Martha

Martha, a 93-year-old survivor of the Holocaust, lives alone, since her husband’s death, on a very modest fixed income. The JFS Survivors of the Holocaust Program has been critical to maintaining her well-being.

Martha receives telehealth support over the phone on a routine basis from Rachel, her social worker. Rachel coordinates and monitors all of Martha’s supportive services and helps address emergent needs as they arise. A key element of these services is home care. Martha has a home care aide coming daily, allowing her to remain safely in her home while maintaining her sense of dignity and comfort. The home care aide provides transportation to medical appointments, grocery shopping, personal care support, light housekeeping, light cooking, and companionship. In addition, Martha receives food vouchers and nutritious, kosher home-delivered meals. At the onset of the pandemic, Martha enrolled in the JFS Life@Home program to connect online to JFS social programs and activities. Under a pilot program, JFS provided Martha with a Chromebook and technical support. She is now able to participate in Café Europa, exercise classes, and a multitude of educational and cultural programs. These have helped decrease her isolation and contribute positively to her physical, mental, and emotional health. Rachel has been an invaluable support to Martha, and the services provided by JFS offer Martha critical tangible support and meaningful emotional comfort.

Snip-It about this Program: The JFS SURVIVORS OF THE HOLOCAUST PROGRAM provides case management, coordination of home care services, and financial assistance to survivors of the Holocaust in their homes. The program also provides socialization through the Café Europa groups and holiday events. Services, including home care, are primarily funded by the Claims Conference, and supplemented by funding from The Jewish Federation, private foundations, and JFS’s generous donors. This last year, JFS provided case management, home care, emergency financial assistance, and social opportunities to nearly 900 survivors of the Holocaust.