JCA Insights, May 2025

A Word From Shane
Flipping the Script on Aging

May is Older Americans Month. This year’s theme, “Flip the Script on Aging,” calls on us to challenge outdated stereotypes and embrace the many opportunities that come with aging.

For 15 years, JCA’s award winning 50+ employment programs have been at the forefront of shattering stereotypes about older workers and helping them get

the jobs they want. As the D.C. Metro Region continues to grapple with the terminations and reductions in force at federal government agencies, we are responding to the needs of older professionals through Career Gateway by providing special, free programs to help former federal government employees position themselves for success in the next chapter of their career.

Our first free webinar, Focused and Steady: Coping and Career Tips for Uncertain Times, was so popular we held an encore presentation on May 15. We are continually developing more programs to meet the needs of these older professionals amidst a life changing shift in their careers. On June 12, Career Gateway presents RIFs to Ready: A DOGE Survivor’s Guide to Interviewing for Your Next Job After 50, a two-hour workshop to help people prepare for interviews and showcase their government experience for private sector and nonprofit organization employers.

The end of Older Americans Month finds the JCA team deep in planning for the start of our new fiscal year on July 1. It’s a time for reaffirming JCA’s commitment to providing the programs and services older adults need—to making an impact, one person at a time. We are talking about and thinking about innovation and planning new initiatives to expand our work to meet this moment.

We couldn’t do any of this without you. Your support has shaped JCA into the vital organization we are today. This summer I am looking forward to sharing our fiscal year 2025 success stories with you and sharing more about exciting new developments in our programs and services.

You can multiply the impact of your investment in our work with a monthly gift. You support as a sustaining donor helps us meet ongoing needs and plan for the future.

Last month, the cable TV show, 50+ in Montgomery, honored the memory of Austin Heyman. At JCA, Austin was best known as the founder and namesake of the Heyman Interages® Center, but his community service goes well beyond JCA. The video on the show’s YouTube page details his many contributions to county residents. For his more than 50 years of service to Marylanders of all ages, he was awarded the AARP Maryland Lifetime Achievement Award.

This month, the Career Gateway held an encore presentation of Focused and Steady: Coping and Career Tips for Uncertain Times reaching another 166 jobseekers. in June, a deep-dive workshop, RIFs to Ready: A DOGE Survivor’s Guide to Interviewing for Your Next Job After 50, will explore the interview process. This 2-hour workshop will present step-by-step approaches to prepare for interviews and showcase government experience for private sector, nonprofit, and other employers. The workshop will offer a guide for discussing accomplishments, experiences, and details to attract employers’ attention. Learn more and register for free.

Learn more about the Career Gateway in this video from 50+ in Montgomery County.

Montgomery County’s Aging and Disability Services—part of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)—in partnership with Montgomery County Recreation, will host a community celebration to mark “Older Americans Month” from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on Friday, May 30, at the White Oak Senior Center located at 1700 April Lane in Silver Spring.

The free event is open to residents ages 55 and over and will feature fitness demonstrations, music, caregiver resources, informational vendor tables, and giveaways.

To register, visit the ActiveMONTGOMERY website or call 240-777-6944. Montgomery County Recreation is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Call 240-777-6840 or click here to request accommodations.

Medicare Fraud On the Rise: Protect Yourself

Be on the lookout! Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) is seeing an increase in reports from Medicare beneficiaries about charges on Medicare Summary Notices for services or supplies that were never received. These could be errors or outright fraud, and it’s crucial to report them. Take action to safeguard your benefits:

Found a suspicious charge? SMP is here to help. Visit Aging.Maryland.Gov/SMP to contact your local SMP office.

The Baltimore County Department of Aging is hosting the 2025 Virtual Spring Mini-Conference, Nourishing Caregivers: Mind, Body, Spirit! The free event will run from 9:00 a.m. – noon on May 30th and will feature presentations on “Managing Caregiver Stress While Prioritizing Mental Health,” “Nutritional Support for Caregivers,” and “Finding Joy in Caregiving.”

Register for the Webex event at Wufoo.

Interages is proud to continue its partnership with ClancyWorks Dance Company through the FRUIT (Fostering Relationships Using Intergenerational Techniques) program at Kennedy High School. Now in its second year with Interages, FRUIT brings together older adults and high school students through a vibrant mix of gentle movement, dance, dialogue, crafts, icebreakers, and storytelling.

Kendra Smith, the dance teacher at John F. Kennedy High School was awarded a grant from the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts for the FRUIT program. The program uses creative movement to share personal stories. This intergenerational engagement aims to enhance students’ self-expression through dance and build meaningful connections across generations.

At the heart of FRUIT is a commitment to intergenerational connection and cultural exchange, using the arts as a platform to build relationships, spark dialogue, and foster community.

See FRUIT in action in this video.

Caregiver Coping Speaker on Zoom   Monday, June 9, 2025

7-8 p.m.

The Dementia Caregiver’s Guide: Understanding the
Road from Acute to Post-Acute Recovery

When a loved one living with dementia experiences a health event—such as a fall, surgery, or hospitalization—knowing the next best step for their recovery can be overwhelming. Join us for an informative session that breaks down the differences between acute rehabilitation and post-acute (sub-acute) care, with a special focus on the supportive services available at Hebrew Home of Greater Washington.

You’ll learn:

This session is designed to empower caregivers with the knowledge to make confident and compassionate decisions. Join the program by Zoom.

In May, the JCA blog featured articles for caregivers, retirees, and healthy agers. One piece of advice helped me navigate my partner’s dementia, follows the journey of a new caregiver and the advice she received. 3 Ways Organizations Can Empower Older Workers, explored ways employers can attract and keep older workers.

Do you ever feel like younger people are talking to you in a condescending manner? Honey, Sweetie, Dearie: The Perils of Elderspeak,

discusses a training program for aides that helps them communicate more appropriately with older adults. Another article on agism asks “What if the script we need to flip is in our own minds?” Learn to overpower the agist thoughts you may have that are keeping you from reaching your full potential.

Safeguard your finances by developing an income plan post-retirement and enjoy many retirement years by increasing your lifespan and, just as importantly, your healthspan. Be sure to check out the Senior Resources Guide which offers Tips for Achieving Financial Freedom in Retirement.

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

Arden Baker in memory of Dr. Ellen S. Baker
Becky Fischbein, to the Larry M. Joseph Memorial Endowment Fund, in honor of Phoebe Joseph
Rachel Goldfarb & Family, to Senior HelpLine, in memory of Barbara Melnicove
Phoebe Joseph, to the Larry M. Joseph Memorial Endowment Fund, in honor of Zach Joseph

Phoebe Joseph, to the Larry M. Joseph Memorial Endowment Fund, in honor of Hannah and Brent’s Engagement
Joan Kalin in memory of Leo Hamburger
Steven Kover in honor of Debby and Allan Kover
Marge & Larry Kravitz in honor of Beri Kravitz
Sandy & Phil Marks, to the Larry M. Joseph Memorial Endowment Fund, in honor of Zach Joseph
Stefan & Marilyn Tucker in memory of Mark Friedlander