A Word From Shane
JCA Informs About Scam Prevention

For more than 50 years, people have turned to JCA as an advocate and guide on the issues that matter to older adults and their families. We are honored by this trust and work every day to provide our community with education and practical information about important subjects.

This month, our focus turns to an issue that is both pressing and deeply personal: protecting ourselves

and our older adult family members from fraud, identity theft, and scams. Our January blog series sheds light on the latest trends in financial exploitation and offers practical tips for prevention and reporting.

I invite you to join us on Wednesday, January 28, from 7:00–8:30 p.m., for our public education webinar, “Recognize and Avoid Fraud, Identity Theft, and Scams.” The session will feature experts from the Montgomery County Police Department’s Keeping Seniors Safe program and Rafael Espinoza, Director of JCA’s SHIP (State Health Insurance Information Program), who will share actionable guidance to help protect yourself and your loved ones.

Together, we can stay informed, stay connected, and stay safe.

With gratitude,

Shane

This month, Katie Smith of 50+ in Montgomery County talked about the transportation options available to older adults within the County. Katie’s guests were Rachel Goldberg, JCA’s Senior Director, Center for Information Services, and Denise Israel, the County’s transportation Program Specialist. Rachel spoke about Connect-A-Ride – the transportation information and referral service, escorted transportation, travel training, VillageRides, and senior center buses. She made the connection between transportation availability and healthy aging. View the program in the video above.

SCSEP Holds Info Session

This month, SCSEP (Senior Community Service Employment Program) held a recruiting event to meet participants who are interested in learning more, applying for the program, or had been on the SCSEP waitlist because of the funding furlough. It was a great chance to share information and for the team to meet perspective jobseekers. Attendees were able to learn about the program and fill out applications.

After 13 years, Lily Groh is retiring from her role at Kensington Clubs, a job that has truly felt more like family. Her time began at JCA as a volunteer with the Senior Helpline after answering an ad in the Montgomery County Gazette. Along the way, Ellen Greenberg, who was then Director of the Helpline, became a friend, guiding Lily to her next job and ultimately bringing her back to JCA and a job as Activity Leader at Kensington Clubs.

Her work with the Kensington Clubs and its Director, Colleen Kemp, who has also become a friend, has given Lily a deep

appreciation of how we can support individuals and families living with memory loss, showing that social connection can make life better, even if only for a short time. And, as we often say, no one ever really leaves KC. While she is retiring, Lily will remain connected by subbing when needed and volunteering with the Loaves of Love program.

Jerome Pagani is beginning his internship at JCA Kensington Clubs as part of his MSW training at Virginia Commonwealth University. He brings a background that spans research, consulting, and healthcare strategy, along with a long-standing interest in how people think, feel, and relate to one another. Jerome earned a Ph.D. in neuroscience from the Dept. of Psychology at the University of Delaware and was a Post Doctoral Fellow at NIH. He has spent much of his career working on complex, people-centered challenges in healthcare at Nordic

Consulting, EY, and Booz Allen Hamilton. Jerome is excited to contribute to the mission of helping older adults live independently and with dignity, while also supporting intergenerational connection and inclusive community care.

“My Story – My Life” at Kensington Clubs

My Story – My Life, a written history workbook, developed by Joyce Schneider, co-founder of Kesher Cafe, in 2023. It is specifically for adults living with Young Onset Dementia and their care partners.

As dementia progresses, a person may lose the ability to clearly share their life story, preferences, and what is most important to them. My Story – My Life is also a scrapbook of one’s life to make sure that essential chapters and

events are preserved and honored. It is a tool that helps everyone truly understand the individual behind the diagnosis. Care Partners can complete the blank pages of My Story – My life and then certain “chapters” can be shared with friends and/or family at Kesher Cafe meetings.

Brad Lewis, a member of Kesher Cafe, was born in NYC and raised in Stamford, Connecticut. He said he started studying judo because he wanted to learn how to defend himself against bullies but once he was engaged in the study of Judo, he not only felt more confident and capable of defending himself, but he also really just enjoyed the sport. Brad’s care partner, Terry, helped Brad complete this chapter from My Story – My Life, My Life, to present to his Kesher Cafe friends in January. First, Brad changed into his “gi” (the uniform of judo) and passed around his favorite books on Judu as well as his photo albums to his friends. Brad was the National Judo Champion in 1972. He was also invited to train with the Olympic National Training Center in Colorado.

Security experts constantly tell us we should routinely change all our passwords and never divulge any personal information like our social security number or banking information to people we don’t know or aren’t sure about, especially when they initiated the contact. This applies to requests online or by telephone. All this helps to avoid fraud and identity theft, but people may not realize that there is an entire world of scams

directly tied to Medicare beneficiaries and the Medicare payment system.

The Jewish Council for the Aging’s State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) has advice for preventing and protecting yourself against Medicare identity theft and to ensure Medicare recipients are not subject to fraud.

Learn to spot the signs: Be suspicious of medical providers who don’t charge copayments without first checking your ability to pay, according to advice from Medicare. Be wary of advertisements that state the consultation is free if you have Medicare and use pressure or scare tactics to sell you additional services.

The best thing Medicare recipients can do is check their bills and review what charges were made. If there are costs for medical equipment and services that don’t make sense, or you know you did not receive or need, do not just brush them off because Medicare covered those items. Set up an online account with Medicare to keep careful track. The Medical Summary Notice is where the health care services, supplies, and equipment are listed on your Medicare account. The printed copies come in the mail only every three months. “Look at your Medicare account. Review it, make sure whatever is billed to Medicare is what you received,” Espinoza said. “If you suspect fraud, report it.”

Read the full blog post.

Fraud and Identity Theft Series

In January, JCA has been presenting a series on scams, fraud, and identity theft. The series has shared 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.

All current and future JCA volunteers are invited to join us for a meet and greet

Wednesday, February 18 | 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
JCA Training Room
12320 Parklawn Ave.
Rockville, MD 20852

Enjoy entertainment and spend time socializing with fellow JCA volunteers.

RSVP by 2/9/26 to Volunteer@AccessJCA.org

Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments’ transportation planning board approved $10.7 million for projects designed to support older adults and people with disabilities.

The National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board approved 25 projects that support mobility for older adults and people with disabilities, with the goal of removing barriers to transportation services. Many of the projects, which include vehicle

purchases, mobility management, and travel training are in Montgomery County.

JCA received two awards totaling $834,000. The Elderbus program will use the money to transport older adults living within a five-mile radius of six Montgomery County senior centers to and from those centers, five days a week. The money will also be used to acquire two buses to help expand the program.

JCA will also expand its volunteer driving coordination program that shares ride scheduling systems, background checks, and subsidized rides, and supports program development and guidance for start-ups, driver training, and recruitment.

Read the full press release on MCM

Northern Virginia Free Virtual 50+ Employment Expo

Register today for the JCA Northern Virginia free virtual 50+ Employment Expo on February 12, 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.

Your Impact in 2025: JCA’s Annual Report
and the Stories You Made Possible

As we turn the page to 2026, we invite you to read JCA’s 2025 Annual Report, a reflection of the many stories you helped write this year. We deeply appreciate you—our generous donors, dedicated volunteers, and supporters—for everything you make possible. Together, we made a meaningful, memorable difference in the life stories of older adults and their families this year.

You can read the Annual Report as a flip-book or pdf on our website or download it to save. If you would like a printed version, please contact us.

This month, the JCA blog kicked off its series on avoiding fraud, scams and identity theft. The series started with (artificial intelligence) AI scams, which are gaining traction as AI penetrates every aspect of our online lives. Did you know that those “fun” social media quizzes are trying to steal personal information from you? Avoid them and don’t share them with friends. Also avoid home improvement salespeople who make unsolicited contact, and messages from “tech support” claiming they can

fix problems you didn’t know you had. Look out for the older people in your life – seniors are one of the largest targets of financial scams. Another popular scam is run through Medicare, and collectively, we all pay. The term used for luring all these scamming victims is “phishing.” Learn to spot and avoid it.

Other topics covered this month were good motivation for New Year’s resolutions: Activities that Slow Brain Aging, taking public transportation with Fare-free buses in Montgomery County, debunking misconceptions about aging, dancing for your health, brain-boosting activities, and decluttering as a favor to your kids.

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

Joshua Marcuse in honor of Marshall Marcuse to Interages
Neal Meiselman in memory of Win Greenwald
Kristin Oliver in honor of Ellen Greenberg & Joan DiCostanzo
Rebecca Plesset in honor of Elaine Looney
Ann Poritzky in memory of Siegbert & Selma Poritzky to Career Gateway
Gary & Phyllis Schwartz in memory of Dr. Gerald Schwartz
Randi & Paul Schweitzer and family in memory of Marvin Schneider to Kensington Clubs Kesher Café
David Simon in honor of Dan Gross
Terry Singer in memory of Reuben & Ethel Singer
Rachel Solomon in memory of Louise & Julius Solomon
Alice Torrey in memory of Bill Torrey to Interages
Sara Tranum in memory of Grandpa Sam & GG G to Kensington Clubs
Hollis Weisman in memory of Sylvia & Coleman Raphael
Ellen Zwibak in honor of Jacky Schultz