Jewish Community Services (JCS) has been a leader in social services for 100 years, serving the most vulnerable community members from infants to fragile seniors. The COVID-19 Pandemic has significantly affected seniors in our community. Senior centers and meal sites are closed in keeping with the social distancing safety protocols. In-home care has been carefully redesigned to ensure the health and wellness of our staff and clients. As a result, the number of seniors who are experiencing social isolation has dramatically increased.
“We recognized the need for virtual programming for seniors long before COVID-19 and launched Lambda Living Online (LLO) for LGBT seniors in January 2020”, said Cindy Brown, the Lambda Living Program Manager. “When everything shut down, we were able to welcome all seniors from around the county and beyond to participate in virtual activities with other seniors.”
JCS’ LLO has now expanded its online socialization offerings to over 45 activities per week. These activities include exercise, support groups, weekly financial updates, health & nutrition presentations, and so much more.
According to Randi Adler, LCSW, Program Director for LGBT Services at JCS, “This virtual program has allowed us to reach the most vulnerable members of our society, our isolated seniors. Helping them connect with others provides the support they need to maintain social involvement while maintaining social distance.”
JCS’ LLO is free to seniors 55+ and easy to use with a computer, tablet, or smartphone with internet access. The website has a full calendar of events and a section for recordings. Interested parties can go here or contact Cindy Brown at CBrown@jcsfl.org.
Funding for this program comes from Our Fund Foundation, The Greater Miami Jewish Federation, and The Miami Foundation.
For full information about JCS’ LGBT programs, visit https://jcsfl.org/services/lgbtqia.