As families come together for the Jewish holidays, Jewish Home at Home is inviting the community to take advantage of the time together with older adult family members to make sure they are receiving the care they need. “This is a time of heightened awareness and taking stock of our life,” explains Director of Care Management Susan Lilly. “It is also a perfect time for us to catch up with our loved ones who are not with us on a regular basis. This is especially true for the older adults—our parents, aunts, uncles, siblings and close family friends.”

The task need not take away from the festive mood of the holiday season—it involves paying attention to changes. “You may notice changes in a loved one’s health, memory, mood or behavior that concern you,” Lilly says. “Does she have an unsteady gait? Has he lost weight? Is she asking the same questions repeatedly? Does he seem more withdrawn or irritable? Is he not as well-groomed as he was in the past? These may be signs that your loved one needs assistance. It is important to pay attention to the warning signs to avert a potential crisis.”

If you do notice that a loved one could use assistance, Jewish Home at Home’s care managers, licensed social workers and registered nurses can do an assessment to determine a senior adult’s needs and develop a personalized plan of care that will maintain his or her safety and quality of life at home. They can be reached at 201 750 4247 at any time, or on the web at JewishHomeAtHome.org

Jewish Home at Home is a member of the Jewish Home Family, which operates the Jewish Home at Rockleigh, Jewish Home Assisted Living in River Vale, NJ, and the Jewish Home Foundation. The mission of the Jewish Home Family and its constituent organizations is to provide the very best care, service and guidance for the benefit of our elderly and their families, at home and at our facilities, now and into the future, regardless of race, religion or financial ability, consistent with our Jewish traditions and values.