Promoting healthier and more cost effective aging services
Posted By: Barry Rosenberg 
Date Posted: October 13th, 2009 Category: Health Care
With more than 19% of American Jews, aged 65 or older (compared to 13-15% of the general population), the Jewish community has had to pioneer innovations to promote healthy aging in place, as we fulfill the Jewish mandate to honor and care for our mothers and fathers. Our goals are: 1) help seniors age at home – promoting health, quality of life and reducing cost 2) provide an integrated network of services and 3) facilitate easy access to information to help seniors and their caregivers find the services they need and for which they are eligible.
The October issue of U. S. News & World Report, which focuses on retirement, profiles the St. Louis Jewish Federation’s innovative Naturally Occurring Retirement Community (NORC) – established in 2004 The NORC, serving over 600 members and touching hundreds more, offers home modifications, volunteer handymen, classes, exercise, recreation, social events, neighborhood councils, transportation, local merchant discounts, as well as access to the complete services of Federation network of agencies, such as Jewish Family & Children’s Service.
Recently, in partnership with BJC Health Care the Lubin-Green Foundation and other funders, the Federation launched ElderLink St. Louis – an integrated information and referral source for Jewish seniors and their caregivers. Using trained social workers and a dedicated website, Elderlink St. Louis connects people to the services they need. A key concept is that there should be ‘no wrong door’. Therefore Elderlink social workers train staff members at synagogues and Jewish agencies to make effective referrals to Elderlink, if they are called.
Both of these programs are organically connected to a wide range of Jewish Federation supported services that include low income housing, adult day care, homemakers, nutrition services, counseling and case management, Jewish chaplaincy to nursing home residents, Jewish Food Pantry, and financial assistance, as well as a wide range of social, cultural, educational and recreational activities.
Jewish Federation also advocates in Jefferson City and Washington for government support of these low cost initiatives that will keep seniors happier, healthier and in their homes – dramatically reducing the cost to the seniors, their families and society.
The Jewish Federation of St. Louis, established in 1901, is the central fundraising, planning and community building agency for the 60,000 member St. Louis Jewish community. It supports a network of 48 local, national and international organizations.
12 Millstone Campus Drive, St. Louis, MO 63146 (314) 432-0020
www.jewishinstlouis.org
www.elderlinkstlouis.org (314) 812-9300