A Word From Shane
You can be the blessing in someone’s life

“Don’t just count your blessings. Be the blessing other people count on.” – Anonymous

At JCA, every person we serve is more than a number to be counted and reported— they are a story. In the last year, JCA was part of the story for more than 10,000 older adults and their families, each with their own journey, hopes, challenges, and needs.

Pamela counts on JCA’s escorted transportation program for appointments with her team of doctors. For Pamela, it’s more than a ride; it’s a lifeline. Being free from the stress of finding transportation and knowing she will be treated with compassion and care is “a blessing” for her.

Dave, a SCSEP participant, had found new purpose in his job at a local food pantry. “Frankly, it’s the best thing I ever did. The work was fantastic. The people were fantastic.” One of our biggest challenges right now is helping Dave and other participants maintain hope and keep building their job search skills in the face of SCSEP’s uncertain future.

These are only two of the thousands of stories JCA was a part of last year. There are also Ann and Emily, the Heyman Interages® Center volunteers, who find joy in watching students soar as they master new skills. And there is Don, who praises the Kensington Clubs for giving him and his late wife a better quality of life while facing her dementia diagnosis. Every story is a reminder of the power of community, caring, and compassion. Over the past several weeks, we have shared these and other stories with you in JCA’s Aging Well series. In case you missed these emails. you can find them in our blog.

Behind every JCA story is a generous supporter like you—someone who chooses to do more than count their blessings. Someone who is the blessing others count on. invite you to join us again in making a gift to sustain and grow JCA’s work. Your generosity helps write the next chapter in someone’s story—a chapter filled with hope, connection, and independence.

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.

The Heyman Interages® SHARE (Students Help And Reach Elders) program kicked off with a joyful Rosh Hashanah celebration. Eighteen pre-K students joined Kensington Clubs members to read about bees and honey, make apple crafts, sing songs, and share handmade New Year’s cards—a sweet start to the school year. The program links students in school (from pre-school through high school) with older adults living in nursing homes or assisted living facilities.

Aging Well Series

For the past several weeks, JCA has been sharing the Aging Well series, highlighting its services and programs. The series has been sent by email and shared in blog posts and on social media.

The series presents in-depth stories that spotlight employment, early-stage memory loss, navigating Medicare, transportation, and volunteering.

Watch your email, social media, and the JCA blog for more from the Aging Well series.

Montgomery County will join communities worldwide in celebrating Active Aging Week from Monday, Oct. 6, through Saturday, Oct. 12, as part of an international effort to promote the benefits of active, engaged, and healthy lifestyles for older adults. The week will kick off with a signature event, “Go, Grow and Get Active,” on Monday, Oct. 6, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Nancy H. Dacek North Potomac Community Recreation Center, featuring health workshops, wellness activities, and a resource fair.

Throughout the week, more than 50 free and low-cost programs, events, and activities will take place across the County for residents age 55 and older.

Registration is required for the signature event, and it can be completed online on the ActiveMontgomery website (Special Event Code: R07107-150). Visit the Seniors section of the Montgomery County Government website to view the Seniors Calendar for a full listing of Active Aging Week programs, including times, dates, and locations.

Lawsuit Challenges Trump-Vance Administration Attack on Crucial Lifeline for Tens of Thousands of Older Americans 

Massachusetts – Democracy Forward and Jacobson Lawyers Group PLLC filed a lawsuit on behalf of four individuals to stop the Trump-Vance administration from unlawfully withholding funds from the U.S. Department

of Labor’s Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) – a more than 60-year old program that provides employment opportunities and job training to older Americans who need a lifeline to get back into the workforce. The legal challenge, Jones et al v. Department of Labor et al, is a class action complaint that seeks to restore more than $300 million in grants to nationwide nonprofit organizations.

“Tens of thousands of older Americans are in dire need of the court’s intervention to save this vital program,” said Skye Perryman, President and CEO of Democracy Forward. “The Trump-Vance administration’s baseless and unlawful funding freeze is causing real harm to real people. Democracy Forward is honored to work with our clients to seek a solution that will protect everyone who relies on the Senior Community Service and Employment Program.”

“The Department of Labor is illegally withholding funds that support senior citizens who are simply trying to make a living, gain skills essential to navigating the modern workforce, and serve their communities,” said Lynn Eisenberg of Jacobson Lawyers Group. “We are proud to stand with these participants and the tens of thousands of others they represent in demanding that the government continue this vital program.” (note: the impoundment impacted more than 30 JCA SCSEP participants)

The plaintiffs are seeking to protect SCSEP on behalf of the tens of thousands of seniors who would suffer incredible harm if the Labor Department and Office of Management and Budget do not release SCSEP funds.

“This program has been a lifeline for all of us, providing training, income, and the opportunity to serve our communities. The administration’s decision to withhold funds has left seniors across the country without the support they depend on. We are bringing this case to protect not only ourselves but tens of thousands of elder Americans who deserve the chance to work and contribute,” said Vonda Jones, lead plaintiff in the case.

SCSEP was created by Congress in 1965 to provide grants to both states and national nonprofit organizations to help train and offer community-service oriented job experiences for unemployed older Americans seeking to transition back into the workforce. The program has been a lifeline for participants, who gain valuable skills training and experience through part-time, minimum wage work aimed at helping them secure permanent jobs. For the communities where participants work, SCSEP offers a tremendous positive benefit, as participants contribute thousands of work hours to hospitals, schools, local government agencies, senior centers, and other public and nonprofit organizations in positions that might not otherwise exist.

Though the Department of Labor has executed the program for 60 years and Congress has provided ample funding for it, the Trump-Vance administration has inexplicably withheld funding to nonprofit organizations, which administer the vast majority of SCSEP efforts across the nation, imperiling access for tens of thousands of older Americans experiencing vulnerable circumstances and threatening to force many into homelessness and economic hardship.

Read the full complaint.

Montgomery County Age-Friendly Ecosystem Summit

In partnership with Age-Friendly Montgomery and other local age-friendly communities, the George Washington University’s Center for Aging, Health and Humanities will host the Age-Friendly Ecosystem Summit on four consecutive Thursday afternoons in October.

On October 9th, National Ageism Awareness Day, a powerful opening session will unpack the latest federal policy changes affecting services for older adults and caregivers. Experts will break down what’s new, what’s missing, and what’s next on the horizon, helping you stay informed and ready to act in your community.

Additional sessions:
Thursday, October 9th – The State of Aging Policy: What’s Changed and What’s Next?
Thursday, October 16th – Reimagining Housing: Designing for Longevity
Thursday, October 23rd – Aging with Confidence: Strategies for Financial and Social Well-being
Thursday, October 30th – Building your AI Awareness: Pearls and Perils

All take place from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm.

Register for any of the sessions.

JCA’s Career Gateway and 50+ Employment Expos are helping jobseekers move forward in their career searches. More than 400 people participated in the September Montgomery County Employment Expo. Please let your communities and jobseeking friends know about upcoming sessions.

The Heyman Interages Center is accepting applications for Fall ’25 programs.

The following programs are scheduled for the fall and have openings for volunteers:

– Redland Middle School Dialogues
– Readers Theater
– Grandreaders
– Afterschool programs

Visit the Interages webpage for more informaton.

Kensington Clubs seeks volunteers for program at White Oak Senior Center

JCA Gorlitz Kensington Clubs at White Oak Senior Center, 1700 April Lane, Silver Spring, MD 20904, needs 2 regular Wednesday volunteers between the hours 8:30 am and 2:00 pm.

The volunteer will assist activity leaders with room set up/clean-up and in delivering leisure and recreational programs to independent adults living with early-stage memory loss. Please contact Manager, Karen Miller, or 301-255-4221.

November is National Caregivers’ Month and Montgomery County wants to hear from you.

November is National Family Caregivers Month. It’s observed to call attention to the hard work of more than 50 million family caregivers across the country. During National Family Caregivers Month, we raise awareness of the societal value provided by caregivers and ask for greater support.

Caregivers are innately creative, resourceful, and inspiring. We learn so much from each other and want to showcase the caregivers of Montgomery County in the Montgomery County November Caregiver Support Program newsletter. You are welcome to share…

Send your stories to: ruth.kershner@montgomerycountymd.gov

Open Enrollment for Medicare Drug Plans

Take the opportunity to save money from October 15th through December 7th.

Even if you are happy with your current Medicare drug plan, check to see if you could save money by switching

plans. Montgomery County SHIP can compare your current Medicare drug plan to other plan options for 2026 to find the best value for your specific needs.

This is a free service. Visit the SHIP website or call 301-255-4250 to request an unbiased drug plan comparison. The 2026 plan comparison request form will be available at the beginning of October.

September seemed to fly by, and the JCA blog was full of useful information about changes in Medicare, and thoughts about dementia and reducing risk.

Medicare is shaping up to look quite different in the coming year. Read your Annual Notice of Change carefully to see what changes may impact your care. Keep your eyes on a pilot program to require prior authorization for certain procedures. For now, the program is not active

in our area. Also, think carefully about saving for long-term care, as Medicare will not pay for it.

If you are not certain what mild cognitive impairment means, you can read explanations by several neurologists. A popular children’s author tells his story of how dementia has affected him. Also we are reminded to get the full complement of vaccines. They have been shown to lower dementia risk.

Our latest Aging Well spotlight series highlighted our expos for local jobseekers. Please spread the word about this free program.

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

Scott Chayette in memory of Lorene Chayette
Esther Edeson in memory of Matilda Bucher
Marlin & David Feldman in honor of Rita Segerman
Tracy Figueroa in memory of Edna Hendler to Kensington Clubs Kesher Café
Linda & Steven Finkle in memory of Tillie & Erwin Brand
Michael Fleischhacker in memory of Hilda & Walter Fleischhacker
Toby Friedberg in honor of Sonya Gichner
Mitchell & Judy Glassman in honor of Betty Lichtenstein
Martin Hoffman in memory of Susan B. Hoffman to Kensington Clubs

Phoebe Joseph in memory of Grace Marks to the Larry M Joseph Memorial Endowment Fund
Lisa & Mark Kirsch in memory of Gertrude Levin
James McEachern in memory of Moshe Greenberg
Debi & Max Rudmann in honor of Richard Dine, Rabbi Shmuel Leigh, Rabbi Dovid Rosenbaum, and Simy Franco
Laura Siegel in memory of Edna Hendler to Kensington Clubs Kesher Café
Lynne & Eric Slud in memory of Sophie Levy
Barry & Suzanne Williams in memory of Chris Prinz Transportation Services