Report from
Leeza’s Place at Park Slope Geriatric Day Center

Exciting things are happening at Leeza’s Place at Park Slope Geriatric Day Center. During the fall we are hosting programs that educate, empower, and energize caregivers and their loved ones.

Our Caregiver Education Series is off to a great start, giving caregivers and older adults access to vital information about caregiving, aging, health, and related issues. Speakers include doctors, geriatric care managers, attorneys, and representatives from home care agencies, assisted living facilities, senior centers, other nonprofit agencies, and more. This series presents a great opportunity for community members to get advice from experts on a multitude of important issues. In a world where accurate and complete information is hard to come by, these educational presentations provide a unique opportunity for caregivers and older adults to get their questions answered in a safe setting. And it’s all free, of course.

In partnership with the Memory Center at New York Methodist Hospital, Leeza’s Place at Park Slope Geriatric Day Center is offering free memory screenings. These screenings take place every other month on the second Monday from 3 - 6 p.m. In September, over 20 people were screened. We are happy to be able to offer this important service to the community, and hope that many more individuals and families will come in for screenings in the coming months.

The Alzheimer’s Association and Leeza’s Place at Park Slope Geriatric Day Center are working together to offer a new caregiver support group this fall. This group is designed specifically for adult children of individuals suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease or any other memory disorder. The Alzheimer’s Association and Leeza’s Place at PSGDC are planning to offer more support groups in the coming months to better meet the needs (and varying schedules) of busy caregivers.

In November, four renowned authors, David Shenk, Dr. Marion Somers, Frances Kakugawa, and Dr. Robert Satow will join us for a special event at Barnes and Noble Bookstore in Park Slope. This is sure to be of interest to many caregivers in our neighborhood and beyond. The event will begin with a panel discussion and Question and Answer session on caring for an aging parent and will conclude with a book signing.

Thanks to all of our guests for helping Leeza’s Place at PSGDC thrive. Please call if you have any questions or want to know more about our programs: (347) 296-2345.

—Sharon Lebenkoff, Leeza Care Advocate

Photo: The annual caregiver cruise in New York Harbor is a time for relaxation and fun with the onboard entertainers. Photo by Evelyn Vasquez.

 

Recent Grants

Thanks to the funders who supported the following programs:

Independence Community Foundation—$40,000—to provide financial, legal, and benefits counseling for seniors and their caregivers

The Faith Home Foundation—$15,000—for general operating support

The Community Church of New York, Unitarian Universalist for support of our LGBT Caregiver program

The New York Community Trust—$25,000—to support our LGBT Caregiver Program

The Brookdale Foundation Group—$7,000—to support our Early Memory Loss Program – the Lotus Club

The Starr Foundation—$50,000—to support our Transportation Program

The Taproot Foundation Service Grant to evaluate our Key Message and Branding Strategy valued at $50,000 .

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Consider a Bequest

Naming Park Slope Geriatric Day Center in a will is an effective way to provide for its future without neglecting current responsibilities. Whether you are making a will for the first time or adding a codicil to an existing will, be sure to consult an attorney.

A bequest to PSGDC is not subject to federal or state inheritance taxes. Your estate receives a tax deduction for the full fair-market value of your bequest. A will is essential if you wish to make a bequest to Park Slope Geriatric Day Center.

If you would like more information about how to use your will to accomplish your charitable objectives, please contact Marianne Nicolosi, Executive Director, at mnicolosi@psgdc.org or (718) 499-7701 ext. 101.