As people get older, their families expand when their children get married, have kids and embark on the life journeys common for young adults.
But as people reach the age group of seniors, it can become difficult to stay connected with family and have that social connection that is so important to maintain a high quality of life.
That’s why several organizations are dedicated to providing seniors with the resources they need to stay connected to their family and communities, including several in Philadelphia.
National Resources
The Jewish Grandparents Network is an organization specifically designed for older Jewish adults who are either current grandparents or aspiring to become grandparents.
The organization looks to educate, connect and support grandparents, who are seen as an essential part of an enriching Jewish family experience.
JGN provides webinars, workshops and programs to connect grandparents. The organization also offers courses with instruction on rebuilding relationships for grandparents who are estranged, finding ways to create family traditions to celebrate Jewish holidays and more.
“Jewish grandparents often are the center of Jewish holidays. We want to make sure that we provide resources and help people connect with each other to make sure that they are providing a real enriching environment for their families,” said Debra Weinberg, the incoming executive director of the JGN.
Along with its programming, JGN uses social media to disseminate information to several thousand followers on Facebook.
The organization is looking to expand its work with an online Grandparents’ Jewish Learning Fest in winter 2025. The event will bring together grandparents and aspiring grandparents from across the country and help them build community while hearing from experts.
Another organization is Generations United, which is a non-Jewish organization working toward bringing generations together, and it provides resources that include information for grandparents who are helping to raise grandchildren.
The organization holds conferences and advocates for public policy benefiting seniors like intergenerational housing, Social Security and more. Grandfamilies are grandparents who are raising grandchildren, and the organization also offers tools, training and advocacy for a group that can benefit from support.
Philadelphia-Area Resources
The Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Greater Philadelphia is a local organization that works toward benefitting seniors with several programs, including care management, education on available resources, community information and referrals, advocacy, financial assistance and mental health services.
They also provide Holocaust survivor support that includes nursing care, food assistance, consistent social events and transportation.
The Jewish Senior Housing and Healthcare Service is another senior organization that provides shelter and health care to low-income seniors and their families. They advertise a community living experience centered around independence, affordability, community and tradition. The organization’s website says that the community is a place where people can have a fulfilling time and live with others in a culture of respect rooted in Jewish values.
The organization runs the Saltzman House, which has 104 one-bedroom apartments and daily kosher lunches for residents.
The Kaiserman JCC is also working to connect seniors through its Gems at the J program, which offers consistent events. The activities include movie screenings, pool parties, history talks, music events, museum visits, Shabbat dinners and book clubs. The program is geared toward keeping older adults actively involved in the community, which enhances well-being and social connections among Philadelphia residents, according to JCC leaders.
The Jewish Learning Venture is another local organization that is expanding its outreach to grandparents after recently receiving a $55,000 grant from the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia to start a Grandparent Ambassador program.
The organization works with families and young children, but it is gaining support from the Federation to “help grandparents positively impact the Jewish experiences of their grandchildren in interfaith and multifaith families while combating social isolation and loneliness,” according to the Federation announcement of the grant.
The organization is also set to begin offering Get Together Grants to grandparents in order to host multigenerational events.