FEATURED JOBS
I read with great interest Andrew Buerger’s “Caring For Our Aging” column. Last spring, my family decided to move my father from Morristown, N.J., to an assisted living facility here. I agree that “investing in and caring for our Jewish seniors says a lot about our priorities” and that Baltimore has much to be proud of in how we take care of our Jewish seniors.
I believe we could do more.
My father was an active synagogue member for more than 50 years and supported our local federation. He attended many synagogue adult Jewish education programs and helped create a regional supplementary Hebrew high school. So priorities were finding a facility with not only a high percentage of Jewish seniors, but one that would program for that population.
The first was not difficult to find in the area. And to my pleasant surprise, most facilities had some type of Shabbat service. Trying to find one with “in house” Jewish programming was much more difficult. They are a necessity for my father because he has limited mobility and does not like to leave the facility.
We did decide on a local facility and I volunteer there each week, teaching a Jewish history class that began with the study of Genesis. I also have compiled a large-type Shabbat siddur with Hebrew prayers, transliteration and English. The facility does its best to provide Jewish holiday programs, but has many challenges finding people to provide programs of Jewish content, be it entertainment or classes.
I believe this is not limited to my father’s facility. I believe our Baltimore Jewish community is capable of providing Jewish programming at these facilities and that our Jewish seniors would be incredibly appreciative.
Investing in the residents’ spiritual and intellectual well-being says a lot about our priorities. These seniors are some of the best students I have had in my more than 25 years in Jewish education.
It would be wonderful if these facilities had a list of willing and interested entertainers, teachers, rabbis and volunteers who would come and provide Jewish programming. It would even be more amazing if there was a resource center specifically designed for this deserving population.
Again, I reiterate that the Baltimore Jewish community has much to be proud of in serving our Jewish seniors, but is it too much to ask for more?
Amy Ackerson
Baltimore
