JCA Insights, April 2025

A Word From Shane
JCA’s Commitment to Supporting Older People in Turbulent Times

April was a busy month at JCA. I am grateful to the volunteers, staff, board members, and supporters who are helping us innovate and deliver programs responsive to the needs of older adults and their families during these uncertain times.

This issue has information about these special programs,

including a link to our April 3rd conversation with Howard Gleckman about the changing landscape of aging and the potential long-term repercussions of the new administration’s policies, as well as the uncertainty about the future.

April is National Volunteer Month, a time to recognize and celebrate the contributions of volunteers. Did you know that over the past 12 months more than 300 people volunteered their time to JCA? On Sunday, I was honored to attend our annual volunteer recognition reception. JCA thrives because of the dedication, compassion and generosity of our volunteers. They continually inspire us and bring joy and valuable assistance to those whose lives they touch.

April is also the time when JCA starts preparing for its new fiscal year. JCA’s role as a trustworthy advocate and guide on the issues that matter to older adults has never been more important as we chart the course for our work over the next twelve months. We are talking about what matters right now, in these difficult times, and planning still more new programs to respond to evolving and emerging needs. JCA can do this with your support and the commitment of our board, staff, and volunteers

Together we will meet the challenges ahead and care for our community.

On March 30, JCA’s 4th OMA (Opening Minds Through Art) art show presented creative works by this session’s participants. Over four sessions, Interages® volunteers were paired with Kensington Clubs participants as they created abstract art projects that engaged the mind and broke through cognitive barriers. As one volunteer put it, “It’s inspiring to watch the artists get in the flow. Their engagement brings smiles to their faces as well as smiles to the volunteers. The artists bring joy to the day.”

JCA’s volunteers were honored on April 27 with a reception and award ceremony. Fourteen awards were presented to 42 volunteers.

The Austin Heyman Volunteer Service Award celebrates one or more individuals who have made outstanding contributions to intergenerational volunteer programming, demonstrating exceptional dedication, compassion, and service within their community. The Margaret Cutler Award recognizes those whose dedication and efforts have significantly impacted the community by fostering meaningful connections between generations.

The Gordon Silcox Volunteer Service Award honors the dedication of Career Gateway volunteers who embody Career Gateway co-founder Gordon Silcox’s belief that reinvention and meaningful employment are possible at any age. The Schlossenberg Spirit of JCA Gorlitz Kensington Clubs Award honors three recipients who reflect the care, commitment, and charity Ellis Schlossenberg has exemplified.

The Youth Service Award is given each year to celebrate and honor the efforts of student(s) who have demonstrated exceptional dedication and commitment when participating in Interages programs. The Jacqueline Unger Community Service Award is JCA’s top honor and is presented annually to an unsung hero who has made exceptional volunteer contributions, and whose dedication significantly enhances the lives of older adults in the community.

Nancy Fiedelman
Career Gateway
Gordon Silcox Volunteer Service Award

Ann Poritzky
Career Gateway
Gordon Silcox Volunteer Service Award

Lindberg Hardy
Heyman Interages Center
Austin Heyman Volunteer Service Award

Michael Rothschild
Heyman Interages Center
Austin Heyman Volunteer Service Award

Renee Hill-Gilliard
Heyman Interages Center
Margaret Cutler Award

Kelly Sweet
Heyman Interages Center
Margaret Cutler Award

Alexa Sadowy
Heyman Interages Center
Youth Service Award

Rosamond Katz
SHIP

Rachel Schmidt
SHIP

Edward Kean
Jacqueline Unger Community Service Award

Ellis Schlossenberg
Jacqueline Unger Community Service Award

Mary McGarvey
Schlossenberg Spirit of Kensington Club Volunteer Award

Eli’s Loaves of Love Ambassadors
Schlossenberg Spirit of Kensington Club Volunteer Award

Grace Guo
Schlossenberg Spirit of Kensington Club Volunteer Award

Eti Bardack
Melake Bekele
Sheila Bellack
Kathi Dennis
Sharon Doner
Varda Fink
Howard Gleckman
Jay Goldman
Marlene Gordon
Bruce Heppen
Sarah Kagan
Josh Kranzberg
Natalie Leftkowitz
Michael Leonard
Caroline Levenson

Joan G. Levy
Paula Martin
Joe Martin
Mary McGarvey
Ishmael Odai-Afotey
Suzanne Pollak
Morris Rodenstein
Ellis Schlossenberg
Louise Schneider
Phillip Schulman
Amy Strent
Craig Strent
Lorraine Tischler
Jessica Weisman

Federation Blog Features JCA Kensington Clubs

This month the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington shared a piece about SHARE, a joint program between JCA’s Kensington Clubs and Interages in their blog—A Passover Celebration of Connection: Strengthening Intergenerational Bonds Through SHARE. The article described a visit from a group of Pre-K students from Milton Gottesman Jewish Day School. Sarah Klein, the author, remarks “Watching these interactions reminded me of what makes the Jewish community so powerful. It’s not just about the holidays—it’s about the connections we build along the way. In a room filled with laughter, stories, and shared moments, there was no hesitation, no walls, just Jewish joy in its simplest and most beautiful form.” Read the full blog post.

Our conversation with Howard Gleckman, a JCA board past-president, explored the changing landscape of aging under the Trump Administration and the potential long-term repercussions of those changes, as well as the uncertainty about the future. We looked at the impacts of the new administration’s policies on Medicare, Medicaid, including the potential impact on family caregivers of proposed work requirements, Social Security, and other programs older adults rely on like JCA’s Senior Community Services Employment Program, which is funded by the Older Americans Act.

Career Gateway Workshops Responding to Federal Government Transition

The Career Gateway hosted two free virtual workshops in April to support former federal employees and others impacted by recent changes in the federal sector. The workshops for people age 50+, enabled participants to create a powerful professional image, network, tap into available resources, and transition successfully.

Workshop #1: Focused and Steady: Coping and Career Tips for Uncertain Times
Workshop #2: Using AI and Other Tools to Reshape and Reinvigorate Your Transition from Federal to Private Sector

Over 300 participants joined the two sessions. Materials and recordings from both sessions are available on JCA’s website.

Can we count on you to help sustain JCA’s work?

We are living in turbulent times. In the DC-metro region, we are acutely feeling the impact of the massive, undeniable change brought about by the new administration’s policies, along with fear and uncertainty about the future. In times like this, it’s important to have people to turn to.

We know JCA can meet the evolving and emerging needs of older adults right now and into the future. Changing with the times is part of our legacy—we have done it for more than 50 years— thanks to generous donors like you. That’s why your support in these uncertain times means more than ever. Please consider making a gift today to help us meet the ever-increasing demand for our services as more and more people turn to us for help.

Your commitment has helped shape JCA into the vital organization we are today. During this time of unprecedented change, I hope we can count on you—once again— to help us expand our work to meet this moment and to sustain our essential programs and services.

Caregiver Coping Speaker on Zoom   Monday, May 12, 2025

7-8 p.m.

Let’s Take a Virtual Trip to see Holy Cross Medical Adult Day Program 

Join us on Zoom to learn more about this established medical adult day program in our community and the comprehensive services they provide.

RSVP to Colleen Kemp.

Speaker: Sarah McKechnie, Director, Disease Management Services & Medical Adult Day Center

In April, the JCA blog featured more articles by JCA’s former board president, Howard Gleckman and shared the recording of our conversation on April 3 entitled, What the Trump Administration’s Policies Mean for Older Adults. The article, Trump Abolishes The Office That Supports Many Seniors And People With Disabilities, outlined how these moves amount to an assault on older adults. What kind of impact will tariffs have on medicine and healthcare? Read Howard Gleckman’s analysis.

In another recording, Howard Gleckman and Alison Bankoff explain what happens when critical aging services are put on the chopping block.

Other blog posts listed the 17 Factors that Affect Your Risk for Dementia, Stroke and Depression and Three Ways Pets Support Healthy Aging. If you are considering help at home for yourself or a loved one, an article from the Beacon can help in your decision process and another outlines how Home Equity Can Boost Retirement Income. Read about how one man celebrated his 50th birthday with an MRI and take a look at AARP’s Senior Planet upcoming online classes.

If you are a caregiver for an older adult, or you know one, check out the KC Blog as well.

Midge & Bob Bajefsky, to the Larry M. Joseph Memorial Endowment Fund, in honor of Phoebe Joseph
Marla Banov, to Kensington Clubs, in memory of Barbara Nolan
Alfred Clark, to Kensington Clubs, in honor of John Kaboff and Jung-Yoon Lee
Allen Feldman in memory of Marian Feldman
Dawn Grant, to Kensington Clubs, in honor of Jean Tapper
Florence Jewell, to Interages, in memory of Cynthia Coleman
Ann Joseph, to the SHIP Program, in honor of Raphael Espinoza
Carey and Richard Joseph, to the Larry M. Joseph Memorial Endowment Fund, in memory of Floyd Abramson

Phoebe Joseph, to the Larry M. Joseph Memorial Endowment Fund, in memory of Larry Michael Joseph
Amy Lowenstein in honor of Lind Bernson
Libby & Ronald Merrill, to the Larry M. Joseph Memorial Endowment Fund, in honor of Phoebe Joseph
Stephen Newstedt in memory of JoAnn Gross Cadeaux
Elinor Sondik, to the Larry M. Joseph Memorial Endowment Fund, in honor of Phoebe Joseph
Elinor Sondik, to the Larry M. Joseph Memorial Endowment Fund, in memory of Floyd Abramson
Stuart Steingold in memory of Barbara Biel DiJacklin
Richard Turtil in memory of Estelle Turtil