(Courtesy of JFSCNJ) Jewish Family Service of Central New Jersey (JFSCNJ)’s Project CEASSE (Combatting Elder Abuse through Supportive Services and Education), entering its fourth year of service to the Union County Community, was recently awarded $20,000 from the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater MetroWest NJ (JCF).

Since the program’s inception, under the umbrella of services geared to older adults that JFSCNJ offers to the community, it has rapidly developed the reputation for being the “go-to agency to address elder abuse.” The program provides services to older adults and their caregivers in addition to offering community education on the various signs, and how to report elder abuse.

Kenneth Rosenberg, chair of the Grant Review Committee for the JCF stated: “The Jewish Community Foundation of Greater MetroWest NJ’s Grant Review Committee was proud to award $20,000 to JFSCNJ’s Project CEASSE program to assist them in combatting elder abuse in the community. JFSCNJ’s CEASSE program exemplifies what it means to engage in tikkun olam (repairing the world), and the Grant Review Committee is grateful to be able to support such worthy programs.”

National statistics suggest that elder abuse is on the rise, especially during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. As a part of the COVID-19 recovery efforts, Project CEASSE will continue to provide community education and services. Virtual presentations are provided at this time. In-person interventions are safely provided through mental health services, nursing, homecare and connections to community resources.

Thanks to the general funding of the Healthcare Foundation of NJ, the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater MetroWest NJ, the JFNA Center for Aging and Trauma* and the Union County Division on Aging, we are able to assuage and end the likelihood of elder abuse through our various wrap-around services.

Project CEASSE is open to Union County residents, agencies and community groups. Contact Peter Jacob, MSW, LSW, [email protected], 908-352-8375, for further information.

* This service is supported by a portion of a grant from the JFNA Center for Aging and Trauma, a project of the Holocaust Initiative. Approximately 67% of the total grant, or $350,000 comes from federal sources. Approximately 33%, or $175,000 comes from non-federal sources.