Lots of support

Suzie Harrison

Jewish Family Service of Orange County offers aid to the community

and has many resources for mental health, stress, bereavement and

other issues that seniors face, said Marcy Middler, the facility’s

clinical supervisor.

In her department, there are four people, all professional social

workers and psychologists. Middler specializes in stress management.

On Wednesday night, they have a group for women 50 and older. It’s

a discussion group that addresses issues such as anxiety, depression,

relationships, loneliness and family.

“Women are always concerned with relationships -- male and female,

parent and child and interaction between all family members,” Middler

said. “It’s still primarily the woman’s role to make relationships

function. It creates a lot of anxiety and depression in women when

those relationships don’t work.”

She said that the women’s group offers a lot of support and

solutions.

She sees a lot of burn out and anxiety. Stress is a huge factor

for people living in Orange County, she said. Co-dependency is

another problem some boomers are contending with. Getting them to

create boundaries is often difficult -- it’s hard to counsel “tough

love,” she said.

“In the Jewish tradition, family is most important,” Middler said.

“Because of that, creating boundaries can be difficult.”

Their bereavement group helps people who have lost a loved one --

and they have a group that focuses on change and how to cope.

Individual counseling is available, and the fee is adjustable.

Jewish Family Service can also help people who have concerns about

aging relatives, their health and planning their care. To give some

relief, they offer a caretaker group, which is free.

“Caring for an aging relative can be highly emotional and

stressful,” Middler said.

For people seeking help for an older relative, there’s case

management or senior assessment and planning. People want to know

where to get care for aging relatives, whether a nursing home or

assisted living home is best. They want help discerning their

practical needs.

A cooperative program of hospice services can provide the

terminally ill and their loved ones with in-home hospice care.

“It’s very important,” Middler said. “People are looking for some

place where many needs are met. In our groups, there’s so much help

with practical and emotional needs.”

Help with other issues, such as marriage counseling, separation

and divorce, can be found individually or through a group.

“You don’t have to be Jewish to come to Jewish Family Service,”

Middler said. “Many aren’t, but they appreciate the family values

they offer. Most psychologists tell their clients to call us -- it’s

very difficult to find support groups in the psychological

community.”

There are three categories of seniors. Many seniors consider

themselves to be young and healthy. There are also middle seniors and

old seniors, Middler said.

“Young seniors are wanting to travel and make friends,” she said.

“The majority of the women want to make women friends, friends they

feel comfortable with, can travel with and talk to.”

Jewish Family Service is at the Jewish Federation Campus at 250 E.

Baker St., Suite G, Costa Mesa. To find out more about their

individual and group services, call (714) 445-4950.