Since 1928, the Jewish Family Service of Metropolitan Detroit has offered a wide variety of services to families and individuals in need. Originally based in Detroit and serving Detroiters, the agency now has offices in West Bloomfield and Oak Park, and has expanded to serve metro Detroit.
JFS works specifically with Jewish families in the Holocaust Survivor Assistance program, but most programs offered are open to all southeast Michigan residents. “We work with whoever comes to us. In some cases, we find a different provider for them because we aren't the best provider - or we work with them because we are the [best] provider,” says Chief Program Officer of Older Adult Services Yuliya Gaydayenko
JFS seeks to give those they serve “a little help, where they can live the life that they want to live - and sometimes people just need a little bit of help and a support,” says Emily Gordon, Family Caregiver Support Program coordinator.
Gordon, who graduated from the University of Michigan in 2022, began as an intern with the agency and subsequently helped to develop the caregiver support program. She also works with individuals and families to coordinate events and create a welcoming place for all those seeking help from Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties.
In addition to the Family Caregiver Support program, JFS offers homecare, health coaching, counseling and more. “Services for older adults and their caregivers include door-through-door transportation; Meals on Wheels, including Kosher meals; health and wellness, social isolation supports, assistive technology, and geriatric care management,” says Gaydayenko.
JFS works with provider partners including the Regional Transit Authority of Southeast Michigan, Ride Smart, Michigan Department of Health & Human Services, The Jewish Family Fund Board, and the Dresner Foundation.
Geriatric care managers help older adults or their families to figure out the best support and resources, including access to benefits, home care, companionship, household chores and more. Mind University, the agency’s cognitive wellness program, provides fun, educational classes, workshops, and presentations to help keep minds young and sharp, adds Gaydayenko.
The mission and vision of JFS is to carry out the values of the Jewish religion and to treat and care for all those who may need the assistance. Some services, however, do come with a cost. The ElderCare Solutions of Michigan program is a fee-based service providing a one-time consultation, comprehensive assessment, or ongoing support by geriatric care managers. These professionals also help to guide older adults and/or their families through difficult conversations, offering objective assistance to identify appropriate solutions.
To learn more about JFS’s older adult services, call 248.592.2313, or visit the website, www.jfsdetroit.org/find-help/. For Yuliya Gaydayenko, call 248.592.3962, or email ygaydayenko@jfsdetroit.org.
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