Celebrate National Good Neighbor Day 
September 28th

Be a Good Neighbor – Volunteer to drive seniors and build friendships in your community!

Enacted in 1978, the Good Neighbor Day proclamation states, “For most of us, this sense

of community is nurtured and expressed in our neighborhoods where we give each other an opportunity to share and feel part of a larger family.”

Volunteer drivers make a world of difference in the lives of older neighbors or disabled adults who feel isolated because they no longer drive yet still have the need and desire to maintain mobility.

For more information on how to volunteer or get a ride, Contact JCA VillageRides: 301-255-4212 or VillageRides@AccessJCA.org.

SCSEP (Senior Community Service Employment Program) jobseekers are celebrating the successful completion of a conversational English class sponsored by Catholic Charities, one of our community partners. JCA SCSEP has been working with Catholic Charities to provide free English classes since 2023.

JCA SCSEP job seekers attend 12 Saturday classes each semester. All of our jobseekers are now in at least their 3rd session. The English class is available for as long as the students feel they are needed.

The Heyman Interages^® Center is looking for volunteers for the Glen Haven Elementary Reader’s Theater program. Reader’s Theater is a program where small groups present dramatic readings to convey stories using only vocal expressions. It is held during or after school, in-person or virtual.

Background check and application are required for participation. There is ongoing acceptance of volunteers throughout the program.

Contact Indira Dingledine for more details and to apply.

Montgomery County Councilmembers issued a proclamation Sept. 10 in honor of National Senior Citizens Day. The official date is Aug. 21, as signed into law by then Pres. Ronald Reagan, but the council celebrated the occasion after their summer recess.

National Senior Citizens Day “is a day to celebrate and recognize the contributions of our senior population who paved the way for us to enjoy the fruits of their labor,” it said in the proclamation. Seniors serve as mentors and role models, the councilmembers noted.

According to council, 17.2% of the county’s population is 65 years and older. A little more than 6% of this population lives below the federal poverty level. Councilmembers stressed the importance of making senior adults feel connected and not isolated and have access to the resources they need, including health care, housing and food.

Added Robin Riley, Montgomery County’s Director of Recreation, “Our senior centers are buzzing and packed with activity.”

Virtual Reality at Kensington Clubs

Virtual Reality (VR) offers significant benefits for people with early-stage memory loss. By providing immersive and engaging environments, VR can even stimulate cognitive reserve function and abilities. VR experiences can recreate familiar settings or pleasant past experiences of preference, which might improve mood and reduce anxiety. This technology also offers exciting opportunities for social interaction through leisure activity

exploration and travel which can then help to combat the isolation and depression often associated with a diagnosis of memory loss.

At Kensington Clubs @Germantown Community Center, Virtual Reality sessions were completed with 8 club members. Each member could verbally describe to the group what they were seeing through their goggles. One club member is blind in one eye. She was able to track and turn her head (the program uses eye tracking to move through the programs) and verbalize what she was seeing, “I see palm trees! I see the ocean. I want to go to Jamaica next!” (She was born and raised in Jamaica).

Another club member who has a child in high school, commented, “My kids would love this. This is amazing.”

Jobseekers Learn Computer Foundations

It is almost impossible in today’s job market to get a job without basic computer skills. Computer Foundations is an in-person, hands on computer class designed to help the older worker get comfortable and confident using the computer. Sponsored in conjunction with Worksource Montgomery and Montgomery College, Computer Foundations is a free class to help the older worker get

past the fear of online job searches and the computerized office environment. Including the Microsoft suite of office products, this nuts and bolts computer class covers all the basics workers need in today’s office setting. The next class begins Oct 28.

Also available in October is the in-person Resume Writing Intensive. This interactive resume workshop goes step by step through the resume writing process. Participants will understand how a resume is used, how to write one tailored for the reader, and how to showcase relevant skills.

Virtual 50+ Employment Expos are Back

The virtual 50+ Employment Expos are returning to offer jobseekers the opportunity to retool, recharge, and reinvent. The 50+ Employment Expos bring together highly motivated and experienced jobseekers with local employers.

Upcoming Expos are on October 10 (Northern Virginia) and November 19 (Montgomery County, MD). Learn more at the Virtual 50+ Expos website.

Over the past two months, the JCA blog, Information for the Sandwich Generation, has offered a variety of informative posts. We examined why saving for retirement is harder for women, and why you should create a “digital will.” The August Senior Resources Guide discussed sexually transmitted diseases while other posts outlined the importance of getting a shingles vaccine and a yearly eye exam. Also, through the blog, you can download a copy of NCOA’s Home Safety Guide and Checklist.

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

The High Holiday season is the perfect time for making a gift to sustain JCA’s work. In the last year, JCA experienced a 26% increase in the number of people turning to us for help. We served more than 9,000 people through the Senior Helpline and other information services, transportation, employment programs, the Kensington Clubs, and the Heyman Interages Center® that connects seniors with K–12 students. We were there for everyone who needed us because of supporters like you. Thank you!

Looking ahead we anticipate demand for JCA’s services will continue to grow and we will be called upon to innovate and expand our programs to meet the ever-changing needs of our community. Your commitment and generosity sustain our work to build a brighter future for all.

Geraldine Quinlan in honor of Dr. Fred Cantor
Sherri Porter in honor of Kathi Dennis
Carey & Richard Joseph in honor of Rebecca & Alex
Phoebe Joseph in honor of Rebecca & Alex
Louise Schneider in memory of Hersh Goldberg-Polin

Carey & Richard Joseph in memory of Gerri Kandall
Colleen Kemp in memory of Barbara J. Kemp

Marian Merewitz in memory of Mort & Florence Merewitz
Laura Weisman in memory of Sylvia Raphael
Elaine Abramson in memory of the Birthday of Larry Joseph
Elaine Abramson in memory of Edward Sondik
Beth and Garon Camassar in memory of Edward Sondik
Carol Levin in memory of Louise Myers