Urgent and Future Needs of Jewish Elderly

By Jaye Levy, LCSW, ACSW, BCD

Chair--Orange County Referral Service

Shocked and concerned about our low income/poverty-stricken elderly, I have just barely brushed the surface of information from both the Jewish Family Services in Orange County, California, and in South Palm Beach County, Florida.  I am rather certain that all of this information also applies to many faiths, cultures and populations in the USA and in much greater percentages.

In Orange County, according to chief executive officer Mel Roth of the Jewish Family Service, nearly one third of the 7,300 people served are older adults.  Over half of the information and referral requests that they receive are in regard to in-home support services for older adults who either cannot care for themselves and/or need alternative living arrangements as they are no longer able to live safely and independently in their homes.  Caregiving was listed as one of the most urgent problems facing the Jewish family today.  Increasing numbers of older adults are outliving their pensions!  By the year 2000, one in every three Orange County residents will be over the age of 65!  Baby Boomers beware!  Are we going to have enough resources, finances and care?

In both Orange County and in Southern Florida the Jewish Family Service offers many adult services such as assessments of needs, case planning, case management, counseling, advocacy and consultations for long-term care. Services are offered to older adults and their family caregivers, isolated and frail elderly and Holocaust survivors.  In Orange County most clients are Caucasian but African-Americans, Hispanics, Asians, Pacific islanders and other races are serviced as well as Jewish and non-Jewish cultures.  More females receive services than men due to requests made and longevity.  In Florida, this is certainly true as there are far more widows than widowers.  In Florida Caucasians are also the majority. However Caribbeans, such as Haitians, Cubans and those from other Caribbean islands are also represented as well as Hispanics.  In Orange County, the income of the majority of older adult households served is usually $20,000 and up.  Of Community Outreach Services, 58% of 4916 served our older adults 65 and up.  The residents of central Orange County and areas near the airport, Newport Beach, Costa Mesa and Irvine are where the majority are receiving service.

In South Palm Beach, Florida, a larger population is served when especially focusing on the Boca Raton/ Del Ray areas.  35,000 people are receiving service from "womb to tomb" reports CEO, Dr. Jaclynn Faffer of the Jewish Family Service.  Issues are similar to Orange County, ranging from loss of a loved one, teenage problems, marital issues, depression, anxiety, cancer, Caregiving, loneliness, and mental and medical illness.  Demographics show 54,000 are adults over 75, 39,000 are single households and 58% are low income!  To add to these numbers, the "thundering herd" of Baby Boomers who descend on Florida either as part-time snowbirds or as full-time residents, of whom many will request services in the future!  Dr. Jaclynn Faffer says the major challenge is to design programs that will attract baby boomers and still care for the most vulnerable among us-- the frail elderly.  New ideas are needed, she reported, as the 40-year-old model of senior centers and services is no longer adequate to address the increasing needs. They are continuing to plan for the future. Thankfully, they have now received 2 million dollar state grant to build a 20,000 square foot building in Del Ray, but much financing and planning for support staff an service development will be needed.

As a therapist and social worker, I am most interested in the plight of all of our aging population from the poor to wealthy.  Why, for example, are 385 families in the Boca Raton/Del Ray area living at poverty level and need to be fed daily by the Jewish Family Service in South Palm Beach County.  Many of these people came to Florida to retire and depend on their income and resources.  Yet many are homebound and cannot afford to use air conditioning in 90° heat nor afford needed in-home services or medication.  Some seniors retired without factoring in enough savings for rising inflation and special needs for illness.  Some seniors were scammed out of their life savings while others depended on children who either could not or would not help.  The Jewish family service spends three quarters of a million dollars a year to provide services from home health care agencies.  Issues of loneliness, transportation, and multitude of senior activities and services and long-term care must be seriously addressed now and for the future.