Hebrew SeniorLife addresses isolation through home chaplaincy program
We’re pleased to pass along news of an innovative program provided by Hebrew SeniorLife in Roslindale, Massachusetts:
Through Hebrew SeniorLife’s Home Care program funded by Combined Jewish Philanthropies, over 1,000 seniors per year (the majority of whom are Jewish) are visited by home care aides, receiving services such as assistance with activities of daily living as well as shopping, cleaning, and some health care services. These seniors are considered low-income and are often experiencing chronic health issues. Many are disabled and/or experiencing cognitive decline, and almost all of them benefit from the companionship that home care aides provide.
While seniors in this program are visited by home care aides on a continuous basis, they often suffer from social isolation and have become detached from community contexts. Chaplains can play a unique role in combatting isolation by offering spiritual care that can support a person who may have suffered loss or is adjusting to a new health status (see Handzo et al, 2008). Through this work we can help increase a senior’s capacity to benefit from community services and support and work with community partners to provide more social connection. As part of the care team for home care patients, the chaplain can help ensure that seniors are receiving the right care in their homes for as long as possible.
Disclosure: Rabbi Sara Paasche-Orlow, a key leader in this program, is an advisor to the Chaplaincy Innovation Lab.