Holocaust Survivors Program
For Holocaust survivors, aging presents an enormous challenge. Those who survived Hitler and the Nazis are now faced with unique challenges as they age. Many are now in their 80s and 90s. Most are widows and widowers; they may feel isolated, depressed, alone and anxious. Each individual's ability to cope with the challenges of illness and aging is complicated by the suffering, loss and deprivation experienced during the Holocaust.
JF&CS's program for Holocaust survivors is designed to address and support the psychological and emotional needs of aging Jewish Holocaust survivors. Social services for Nazi victims have been supported by a grant from the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany.
How We Help
- Care coordination services allow survivors to safely and comfortably stay in their homes for as long as possible.
- JF&CS staff assists survivors in filing claims for reparations.
- In-home counseling services help survivors cope with psychological and emotional issues.
- Trained companions accompany Holocaust survivors that have physical or mental challenges that limit their ability to handle things like medical visits or grocery shopping. The ability to do these activities helps aging survivors to maintain their independence and remain socially connected.
Meet the People We Help
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Leah* was a young Jewish girl growing up in Poland when she was forced into hiding without her parents soon after the Nazi invasion in 1939. As an elderly survivor, she relied on her daily walks to the Jewish Community Center to keep her mind and body strong. But the onset of a neurological disorder confined Leah to her house, causing her to slip into depression and her physical condition to deteriorate.
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Lida* was one of the thousands of Jewish children in Germany who survived the Shoah thanks to a series of rescue efforts called Kindertransport. But the challenges of aging are presenting Lida with unforeseen problems, complicated by the suffering and deprivation she experienced as a young girl during the Holocaust.
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*Name changed to protect client confidentiality.
