health mind and body

Achiezer event helps caregivers give kavod to their elders … and make it count

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More than 700 hundred people (some from as far as Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Florida) visited the Eldercare Plus Conference and Vendor Expo Showcase hosted by Achiezer at the New York LaGuardia Marriott Hotel. The attendees arrived hoping to become informed on how to be a more responsible and better caregiver.

On arrival, guests had a chance to browse a showcase featuring over 50 exhibits, ranging from a variety of senior services and centers, assisted living facilities and nursing homes, financial institutions, elder law attorneys and advisers, medical equipment and respiratory therapy solutions.

Highlights from the 20 sessions that ran throughout the day include a talk on dementia by Mrs. Hennie Friedman and Dr. Elliot Salamon. When Mr. Ronald Spirn, Esq., spoke about financial planning, there were no seats left in the room — the door remained open and many people tried listening in from the hallway. Dr. Zev Carrey led two sessions on the varied opinions regarding keeping one’s loved one at home or enrolling them in a nursing home; both sessions were crowded and many stayed at the conclusion for Q&A. HaRav Yaakov Bender addressed a packed session about how to care for a loved one from afar. Dr. Rachel Lowinger hosted two popular sessions offering valuable information to caregivers on how to care for themselves.

Other highlights included retirement planning, the special needs child, Rabbi Tzvi Flaum and Dr. Martin Grossman about critically ill patients, and the ABC’s of Medicare given by Mrs. Lea Gould (many noted that this session provided a clear new understanding of how Medicare works).

The Nachum Segal Show broadcast live for two hours from the hotel lobby. Segal interview several of the key attendees, presenters, vendors and Achiezer staff who helped assemble the event. Gourmet Glatt of Cedarhurst sponsored a lunch spread and a tea room which was open during the duration of the conference.

With needs ever evolving, information constantly changing and roles suddenly progressing through the various stages of caregiving, the Eldercare gathering has become a once-a-year “can’t miss event” for the Jewish caregiver.

Achiezer extends its gratitude to Gourmet Glatt and the three event sponsors — Caring Professionals, MJHS, and Sentosa Care, for their contributions and for playing an active role in planning and executing the event, and to Senior Care EMS for hosted on-site health screenings for all attendees.