before they have even unpacked. “As they come into the neighborhood, they connect to each other and to the Jewish community here,” she said. One consequence has been a shift in programming to meet the burgeoning demand for family-oriented services: a darkroom was regretfully shuttered to make way for more children’s and special-education offerings.
At the other end of the spectrum, the Upper West Side has a large Jewish elderly population, many of whom have chosen to age in place rather than retire elsewhere. Organizations like DOROT, based on West 85th Street, offer a range of services that address Jewish and other seniors’ spiritual, social and professional needs locally.
Founded in 1976 by concerned Columbia graduate students, DOROT — “generations” in Hebrew — started with holiday package deliveries and “friendly visiting,” in which volunteers drop in and chat with isolated, homebound seniors. Over the decades, the organization has expanded to become an essential community resource offering kosher meal deliveries, shopping escorts, vaccine and blood pressure clinics, university courses over the phone, concerts and homelessness prevention and other programs that meet the needs of local seniors.
With an ever-growing Jewish presence, area shuls are thriving. Aside from sheer quantity, the Upper West Side is noted for the variety and uniqueness of its Jewish institutions.
Just off West End Avenue, for instance, the 181-year-old congregation Ansche Chesed has a tradition of multiple services. “Every Shabbat, we have a children’s service and three adult minyans,” said Executive Director Josh Hanft, who notes that membership is up about 10 percent over seven years.
In keeping with the shul’s open Conservative orientation, the minyanim “are all egalitarian, all mostly Hebrew — but they have different feels.” During the summer, an outdoor literary reading series, “Scribbler on the Roof,” reflects the neighborhood’s intellectual tradition, nourished by the presence of Columbia University, the Jewish Theological Seminary, Union Theological Seminary, the Manhattan School of Music Mannes College The New School for Music, and the Bank Street College of Education.
The diversity of local worship is exemplified by the expanding Lincoln Square Synagogue, with more than 700 families; Congregation Rodeph Sholom, a major Reform temple; Chabad of the Upper West Side at 92nd Street; Congregation Kehilath Jacob/The Carlebach Shul, famous for its music-infused Chasidic approach; Congregation Ohab Zedek on 95th Street; Congregation Habonim, near Lincoln Center; the Stephen Wise Free Synagogue, with an influential tradition of social action; and the B’nai Jeshurun, which — like its neighbor Ansche Chesed — dates to the early 19th century and today draws crowds to its festive services and social events.
As the plethora of strollers and pink backpacks would indicate, the neighborhood’s educational options are a huge draw, attracting students from the area and beyond. Thriving day schools include the pluralistic Abraham Joshua Heschel School, the Modern Orthodox Manhattan Day School and Beit Rabban Day School, and the Agudah-style Yeshiva Ketana.
Retail on the Upper West Side continues to evolve, with an ever-expanding array of Jewish-oriented businesses. Broadway, especially further south, specializes in major chain stores like Barnes & Noble, Urban Outfitters and Pottery Barn, while Columbus Avenue in the 70s and 80s features upscale boutiques and artisanal cafés. West Side Judaica and the jeweler Design by Tova are just some of the Jewish businesses that lend a distinctive local vibe.
Kosher eaters find abundant shopping, catering and restaurant options. “Every year there seem to be more and more kosher places,” noted Haft. Supersol and Kosher Marketplace are the major kosher supermarkets, while specialty delis like Eretz Kosher Foods, known for its schnitzel, are bustling after work. Popular eateries include Renana’s Middle Eastern Cuisine and Mike’s Bistro, a seasonally inspired glatt kosher restaurant.
In keeping with the northward psychological expansion of the Upper West Side — which once was considered to end around 96th Street, but now blends seamlessly into Morningside Heights in the 100s — more and more Jewish families and businesses are moving uptown, like Café Roma, newly located at 101st and Amsterdam.
Rabbi Bill Plevan, who leads the traditional egalitarian Conservative temple Shaare Zedek, notes that the neighborhood’s popularity and expansion have a downside. “As the neighborhood is getting nicer and pricier, it’s good for quality of life, but it also squeezes people out,” said Plevan, who has lived here for 14 years. “What impact does that have on the institutions, on the young people?”
Plevan pointed out that the Upper West Side’s diverse and intellectually engaged population has traditionally been one of its chief attractions. “You have a mix of longtime residents and young people who are affiliated with all the educational institutions,” he said. “That really energizes and provides spiritual and intellectual resources.”
Despite the glittery new towers and the eye-popping condo prices, however, Plevan and others say the Upper West Side’s age-old charms remain intact. These include symphonies and operas at Lincoln Center, dinosaurs at the American Museum of Natural History, and sunsets over the Hudson River.
And as generations of Upper West Siders can attest, perhaps no condo amenity can equal the simple pleasure of having Central Park at your doorstep — a sprawling, verdant paradise that’s always free.
February 6, 2010
A conversation with DOROT's - Mark L. Meridy
DOROT’s mission is to enhance the lives of Jewish and other elderly in the greater New York metropolitan area and to provide education, guidance, and leadership in developing volunteer-based programs for the elderly, nationally and internationally. They’ve been a great friend to What You Can Do, so what better way than to hear from DOROT’s Executive Director Mark L. Meridy.
What in your opinion is the biggest misconception people have about the aging community?
I think many Americans foster the notion that retirement means detachment from society. The fact is, more seniors are volunteering and participating in community-building programs than ever before, particularly in areas of service to young people, the community, and frail homebound elderly.
Seniors are also taking an avid interest in technology, as evidenced in a recent study by the Pew Research Center. According to a recent article in the New York Times, the study found that some of the highest growth rates in broadband use are happening among the elderly; since 2005, broadband use among those 65 and older has tripled.
Finally, many seniors have experienced steep drops in the values of their retirement funds, resulting in their need to return or remain in the workforce. Because of the wisdom and experience they bring to their job and the social connectivity they enjoy with their colleagues, older workers have a tremendous amount to offer to the workplace.
What is the most common need among seniors living alone?
For seniors who live alone, social isolation is a serious concern. Friendly visiting programs, teleconference educational programs, and community social opportunities such as those offered by DOROT are very important for seniors who are at risk of becoming socially isolated or disconnected from the world around them. For those with failing health, access to home healthcare, meal delivery, and transportation are important keys to successfully aging in place.
Why should more people get involved with programs serving seniors?
I have always found it fascinating and extremely rewarding to learn about the experiences of older people. Many volunteers who engage the elderly form meaningful friendships, provide companionship, and create a link between the generations that, I think, is critical to the fabric of society.
Explain a bit about the replication kit for your friendly visiting program.
DOROT created the Friendly Visiting replication kit in 2007 through a grant from The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation as a means of helping community and faith-based organizations develop their own friendly visiting programs. The kit provides detailed instructions on organizing such an effort and includes training manuals for those who wishes to become friendly visitors. DOROT makes the kit available at a nominal cost and provides technical assistance through its Merrin Institute. Interested parties can contact DOROT at (212) 769-2850 or www.dorotusa.org.
December 26, 2009
At Tiny Rates, Saving Money Costs Investors
By STEPHANIE STROM
Millions of Americans are paying a high price for a safe place to put their money: extremely low interest rates on savings accounts and certificates of deposit.
The elderly and others on fixed incomes have been especially hard hit. Many have seen returns on savings, C.D.’s and government bonds drop to niggling amounts recently, often costing them money once inflation, fees and taxes are considered.
“Open a Savings Plus Account today and get a great rate,” read an advertisement in the Dec. 16 Newsday for Citibank, which was then offering 1.2 percent for an account. (As low as it was, the offer was good only for accounts of $25,000 and up.)
“They’re advertising it in the papers as if they’re actually proud of that,” said Steven Weisman, a title insurance consultant in New York. “It’s a joke.”
The advertised rate for the Savings Plus account has expired, according to the bank’s Web site; as of Friday, the account paid an interest rate of 0.5 percent. The bank’s highest-yield savings account, the Ultimate, was paying 1.01 percent.
The best deal Mr. Weisman has found is 2 percent on a one-year certificate of deposit offered by ING Direct, an online bank that has become a bit of a darling among the fixed-income crowd.
Interest on one- and two-year Treasury notes was just 0.40 percent and 0.89 percent, as of Monday. Bank of America offers 0.35 percent on a standard money market account with $10,000 to $25,000, and Wells Fargo will pay 0.05 percent on a basic savings account.
Indeed, after fees are subtracted, inflation is accounted for and taxes are paid, many investors in C.D.’s, government bonds and savings and money market accounts are losing money. In fact, Northern Trust waived some $8 million in fees on money market accounts because they would have wiped out all interest, and then some.
“The unemployment situation and the general downturn in the economy had an impact, but what’s going to happen now as C.D.’s mature is that retirees and the elderly are going to take anywhere from a half to three-quarters of a percent cut in their incomes,” said Joe Parks, a retired accountant in Houston on the advisory board of Better Investing, an organization that works to help people become savvier investors. “It’s a real problem.”
Experts say risk-averse investors are effectively financing a second bailout of financial institutions, many of which have also raised fees and interest rates on credit cards.
“What the average citizen doesn’t explicitly understand is that a significant part of the government’s plan to repair the financial system and the economy is to pay savers nothing and allow damaged financial institutions to earn a nice, guaranteed spread,” said William H. Gross, co-chief investment officer of the Pacific Investment Management Company, or Pimco. “It’s capitalism, I guess, but it’s not to be applauded.”
Mr. Gross said he read his monthly portfolio statement twice because he could not believe that the line “Yield on cash” was 0.01 percent. At that rate, he said, it would take him 6,932 years to double his money.
Many think the Federal Reserve is fueling a stock market bubble by keeping rates so low that investors decide to bet on stocks instead. Mr. Parks of Better Investing moved more money into the stock market early this year, when C.D.’s he held began maturing and he could not nearly recover the income they had generated by rolling them over.
He began investing some of the money in blue chip stocks with a dividend yield of at least 3 percent and even managed to find an oil-and-gas limited partnership that offered 8 percent.
Mr. Parks said, however, that he would not pursue that strategy as more of his C.D.’s matured. “What worked in the first quarter of this year isn’t as relevant, because the market has come up so much,” he said.
No one is advising a venture into higher-risk investments. Katie Nixon, chief investment officer for the northeast region at Northern Trust, said that, in general, “no one should be taking risks with their pillow money.”
“What people are paying for is safety and security,” she said, “and that’s probably just right.”
People who rely on income from such investments for support, however, are being forced to consider new options.
Eileen Lurie, 75, is taking out a reverse mortgage to help offset the decline in returns on her investments tied to interest rates. Reverse mortgages have a checkered reputation, but Ms. Lurie said her bank was going out of its way to explain the product to her.
“These banks don’t want to be held responsible for thousands of seniors standing in bread lines,” she said.
Such mortgages allow people who are 62 and older to convert equity in their homes into cash tax-free and without any impact on Social Security or Medicare payments. The loans are repaid after death.
“If your assets aren’t appreciating and aren’t producing any income, you’re getting eaten up in this interest rate environment,” said Peter Strauss, a lawyer who advises the elderly. “A reverse mortgage is one way of making a very large asset produce income.”
Eve Wilmore, 93, has watched returns on her C.D.’s drop to between 1 percent and 2 percent from about 5 percent a year or so ago. Yet the Social Security Administration recently raised her Medicare Part B premium based on those higher rates she had been earning. “I’m being hit from both sides,” Mrs. Wilmore said. “There’s some way I can apply for a reconsideration, and I’m going to fight it. I have to.”
She said she was reluctant to redeploy her money into higher-risk investments. “I don’t know what my medical bills will be from here on in, and so I want to keep the money where I can get to it easily if I need it,” she said.
Peter Gomori, who taught a course on money and investing for Dorot, a nonprofit that offers services for the elderly, did not advise his students on investment strategies but said that if he had, he would probably have told them to sit tight.
“I know interest rates are very low for Treasury securities and bank products, but that isn’t going to be forever,” he said.
But investment professionals doubt rates will rise any time soon — or to any level close to those before the crash.
“What the futures market is telling me,” Mr. Gross said, “is that in April 2011, these savers that are currently earning nothing will be earning 1.25 percent.”
September 25, 2009
Helping the Elderly
To the Editor:
Re “Helping Aged Leave Nursing Homes for a Home” (news article, Sept. 19):
For the social service community, which has long recognized the importance to the elderly of aging in place, the growing number of government-assisted programs that help transition seniors from convalescent care back to their homes is a welcome development. Subsidizing these moves, as well as visits by home health aides and other home-based services, is a major step in the right direction.
Equally welcome in the article is an acknowledgment of the senior need for social contact. For seniors with limited mobility, this socialization component is almost nonexistent. Elders who live alone often experience loneliness and depression, factors that can lead to dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease.
Senior service agencies provide cost-effective case management, health and wellness activities, telephone-based classes for the homebound, and friendly visiting programs, all of which combat social isolation. Increasing government financing for these programs will curb the high cost of institutionalization while ensuring a quality of life that America’s seniors richly deserve.
Mark L. Meridy
New York
The writer is executive director of DOROT, a nonprofit group that provides services to the elderly.
July 31, 2009
DOROT Names Meridy Executive Director
DOROT, Inc. has announced today the appointment of Mark Meridy as Executive Director. He succeeds Vivian Fenster Ehrlich, who stepped down as Executive Director after 22 years of service.
Meridy joins DOROT with over 25 years experience in non-profit management and administration, having served most recently as Director of Operations for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee in Washington, D.C. Meridy also served at B'nai B'rith International as a specialist in senior housing issues, Deputy Director for the agency's Center for Public Policy, and Associate Executive Vice President. During this time, Meridy also served as liaison to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and to various congressional committees that focus on aging issues.
Prior to joining B'nai B'rith, Meridy was involved with a range of elder-related issues including senior transportation, home care, and day care for the elderly. He holds a Master's of Public Administration and a Certificate in Gerontology from the Maxwell School at Syracuse University and a Bachelor's in Political Science from American University. He is married with two children.
"Throughout his career, Mark has demonstrated strong leadership and management skills, as well as genuine warmth and compassion for the elderly," said Freddi Finegood, President of the DOROT Board of Directors. "We are confident that Mark will continue to build upon the agency's work and commitment to our city's aging population that began over three decades ago."
"From its humble beginnings in 1976, DOROT has served as one of New York's most important resources for seniors who are facing a myriad of challenges as they struggle to age in place with dignity," Meridy said. "I am honored to be joining this effort, which will become ever more important as the aging population continues to grow."
July/August 2009
Learning for a Lifetime
By Jennifer Mellace
Regardless of the setting, older adults benefit in a variety of ways from opportunities to master new information or learn new skills.
Albert Einstein once said that “wisdom is not a product of schooling but of the lifelong attempt to acquire it.” Perhaps it’s these words that drive so many aging adults to seek lifelong learning programs that go above and beyond the classroom. Frequently, individuals with degrees who have followed a career path and have since retired continue to seek the excitement and challenge of learning new things. And what’s available to them certainly won’t disappoint.
From the well-known Elderhostel, an educational travel organization for adults aged 55 and over, to the Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes (OLLI) located on 123 university and college campuses in 49 states, including the District of Columbia, the call for ongoing education is being answered. Lectures on current events, history, international politics, as well as courses in music, literature, and science, have lifelong learners embracing this ever-changing, information-rich society, keeping their senses active and their minds full of ideas. And this quest isn’t just helping them psychologically. Credible medical research suggests older adults with active minds are less likely to suffer from Alzheimer’s disease and other ailments.
In fact, research conducted by neuropsychologist Robert S. Wilson, PhD, at the Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center in Chicago, found a cognitively active person in old age was 2.6 times less likely to develop dementia and Alzheimer’s disease than a cognitively inactive person in old age. Wilson says the study also found frequent cognitive activity during old age, such as visiting a library or attending a play, was associated with a less rapid decline in cognitive function, a transitional stage between normal aging and dementia, and a reduced risk of mild cognitive impairment.
Kali Lightfoot, executive director for OLLI at the University of Southern Maine, agrees that the benefits of lifelong learning are tremendous. “There are major benefits for lifelong learners, including the intellectual stimulation they receive,” says Lightfoot. “Emerging research tells us that using the brain in novel and complex ways protects against the effects of aging.”
Lightfoot also remarks on the social aspect of older adult learning experiences, noting that as people age, they tend to move to new places and/or retire, leaving behind a network of coworkers and friends. But engaging in lifelong learning lectures automatically helps people find others who share similar interests. The positive results from this are huge, she says.
60 Is the New 40
According to “The State of Aging and Health in America 2007” report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and The Merck Company Foundation, the number of older Americans is expected to reach 71 million, or roughly 20% of the U.S. population, by 2030. In fact, the report states that the current growth in the number and proportion of older adults living in the United States is unprecedented in our nation’s history. What are the contributing factors? Longer lives—life expectancy in the United States has increased from 47 for Americans born in 1900 to 77 for those born in 2001—and aging baby boomers. Both are expected to double the population of Americans aged 65 and older during the next 25 years.
And while some of this growing population may believe that their prime years are behind them, many others feel they’re just getting started. For years, reports have indicated that staying active mentally and physically exerts a positive influence on how individuals age. In fact, Elderhostel released a study showing strong correlations between lifelong learning and its positive effect on healthy aging.
The report started with a survey of the population at large aged 55 and over and divided this population into four lifelong learning categories: focused mental achievers (13% of the population), contented recreational learners (34%), anxious searchers (23%), and isolated homebodies (18%). The study also identifies a fifth group, the pessimists, who represent 11% of the population.
After identifying the five segments, researchers surveyed a second sample, this time limited to Elderhostel participants. Eighty-four percent of Elderhostelers fell into the top two categories, with 49% in the focused mental achiever group (more than in the top two groups combined in the general sample) and an additional 35% in the contented recreational learner group. These groups were characterized by extraordinarily high levels of activity, high levels of formal education, high measures of optimism and life satisfaction, and according to Elderhostel, hold the secret to understanding why lifelong and later life learning remain keys to healthy aging.
“We’ve known since our founding that Elderhostelers are different from other people,” explains Peter Spiers, Elderhostel’s vice president of communications and marketing and the study’s author. “Elderhostelers are almost impossibly hale, hearty, curious, and tenacious and often active well into their 80s and 90s. They’ve redefined what it means to be old in our society. As the baby boom generation hits its 60s, we wanted to look for guidance on how to age with equal success.”
With 8,000 in-depth and behind-the-scenes learning adventures offered in all 50 states and more than 90 countries abroad, Elderhostelers are given the opportunity to discover the people, cultures, environments, and histories of the places they visit through detailed lectures, course-related field trips, cultural excursions, and extracurricular activities.
“All our programs include a strong educational element,” says Elderhostel public relations specialist Despina Gakopoulos. “Mental stimulation is always included, and the physical aspect really depends on the program. We offer options across the board for all activity levels.”
Tom and B. J. Middleswarth of Belleville, PA, first traveled with Elderhostel in 1989. From Florida to North Carolina, Massachusetts to California, they’ve traveled to more than a dozen locations to learn mostly about music, but also art, history, and even wine. “Elderhostel and other learning programs like it stir up the capacity to learn more,” says B. J. Middleswarth. “The people we traveled with were all interested in learning, and everyone was very nice. It was a great experience.”
Beyond Elderhostel
While traveling offers one way to learn, some older adults may choose to stay closer to home, while others simply can’t travel. For those individuals, lifelong learning programs offer courses on college campuses or bring learning opportunities to the individuals. Connie Corley, PhD, is the program director for the California State University, Los Angeles (CSULA) Lifelong Learning Program, as well as a professor of social work and the associate director of lifelong learning at the university’s Applied Gerontology Institute. Her work with the CSULA program offers older adults an array of classes and special events in literature, history, science, writing, spirituality, healthy living, music, art, and dance.
“We look to engage retirement communities, senior centers, and adult day healthcare centers,” says Corley. “We bring people from across the community together and also offer classes on campus for those who can make it. Our courses are intellectually stimulating and targeted toward seniors. The classes encourage peer interaction, social engagement, and give people something to look forward to.”
Many instructors at CSULA are retired educators, but they also include some well-known artists, including the real-life Gidget, surfer Kathy Kohner Zuckerman, and 80-year-old Ardie Bryant, the legendary tap performer known as the innovator of modern jazz tap and the “ambassador of tap.” In his early career, Bryant performed with premiere jazz artists, including Duke Ellington, Nat “King” Cole, Dizzy Gillespie, and Charlie Parker.
And the students? With some five to 35 participants per venue, most range from their late 50s into their 90s. In fact, the oldest student recently celebrated his 93rd birthday. “These programs allow people to stay connected and allow others to continue on with a new career,” says Corley. “Many of our instructors are retired professors who want to continue to excite people who want to learn. And it’s not only about those students taking the course but also about the emeriti professors who are staying active and drawing people back to school.”
Often defined as the lifelong voluntary and self-motivated pursuit of knowledge for either personal or professional reasons, the term “lifelong learning” recognizes that learning is not confined to youth or to the classroom but continues to occur throughout life and across a range of situations. At 73 years old, actor Alan Alda considers himself a lifelong learner. In his book, Things I Overheard While Talking to Myself, Alda describes how he encouraged his daughter Elizabeth’s graduating class to be lifelong learners. “I know people who are growing in their 60s,” he told the graduates. “Be supple. Be loose. Life is one surprise after another.”
And although some college graduates may completely heed these sentiments, others aren’t quite ready to think that far ahead. But the fact is, there will come a time where continued growth may be a lifeline. In New York City, a nonprofit social service organization called DOROT provides a wide range of services for older adults, including University Without Walls (UWW), which allows homebound individuals to participate in ongoing education via telephone.
“The telephone is a great equalizer,” says Andrew Martin, director of government relations for the organization. “The anonymity of it allows some with degenerative diseases to still participate and feel comfortable. The human voice is an effective way to communicate and brings an entire new dimension to learning.”
Established in 1989, UWW connects older adults who may have otherwise been completely isolated. Conducting its own research, DOROT found that 28% of Americans over the age of 65 live alone, and that this number jumps to 32% in New York City, where elders are also likely to be poor and disabled. Although older adults and the disabled can live alone without being socially isolated, these are leading indicators of the potential for social isolation, which has been proven to increase the incidence of depression, suicidal ideation and suicide, mental health disturbances, malnutrition, reduced life span, as well as magnifying the devastating effects of falls in the home. And isolation can also result in extreme enervation, giving rise to a host of diseases and infirmities, including various forms of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
“We provide people with a unique cultural and educational connection to their community,” says Martin. “We offer information and support on health matters and engender a sense of belonging that helps build incredible relationships. We also build self-esteem and help these people feel confident.”
UWW students choose from 230 courses in art, music, literature, creative writing, history, science, current events, politics, Judaic studies, support groups, and more. Professionals in the arts, healthcare, and other fields teach the broad curriculum, offer psychological guidance, and help foster a sense of emotional connection among the participants. Instructors often encourage one-on-one study group calls, sometimes leading to daily calls among many older adults. And in addition to those from the New York metropolitan area, older adult students from around the country have participated.
While costs of lifelong learning programs vary, most attempt to keep the fees to a minimum. Some even offer scholarships. UWW asks students to contribute a small registration fee of $10, plus a $15 fee per course. However, it also offers scholarships to participants in need.
Bonnie Jacobs, director of education services for UWW who has been with the program for 20 years, and the rest of the team realize that taking a class by telephone is sometimes a reach. But they’ve seen such success with the program that they can’t help but be excited. “We know once someone participates, they’re going to love it,” says Jacobs. “They become engaged and have a place to have a voice. We tell people to try it. It’s no large commitment, no large cost, and, more often than not, they will love it.”
Jacobs also discusses the importance of keeping the mind active through the use of games such as Jeopardy! and Trivial Pursuit. “In addition to science, literature, and other courses, we also play games and participate in read-alongs and sing-alongs. Because these people are homebound, we try our best to take them on an escape. We instruct all our facilitators to be very verbal. We learned from blind seniors that specific description of colors and more help everyone, including those who can see. These vivid descriptions just help them see more.”
Never Stop Playing
American poet Oliver Wendell Holmes once wrote, “Men do not quit playing because they grow old; they grow old because they quit playing.” For lifelong learners, they play the game of knowledge. Whether on foot, in classrooms, or via telephone, they continue to challenge themselves and resist the negative effects of aging. And with our ever-changing world, the supply of new and challenging information is limitless.
June 24, 2009
A Truly Senior Prom
There was a different kind of Senior Prom at the DOROT center today. Volunteers from Goldman Sachs Community TeamWorks acted as dates for a large group of senior citizens enjoying the dance on the Upper West Side.
The annual event, hosted by the DOROT Senior Services Agency was held so that seniors could get out and socialize in a new and fun atmosphere.
"The Senior Prom is both fun and meaningful to all who participate," said Vivian Fenster Ehrlich, Executive Director of DOROT. "Events like this help to ameliorate the effects of loneliness, isolation, and depression common among seniors."
The prom's theme was "Celebrate Summer," and featured music from a variety of decades. Every senior received a hand-made corsage or boutonnière, and had their picture taken with their date.
April 19, 2009
New York City charities lose funds - but not heart
By Heidi Evans
Times are tough for New York City's 30,000 charitable nonprofits.
From settlement houses and museums to social services for kids and the poor, nonprofits are feeling the pinch at a time when their services are needed most.
Some are well-run and spend the bulk of their money on direct services, while others spend more on fund-raising and administration. How can you tell which is which? And how can you help?
Here are three inspiring examples from among the city's first-rate charitable nonprofits - and stories of the New Yorkers whose lives they have changed.
'POTS' - Part of the Solution
Taina Rodriguez was 11 when she and her three brothers first "went out to dinner" at POTS' soup kitchen.
Except young Taina thought the Community Dining Room was a restaurant.
"We would ask my mom, 'Are we going to the restaurant today?' I just loved it. The people were friendly, you knew who would come and serve you. I ate there for two years and I don't think we ever noticed other people on the line."
Now 27, she is one of POTS' great success stories.
At 13, Taina went from being a client to a weekend volunteer and at 19 was hired on staff "after Sister Mary Alice made me finish high school."
Now, Rodriguez runs the kitchen and volunteer program - a testimony to her determination to overcome her family's struggles and to POTS' paving her way out of poverty.
"I went from the person who cleaned the offices to managing all the volunteers and coordinating our food program," said a beaming Rodriguez.
The nonprofit, led by the dynamic Sister Mary Alice Hannan, opened its doors in 1982 as a Bronx soup kitchen. It has become a multiservice agency offering housing, legal and social services to the working poor and homeless in one of the poorest neighborhoods in the nation.
In 2007, it provided 7,500 people with social services and served 280,000 meals.
Rodriguez also does the orientation for the college kids who pour in from around the country to volunteer, donning waiters' aprons and giving people who are down on their luck a sense of belonging and dignity. Real dishes, not paper plates. Pretty tablecloths adorned with flowers.
POTS also offers a safe place to shower, free haircuts and legal help.
Rodriguez said her life would have been bleak without POTS.
Harlem RBI
For the Lamberts, Harlem RBI is a family affair.
Dad Amado is a volunteer coach. His kids, Malaya, 15; Johnna, 9; Xavier, 8, and Mica, 6 - have signed up for baseball and books at the East Harlem nonprofit.
Founded in 1991, Harlem RBI uses baseball and softball and the power of teamwork to give 700 inner-city kids ages 6-18 an opportunity to play and to recognize their potential.
The kids also must take part in year-round academic activities.
Counselors and coaches offer Harlem RBI kids a safe yet stimulating haven away from tough streets and homes.
"I love it a lot," said star catcher Malaya Lambert, who joined when she was 11. "RBI has allowed me to grow in the sport and they placed emphasis on my school work as well. If I didn't have this program, I'd just be home, bored.
"Everybody is so nice here, extends their hand. They encourage us to work harder. Nobody likes to lose."
In addition to a beautiful new ballfield on E. 100th St., kids work on different projects together, including public speaking and conflict resolution.
Malaya is an assistant counselor in the summer, something that will be a valuable addition to her college applications next year. She's aiming for Notre Dame or the University of Texas.
"If this didn't exist, we couldn't afford to pay for what RBI offers - the academic support, the sports clinics, and a beautiful field to play on," said Amado Lambert, 40. "I've been to many nonprofit programs and you would think they were paying the staff at RBI six-figure salaries with the quality of people here."
"It is our kids' home away from home. The families are beautiful. The staff care about your children. We look out for the kids whose parents aren't able to be there."
DOROT
Edna Fishman turns 94 in September - and she's the first to say Dorot plays a big part in her good health and outlook.
The upper West Side senior takes the bus four days a week from her apartment to attend Mr. Gu's holistic exercise class and Rob Hofman's weights class - or she eats lunch at Dorot's senior cafe, where she and her friends "settle the problems of the world."
"I have been contributing to them all these years - not a lot of money, but contributing - never thinking I would be a participant in their programs," said Fish-man, whose clear blue eyes light her face. "From the day I started coming 10 years ago, I have been hooked."
The mission of Dorot - Hebrew for "generations" - is to help older people maintain their independence and live with dignity in their own homes for as long as possible by connecting them with the community, executive director Vivian Ehrlich said.
"There is an aging explosion in New York," said Ehrlich, who noted that the average age of Dorot's clients is 89. "We could serve 10 times as many people. We are just scratching the surface."
Dorot's oldest program is Friendly Visiting, which connects volunteers with similar interests to the homebound elderly.
The nonprofit began more than 30 years ago with a group of Columbia and Barnard grad students who delivered holiday food packages. It has grown into a national model with an army of 10,000 New York volunteers - including 3,500 teens. Adult volunteers take seniors to museums, concerts, shopping, doctors’ appointments and even to cemeteries to visit deceased family and friends.
A week's supply of frozen kosher meals are also delivered to seniors who have trouble shopping and cooking.
Since 1989, Dorot has also offered a "University Without Walls," where people stuck at home can join one of 250 teleconference classes in English, Russian and Spanish. For $10, homebound people of all ages can join their peers to discuss current events, film, history, music and health concerns with an expert.
For those like Edna Fishman, who are able to get to Dorot, there are 432 classes to choose from. They include Gentle Yoga and Tai Chi for Arthritis, a decluttering support group, and breakfast with occupational therapists from Columbia University covering topics such as memory and sleep disturbances.
Fishman has learned about vitamins and Chinese medicine there, and Mr. Gu saved her from surgery on a broken wrist, using massage once her cast came off.
"He is an amazing person. He doesn't care what you look like on the outside. He cares about the way your whole body is connected on the inside," she said. "He helps all of us, whatever our problems."
To her, Dorot is family. "It is just an amazing place," she said.
DOROT
171 W. 85th St., Manhattan
Annual budget: $7 million
Executive director: Vivian Ehrlich
Staff: 60
Clients: 10,000
Where the money goes: Programs and direct services 81%; administration and fundraising 19%
Funders include: FJC-A Foundation of Philanthropic Funds; The Miriam and Arthur Diamond Charitable Trust.
To volunteer: Go to www.dorotusa.org or call Volunteer Services Department at (212) 769-2850.
April 9, 2009
Volunteers: President Obama Wants You!
President Obama is calling…and Americans -- at least some Americans -- are answering. From the very beginnings of his campaign, Obama had made plain that this was not about him. It was about all of us coming together to address the nation’s problems and create a brighter future for all Americans.
“Your own story and the American story are not separate -- they are shared,” he said on December 5, 2007 in Mt. Vernon, Iowa. “And they will both be enriched if we stand up together, and answer a new call to service to meet the challenges of our new century … I won’t just ask for your vote as a candidate; I will ask for your service and your active citizenship when I am president of the United States. This will not be a call issued in one speech or program; this will be a cause of my presidency.”
Less than three months into his term of office, the President has been living up to his word. Even prior to his inauguration, he called on Americans to participate in the Martin Luther King Day of Service. The President-Elect painted a wall at the Sasha Bruce House, an emergency shelter for homeless and runaway teens in Washington, DC. “Everybody’s going to have to pitch in,” he said. It was a theme he would return to frequently during the weeks that followed. On February 15th, during the NBA All-Star Game, he encouraged fans to join in the spirit of service. “Prepare a care package for a soldier. Read to a child. Or fix up a local basketball court so the next generation can play and grow,” he said. “Just log on to USAservice.org to find or create a project near you, then gather some friends and lace’em up.” In other words, “just do it.”
Michelle Obama, as well, has repeatedly turned out to offer a hand. On March 9th, she joined the serving line at Miriam’s Kitchen, soup kitchen only blocks away from the White House. And, during his February 24th address to Congress, the President moved beyond symbolism when he urged passage of bi-partisan legislation, which would substantially increase opportunities and incentives for service at both a local and national level. Both the Serve America Act in the Senate and the similar Generations Invigorating
Volunteerism and Education (GIVE) Act in the House would more than double the number of national service opportunities through programs such as AmeriCorps from 75,000 annually to 250,000. They would also provide a range of other supports and incentives for community-based volunteering.
As we went to press, the bills appeared to be headed for passage. “They both have pretty solid bipartisan support,” says Tim Zimmerman, a spokesman for BeTheChange.org, which is a convening member of the ServiceNation Coalition. The Coalition, itself, had played a prominent role in advancing the legislation back in September when it brought both Obama and Senator John McCain to the ServiceNation Summit to express support for the ServeAmerica Act in the midst of a hard fought presidential campaign. “This really may be the first legislation the White House has called for and that Congress is working on that looks truly bipartisan. It is a reflection that service is something both Democrats and Republicans believe in and support,” says Zimmerman. The Serve America Act was jointly sponsored by Democratic Senator Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts and Republican Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah.
The Response
DOROT, which worked with over 7,000 volunteers to provide friendly visiting and other services for elderly New Yorkers, reports that it is seeing a significant increase in the numbers of younger people who are signing on to volunteer through VolunteerMatch.org. The President’s call to service is clearly one factor driving these increases. New York Cares, which conducted a survey of recent volunteer applicants, found that 26% of new volunteers attributed their interest to the President’s appeal. However, it is not the only cause.
It’s the Economy…
An even larger factor in the current surge of volunteers is the increasing numbers of people who now find themselves unemployed. “Thirty-one percent of our new volunteers said that they were out of work,” says Bagley. Bagley’s survey results support what many other organizations are reporting anecdotally. “We are seeing larger numbers of volunteers than ever who are looking for work,” says Diana O’Neill, Executive Director,
Long Island Volunteer Center. “I am seeing many more volunteers who have been laid off,” says Heather Joseph, Director of Volunteers at Food Bank for New York City. “Unfortunately, there are people who have a lot more time on their hands and are looking for something to do that is meaningful and rewarding,” says Karen Pearl, President and CEO of God’s Love We Deliver.
GLWD works with 1,600 volunteers each week. Volunteer opportunities can be a very positive experience for individuals who find themselves suddenly out of work. “People need to understand that even if they are between jobs, volunteering is a great opportunity to fill that empty space on their resume,” says Joseph. “They can learn new skills like special events management or even working in a kitchen that can diversify their skill set.”
And, nonprofits are finding that many of these new volunteers may be interested in filling administrative and support positions. “They are willing to do jobs like public relations, marketing, development and other back office functions,” says O’Neill. “We always have had a core group of volunteers who have worked in our finance department,” says GLWD’s Pearl. “Now we have more who are helping out. They are doing some interesting projects. We have started some new opportunities in our fundraising area. We are taking more volunteers at the administrative offices at our warehouse in the Bronx,” says Joseph.
Need Help?
Volunteers are great. However, recruiting, training and managing them in the performance of tasks which are meaningful both for the volunteer and the agency takes work and resources. Many nonprofit executives whose operations are highly dependent on volunteers are grateful for the influx of new applicants, but also anxious about their ability to accommodate them. “There is a huge need, but some of the nonprofits we work with are also having staff cuts,” says Bagley. “It is ironic that at a time they are most in need of volunteers, they are also least able to manage them.” DOROT is one example of the collision between increased volunteer interest and decreased organizational funding to manage programs. “We have had to cut back or suspend eight of our intergenerational programs because we simply do not have the capacity,” says Executive Director Vivian Fenster Ehrlich.
“The nonprofit infrastructure for volunteer recruitment and management has to be supported. This is going to require funding, technical assistance and training,” says O’Neill. “You can beat the drums for volunteers, but if you are not ready to bring them on and manage them properly, you have lost a tremendous opportunity.” “Our concern is that if everyone is oriented but there is no room on projects, then they are only disappointed and it is harder to get them started again down the line,” says Bagley.
Is It On the Way?
Advocates of the Senate’s Serve America Act point to the bill’s inclusion of a Volunteer Generation Fund with an authorization beginning at $50 million and growing to $100 million annually for the purpose of strengthening the nonprofit sector’s capacity to recruit, train and manage volunteers. There is hope that provisions for a similar fund will be added through amendments to the House’s GIVE Act. “Expansion of national service opportunities is also important to the community volunteer side,” says Zimmerman. “A lot of AmeriCorp volunteers are used to recruit and manage community volunteers. Increasing the national service ranks helps nonprofits to address that problem.”
In public policy, however, constructive criticism particularly from supporters is often the hallmark of a truly meaningful initiative. While human service providers are generally thrilled with President Obama’s call for a renewed national commitment to service, at least some are pointing out specific concerns.
Vivian Fenster Ehrlich, Executive Director of DOROT, believes that the need for volunteer services for the elderly has been “overlooked” in much of the discussion about new volunteer initiatives. “What has been missing in all of our volunteer movements is an interest and concern about the elderly,” says Ehrlich. “We see it in Europe. There is a very strong commitment in England, Holland and Israel to serving the homebound not just the elderly but the disabled. It seems to be glaringly missing in America.”
To highlight the issue, Ehrlich is appealing directly to the President. “We urge you to include the nation’s frail, homebound elders among the targeted beneficiaries of this movement -- for reasons both compassionate and practical,” she wrote in letter to Obama on January 30th. “Today, there are close to seven million Americans over the age of 85. A vast number of these seniors live in quiet desperation. They struggle with eroding retirement income, the lack of safe and affordable housing, the loss of mobility and sight the astronomical cost of homecare and the ever-looming threat of institutionalization. “Programs such as friendly visiting, administered throughout the country by social service agencies and community and faith based organizations, bring frail elders companionship and joy, build bridges to communities, and foster mutual self-esteem,” she continued. “ Just a few hours of volunteer services one a weekly basis can make an enormous difference…”
Ehrlich has also written a January 26th letter to the New York Times on the topic and DOROT has also collected 1,500 signatures for an online petition, which it will be forwarding to the White House.
“We have an aging explosion in America,” she says. “This is going to be the only way to keep people out of institutions. It is something that everyone thinks is the key to making this happen.”
DOROT itself provides friendly visiting and other services to New York City seniors through an active base of approximately 7,000 volunteers.
January 27, 2009
Helping the Elderly
To the Editor:
Re “The Moment for National Service” (editorial, Jan. 26):
Very few Americans will disagree with the notion of creating a national movement of service. But we often lose sight of one population desperately in need of such a movement.
Millions of elderly Americans, isolated from society when loved ones relocate or pass away, are prime candidates for volunteer assistance and companionship. Helping this generation, which toiled in sweatshops, fought in foreign lands and paved the way for our nation to grow, is certainly as urgent a priority as cleaning our parks or strengthening our schools.
And yet it is our seniors who often fall to the bottom of everyone’s list of volunteer opportunities. This is especially regrettable when just a few volunteer hours per week can make an enormous difference in a senior’s life.
It is also regrettable in view of the rich treasury of experience and hope that these survivors of the Depression and a multitude of wars have to share with a generation facing similar challenges. It is time, while they are still alive, to show our gratitude through the simple, mutually gratifying act of volunteerism.
Vivian Fenster Ehrlich
New York, Jan. 26, 2009
The writer is the executive director of Dorot, a senior services agency.
January 13, 2009
Older learners hooked on phone-ics
By Tanyanika Samuels
Every Friday afternoon, 90-year-old Margaret Haussmann readies herself for her class - on the phone.
Haussmann of Pelham Bay is enrolled in University Without Walls, which offers classes for seniors over the telephone. It’s run by the social services agency DOROT (that’s Hebrew for “generations”).
“It’s been a real blessing for me,” said Haussmann, who is taking a fitness course. “I’ve been very happy with all of it.”
The program, considered the largest of its kind, is geared toward seniors, some of whom are homebound. The only requirements are to have a phone and be able to take part in group discussions. Classes include such diverse topics as Jewish studies, music and finance.
“It’s for people who have a desire to learn and meet new people,” said Bonnie Jacobs, DOROT’s education services director.
Classes cost $15 and mostly are taught by volunteer professionals. More than 260 students are enrolled in this semester’s 220 course offerings. Program organizers are hoping to attract more Bronx residents.
“Taking a class over the telephone is not something most people think about doing,” Jacobs said. “But once people try it, they really enjoy it.”
Apart from the intellectual pluses, the program also has social benefits.
“We encourage people to talk outside of class, and a lot of people become amazing friends,” Jacobs said. “So, not only are they learning, but they’re talking and sharing and laughing together.”
That’s been the case for Haussmann, who regularly calls other members from her class.
“These people are now friends, and we’re closer because we understand one another,” she said. The classes also help ward off loneliness and boredom, program organizers said.
“Our world is so complex today. So much changes so fast that some seniors feel alienated and isolated,” Jacobs said. “These classes are one more opportunity to create a community that’s unique and centered on seniors’ interests and needs.”
For Anita Gelarre, 71, of Co-Op City, the social aspect of the program has been a big plus. Gelarre, who is blind and uses a wheelchair, has taken several classes, including one on current events and another on the Old Testament book of Jeremiah.
“It can get lonely,” she said. “At least this gives me someone to talk to.” Gelarre, who plays piano, is considering the program’s classes on classical music history and Broadway musicals.
“When you get to meet people, you don’t feel alone,” she said. “I enjoy it, and I’d like to continue with it.”
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Provides Training for Volunteers Visiting Seniors with Mild Memory Loss
Diane Katzin, Rick Kurnit and Katrina Kurnit Honored; Carole J. Bufford Performed.
AARP Blog post by DOROT Friendly Visitor and Young Professionals Leadership Circle member Laura Hahn on a recent DOROT’s Young Professionals intergenerational event with Ballet Hispanico.
DOROT Package Delivery Will Bring Companionship and Passover Foods to Isolated Older Adults.
DOROT helps mobility impaired older adults to go to doctor, walk, shop through Shop & Escort Program.
DOROT is thankful to our volunteers that served almost 500 seniors in Manhattan and Westchester during our Winter Package Delivery.
