A Word From Shane
JCA is Making a Meaningful Difference

As 2025 draws to a close, we are reflecting on everything JCA accomplished and the lives we touched this year. We are deeply grateful for you, our community of volunteers, donors, and supporters. Together, we are making a meaningful difference in the life stories of older adults and their families in the D.C. metro region.

For many people, this was a difficult year. Some were affected by the terminations, buyouts, and reductions in

force at federal government agencies and federal government contractors, while others were concerned about federal funding cuts and the potential long-term impact of the changing public policy landscape on older adults. JCA’s Senior Community Service and Employment Program (SCSEP) was suspended for four months because of a federal funding freeze. This funding lapse had an immediate and devastating impact on the 34 SCSEP participants who JCA was forced to furlough on July 1. The funding was restored earlier this month, and we are working to bring people back as quickly as possible and help them find the job opportunities they need.

Your generosity made it possible for us to respond to the emerging needs in this challenging time and to be the help people count on every day. Your partnership helped someone get a ride to a medical appointment; gave the care partner of a person with early-stage memory loss the knowledge and support they needed; helped us produce a series of free job search workshops to help former federal employees navigate the next chapter in their careers; forged a connection between an older adult volunteer and a student that improved their schoolwork or literacy skills, and so much more.

We look to 2026 with hope and confidence that JCA can continue to meet the rising demand for services we will see as people live longer, healthier lives and the region’s older adult population expands. With your continued partnership, we can enhance and tailor services more thoughtfully, meet older adults where they are, and expand our impact.

We wish you a happy, healthy new year.

With gratitude,

Shane

The JCA Gorlitz Kensington Clubs celebrated Chanukah with pre-K students from the Milton Gottesman Jewish Day School, filling the room with the warmth and joy of the Festival of Lights. Members and students enjoyed this wonderful combined Heyman Interages® program, as everyone shared smiles, conversation, and crafts. Together, they colored holiday-themed bookmarks and created colorful paper dreidels for a festive garland. The children delighted the group by singing while pretending to be spinning dreidels and then tumbling to the floor to the applause of members and staff. KC members had fun spinning dreidels, listening to a holiday story, and enjoying sufganiot (jelly doughnuts that symbolize the miracle of the oil). To end this incredible program, the students shared handmade holiday cards, leaving everyone smiling and looking forward to our next holiday celebration together.

ClancyWorks to Launch Supporting Older Adults Rejuvenation (SOAR) 

ClancyWorks Dance Company received three $6,000 grants from the Maryland State Arts Council in Education. The grants will benefit JCA’s Kesher Café, whose members have been diagnosed with young onset dementia (YOD), and Gorlitz Kensington Clubs’ social day programs in Rockville and Silver Spring. All three programs serve adults with

diagnosed early-stage dementia.

ClancyWorks will provide Supporting Older Adults Rejuvenation (SOAR) programming at all three clubs over a 13-week period.

“Clancy Works’ SOAR workshops, which are movement-based programming, align perfectly with the mission of the Gorlitz Kensington Clubs and Kesher Café by promoting physical strength, emotional well-being, and social engagement,” said Colleen Kemp, director of the Kensington Clubs. “They are very popular with our members and their care partners,” she added.

“Their approach fosters cognitive stimulation through dance and movement, encouraging adults still living at home and managing this disease, to maximize their physical abilities in ways that improve coordination, balance, and self-expression—all of which are crucial for maintaining independence and improving quality of life. Clancy Works teaches and empowers their care partners as well,” she said.

Moti Galil, Director of JCA Bus Transportation, has announced his retirement from JCA. Moti first joined JCA’s staff more than 40 years ago. Under his steady leadership, JCA’s bus transportation has grown dramatically into a vital resource for Montgomery County’s older adults.

Moti, JCA’s longest serving employee, has been at JCA since September of 1981. “JCA was created as a way to provide transportation,” he remembers. Moti had been working in a warehouse when he saw an open position at JCA. He began his

career at JCA as a driver and, over time, stepped up to make the transportation process smoother and more efficient. He retired as director of the department, where he kept the drivers happy and made sure the buses were operating properly. “A lot of times, riders tell the drivers that they are grateful that the transportation JCA provides helps them maintain mobility,” says Moti. “This is a need that will always be there,” and JCA is glad to have the opportunity to serve the people who rely on this program.

Burney Simpson, a writer and editor with a background in transportation, came to JCA in 2022. He managed JCA’s Travel Training program. Part of Connect-A-Ride, the program helps Montgomery County residents aged 50 and over get confident and comfortable taking public transportation. Participants learn how to read the Metro map, understand digital schedule signs, load a fare card, and locate where to find a station’s emergency and accessibility features.

We wish Moti and Burney the best in their retirement!

SCSEP

At the beginning of November, the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) began to return older jobseekers to the jobs they were furloughed from in July. In the new year, additional low-income older jobseekers will be able to receive a minimum wage while working at nonprofits and government agencies to build their skills and

resumes while delivering valuable community service.

Program participants are extremely grateful to be back at work and earning a much-needed stipend. Three people were not able to return because of health issues that worsened as a result of the furlough. Joblessness contributes to anxiety and social isolation. The help SCSEP provides is so much more than just financial.

The program is financed through June 30, but the future is unclear. These few months are a gift the staff can use to prepare participants for their life after SCSEP.

Do you know a friend, neighbor, or family member who would enjoy making a difference with children in our community? Invite them to volunteer with JCA Heyman Interages Center. Refer a friend by January 31, 2026. When your friend completes onboarding and volunteers with us during the rest of the current school year, you’ll be entered into a raffle for a chance to win a special JCA gift basket in June, as our thank you.

Volunteers are currently needed for the following programs:

More details are available on the Interages volunteer portal. Contact Indira Dingledine at idingledine@accessjca.org or call (301) 255 – 4239.

Fraud and Identity Theft Series

In January, JCA is presenting a series on scams, fraud, and identity theft. The series will share several blog posts on the latest schemes targeting older adults and will culminate with an evening webinar on January 28, presented by the Montgomery County police department and Rafael Espinoza, JCA’s State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) director. Rafael’s presentation will focus on Medicare fraud and the police presentation will cover key statistics and an overview of

why criminals often target seniors. They will then explore common frauds—including phishing emails, smishing, “quishing,” ATM skimming, and identity theft.  Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions and receive answers during the presentation.

Watch your email inbox, the JCA website, and our next newsletter for registration information for the January 28 webinar. Check our blog frequently and bookmark this important information.

Aging Well: Spotlight on Young Onset Dementia and Student Literacy

Brad has been a member of JCA’s Gorlitz Kensington Clubs for more than two years. There, he feels comfortable joining in when the group is singing, dancing, or painting. But most of the club members are quite a bit older and have already traveled more of life’s journey.

For the past year, Brad has attended the JCA’s Kesher Café, for people diagnosed with young-onset dementia (YOD), defined as a diagnosis before age 65. Some of the members still have young children living at home. Others were at the peak of their careers when they, and people around them, began noticing their memory lapses and behavioral changes.

“I definitely like it here. It is a place to visit with my folks,” Brad said. He feels more confident to open up and share his feelings, added his wife, Terry. She praised the program, noting, “It’s a different vibe.” She admires “the heart and love that those people give,” referring to JCA staff members.

Kesher is the Hebrew word for connection, and that is exactly what Kesher Cafe provides. “It’s been great, Brad told me he wanted to be around people his own age.” He was diagnosed when he was 60, but his symptoms arose several years before that. “We were on the journey. I knew something was wrong before that.”

Visit the JCA blog to read the full post.

Each week, small groups of fourth and fifth graders gather in the nooks and crannies of their Glen Haven Elementary School in Wheaton. Some gather in a quiet hallway, others  in a storage room. They begin to read aloud, speaking in the voices they believe the characters they were assigned would use. They go over the pages slowly, because these students need to build confidence and fluency in their reading. Led by a volunteer from JCA’s Heyman Interages Center, the students feel

increasingly more comfortable with their reading skills.

When the eight-to-ten-week Reader’s Theater program draws to a close, the students act out their book in front of their younger classmates. Sometimes they create props and outfits, with help from JCA volunteers. “I like acting and helping little kids,” said nine-year-old Bella. Her classmate, Allison, 9, agreed. “I like acting and expressing stuff,” she shared. Added Riya, who is also 9, “I like reading books, and I like acting out, and it helps me conquer my fear of stage fright.”

Rochelle Jones, an Interages program coordinator, enjoys seeing the progress students and her volunteers make during their time with Reader’s Theater. “I think it’s a great program. The volunteers really get excited. They get into it.” Some volunteers bring props and even make their own props, Rochelle added. “They do a great job getting students into reading and acting.”

Visit the JCA blog to read the full post.

Montgomery County Free Virtual 50+ Employment Expo

Register today for the JCA Montgomery County free virtual 50+ Employment Expo on January 20, 2026. Help us spread the word. If you know of any age-friendly employers, tell them about our expos and the accomplished, experienced, motivated candidates waiting to hear from them.

In December, the JCA blog shared insight into several topics related to aging.

Older Driver Safety Awareness Week is scheduled to coincide with family gatherings around Thanksgiving, but driver safety is always a relevant topic. It is difficult to bring up, but it is an important conversation to have with aging loved ones.

Rising healthcare costs are a concern for nearly

all of us. Medicare premiums are set to go up, and aggressive immigration policies are creating a shortage of healthcare workers. As more responsibilities fall on family care partners, they are getting overwhelmed. 

We all want to age well and in good health, but there are financial concerns as we add non-earning years to our lives. Key questions are what goes into estate planning,  when to start taking Social Security, paying for long-term care, and the impact of changes to the tax laws. If you do decide to stay employed or “un-retire”, it is best to keep up with the latest tech advances to stay competitive.

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

Paula Altman in memory of Philip Altman
Marti Bailey in honor of Colleen Kemp to Kensington Clubs
Rachel Blitz in honor of Dova Boyars to Kensington Clubs Kesher Cafe
Rachel Blitz in honor of Mary Anne Darling to Kensington Clubs
Rachel Blitz in honor of Lily Groh to Kensington Clubs
Rachel Blitz in honor of Susan Harris to Kensington Clubs
Rachel Blitz in honor of Suriya Kaul to Kensington Clubs
Rachel Blitz in honor of Colleen Kemp to Kensington Clubs
Rachel Blitz in honor of Elaine Looney to SCSEP
Rachel Blitz in honor of Karen Miller to Kensington Clubs Loaves of Love
Rachel Blitz in honor of Cathy Nestoriak to SCSEP
Rachel Blitz in honor of Jodie Rasch to Career Gateway
Rachel Blitz in honor of Meryl Trachman to Kensington Clubs
Stephanie & Gary Block in memory of Marvin Schneider to Kensington Clubs Kesher Café
Katherine Bramante in memory of Abby Levin
Saundra Bromberg in memory of Shirley & David Greenberg
Julie Cantor-Weinberg, Steve & Ben in honor of Fredric K Cantor, MD
Delores DeMino in memory of Marvin Schneider to Kensington Clubs Kesher Café
Laurie Dubrow in memory of Idabelle Sherman to Interages
Barbara Etkin in memory of Daniel Luxemburg
Sharon Farber in memory of Marvin Schneider to Senior HelpLine
Brenda & Jack Feldman in memory of Diane Gordon to Transportation
Cindy Finder in memory of Marvin Schneider to Kensington Clubs Kesher Café
Yvonne & Mitch Fishbein in memory of Marvin Schneider to Kensington Clubs Kesher Café
Michael Goldstein in memory of Linda Engel
Eugene Granof in memory of Lynn Chaitovitz
Meryl Gudelsky in memory of Marvin Schneider to Kensington Clubs Kesher Café

Shelley Handler & Scott Lever in memory of Marvin Schneider, Ina Kronthal, Stephen Frank, Suzy Mendelsohn, & Michael Alan Balenson to Kensington Clubs Kesher Café
Emily Harris in memory of Nell Harris
Lawrence Hershman in memory of Belle Hershman
Phoebe Joseph in memory of Larry Michael Joseph to the Larry M Joseph Memorial Endowment Fund
Kimberly Kader in memory of Marvin Schneider to Kensington Clubs Kesher Café
Peter Kaufman & Marie Lurquin in honor of Julius, Jeanne, and Andrew Sankin
Gail Kaufmann in memory of Sherman Cohn
Lisa & Mark Kirsch and Family in memory of Marvin Schneider to Kensington Clubs Kesher Café
Elaine Krichevsky in honor of Gerald Newman
Jill & Scott Huber in memory of Marvin Schneider to Kensington Clubs Kesher Café
Carol Levin in memory of Celeste Gellner
Judith Marcus in honor of Louise Schneider
Randy Margolis in memory of Dr. Carl Margolis
Mincy Neil in honor of Moti Galil
Hanna Lee Pomerantz in memory of Marvin Schneider to Kensington Clubs Kesher Café
Doris Povich in memory of Barbara Spector
Geraldin Quinlan in honor of Dr. Fred Cantor
Stephen Rockower in honor of David Gamse
Bruce Rubin in memory of Rae Brown
Ronald & Leslie Schreiber in memory of Miriam H. (Micki) Smith
Jonathan & Sandy Simon in memory of Marvin Schneider
Ellen Swiss Rosi in memory of Barbara Spector
Rachel Solomon in memory of Chaya Rochel Solomon, OBM
Robyn Solomon in memory of Marvin Schneider to Kensington Clubs Kesher Café
Karen & Scott Strauss in honor of Shirley Peltz
Richard Turtil in honor of Estelle and Joseph Turtil
Kathleen Weinstein in memory of Marvin Schneider to Kensington Clubs Kesher Café
Marie Willet in memory of Edna Hendler to Kensington Clubs Kesher Café