May is Older Americans Month but at Jewish Family Services (JFS), every day is about older adults and helping them live full and active lives.
There are more than 46 million Americans age 65 and older; in the Kansas City metro, almost 320,000 are considered older adults. At JFS, sustaining quality of life throughout the aging journey is everything. A 2014 AARP Study found that out of a representative sample of Americans 50 and older, 87% wanted to age in their own homes.
Knowing that you want to age in your home is one thing. Actualizing it is another. JFS wants you to know you do not have to do it alone. Aging in your home takes intention, flexibility to adapt as needs change and evolve, and connection to resources.
Homeownership comes with a constant barrage of responsibilities and fix-it projects. Many of us do not want to burden our children with these tasks. Our Help@Home program provides support with home maintenance tasks that have never been safe or savory and become even less so as we age.
From gutter cleaning to blind hanging, from checking CO2 and smoke detectors to fixing leaky toilets and faucets, we have you covered. We even offer a yearly walk-through with our occupational therapist who can make simple and proactive aging-forward recommendations.
For older adults who no longer drive, Jet Express program offers older adults transportation to wherever they want to go. Between our volunteer-provided rides, our JFS van and our Lyft-on demand option, we have a variety of ways to support your transportation needs.
And lest we forget our care managers – the glue that keeps it all together. When you feel stuck and need someone to help you process ideas and resource-gather with you, you will find no one better than our JFS care managers. Whether you need something clear-cut like reviewing your Medicare benefits or something more complex like understanding the senior housing landscape, our aging experts are here.
In his book “Being Mortal,” author Atul Gawande said, “Our ultimate goal, after all, is not a good death but a good life to the very end.”As we shine the spotlight on older adults this month, if aging in the community with a quality of life is your goal, JFS is your go-to. Just give us a call at (913) 327-8250 – we are here for you regardless of faith, age, culture, or lifestyle.
Laura Gilman, LCSW/LSCSW, has a Master’s in Social Work from the University of Maryland and serves as the Director of Older Adult Services at Jewish Family Services.