Caring for the Caregiver: Caring for Yourself so You Can Care for Others

presented by SAGE—Advocacy & Services for LGBTQ+ Elders

Monday, March 11, 7:30–9:00 p.m.

Monday, April 15, 7:30–9:00 p.m.—Topic TBD

Monday, May 13, 7:30–9:00 p.m.—Topic TBD

Can We Still Talk About Sex?

Monday, June 10, 7:30–9:00 p.m. | Can we still talk about sex? Yes! Join us as we explore sexuality and aging with Dr. Jane Fleishman, PhD, MEd, MS—a sexuality educator, writer, researcher, and author whose mission is to promote sexual wellness in older adults.

Check out CBST Aging Together videos and resource links from our monthly AT gatherings:

12/11/23—The Queer Secrets of the Metropolitan Museum of Art with Professor Andrew Lear (View PowerPoint slides »)



11/13/23—Funeral Pre-planning: Everything You Wanted to Know but Were Afraid (and Didn’t Want) to Ask! with Gregory Katz-Zannitto, LFD, Senior Funeral Director, Director of Communal Partnerships, Plaza Jewish Community Chapel (View PowerPoint slides »)

View other Aging Together programs here: Past Aging Together Recordings »

Art is Life: Our Virtual Art Gallery 

After December’s The Queer Secrets of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, member Sarah Siegel offered this suggestion: “We could curate a gallery and collection of not only visual art, but also music, books, plays, and films that inspired our self-recognition about our sexual orientation or gender identity.” Sarah shared two artworks that helped shape her identity:

1. Standing Woman by Gaston Lachaise This gorgeous sculpture was my earliest awakening when I saw it in the MoMA sculpture garden from age five onward. First, since she was a giant, and next because of her curvy, frank nudity.

2. Henri Rousseau's "The Dream", which cemented my desire for girls and women as a pre-teen—the naked woman on the plush couch, in the colorful jungle under a full moon and the low risk of encountering this scene in real-life.

What art impacted you? Let us know at [email protected]. Please put “Art is Life” in the subject line. Thank you, Sarah!

CBST Chesed—Making Connections

CBST Chesed is members helping members of all ages by acknowledging both the joyous moments in our lives and offering support through the difficult times. Chesed fosters mutually beneficial connections, companionship and support by providing the following services for CBST members as needed:

• Ongoing weekly phone or video calls.
• Regular in-person visits.
• Emails or calls to a congregant who is celebrating a simcha, hospitalized, recovering from illness, in mourning, or at a holiday time.
• Limited tech support for those having difficulty accessing CBST services, online classes or programs.

If you need support and/or if you would like to volunteer with CBST Chesed, please fill out this Chesed questionnaire and a member of our team will get in touch with you. If you have any questions, email [email protected] or call Judy Ribnick at 917-310-4656.

Please note that volunteering for or accessing CBST Chesed services is reserved for CBST members. It is not an emergency service. In case of a pastoral emergency such as a death, please call or text 917-513-0413.

Managing the Winter (and Other) Doldrums

From SPOP—Service Program for Older People, the region’s leading provider of community-based mental healthcare for adults age 55 and older:

The “winter doldrums” can affect people of all ages and walks of life. If you find yourself feeling down this time of year you might consider devoting a little extra time to self-care. Set a timer to remind yourself to stand up and stretch every hour—or bundle up and take a walk on a sunny day. Call an old friend or neighbor. Attend synagogue services. Tidy up. Be aware of any temptation to misuse food, alcohol, or other substances to manage your emotions.

We provide treatment at our offices on the West Side of Manhattan, via telehealth, and at 25 satellite locations in Manhattan, the Bronx, and Downtown Brooklyn. Services include individual and group psychotherapy, bereavement support, psychiatry, medication management, and connections to other providers to support aging in place. SPOP has a long-standing partnership with SAGE, and all clinicians are trained in working with diverse sexual orientations and gender identities, particularly through the lens of aging. 

SPOP currently has openings for individual and group therapy. We might have a group that aligns with your life experience, whether it’s managing anxiety, caregiver distress, chronic illness, depression, or de-cluttering. Individual and group clinic services are for NYS (and primarily NYC residents). Please call 212-787-7120 x514 or watch this short video to learn more. 

Remember that you can always call or text 988, the 24-hour NYC Crisis Lifeline if you feel the need to talk with a mental health professional at any time.

Ora Ezrachi, Chair of CBST Aging Together Monthly Gatherings, identified this valuable Older Adult Resource Guide for older NYC residents and their caregivers created by NYS Senator Liz Krueger, a passionate advocate for older adults.

Check out these Home Design Guidelines: Being Safe and Independent at Home. This fantastic booklet, created by SimTigrate Design Lab at Georgia Tech was developed to support individuals experiencing mild cognitive impairment and is useful for all of us who want to live at home more safely.

Feeling alone because of the crisis in Israel? The Jewish Board has created a weekly, online United Hearts for Israel Support Group to help find support and strength.

Thanks to Jack Malick for sharing these articles with us:

Seven Super Secrets of the Super Agers (AARP—11.10.23)

Why Long-Term Care Insurance Falls Short for So Many (NYTimes—11.22.23)

Retiring Soon? Seven Expert Tips to Ensure Your Money Lasts (Kiplinger—12.13.23)

And, as we stated in the beginning of this newsletter, read about hygge (“HUE-gah”) and how “the Danish art of getting comfy and cozy can definitely be a way to practice self-care.”

Embracing Hygge Lifestyle in Later Years (Healthnews—11.23.23)

What is Hygge, and Why is it Good for Your Well-Being? (Everyday Health—11.3.23)

We hope that you’ve enjoyed this issue of CBST’s Aging Together newsletter. Feel free to share it with others and spread the word about Aging Together.

L’Shalom,

Ora and Judy

Ora Ezrachi, PhD.

Chair, Aging Together

Judy Ribnick, LCSW, MA

Director, CBST Aging Together

[email protected]

(917) 310-4656