Caregivers’ Day Out at Parker Jewish

The message being given to those who take care of others was a resounding “thank you” during Caregivers’ Day Out on Wednesday, September 10.
The event was organized by the Queens Health Coalition (QHC) in collaboration with Elmhurst Hospital, Forest Hills Community House, HANAC, Korean American Senior Citizens Society, Parker Jewish Institute for Health Care and Rehabilitation, Pragati, the Tsu Chi Foundation and the Samuel Field YM/WHA. It was held in New Hyde Park at the Parker Jewish Institute.
QHC Executive Director Phyllis Shafran explained that the organization already has an ongoing Caregivers Respite Program to provide individual respite to people. Each year, there is also a main event to bring caregivers together. Shafran said that Caregivers’ Day Out was meant to be not only a light-hearted event, but one where gratitude could be extended to those who are “just trying to give comfort and aid and provide a certain quality of life to a member of the family.”
Michael Rosenblut, the President and CEO of Parker Jewish, added, “I applaud all the efforts you’re doing to keep someone at home and at the same time we encourage you…[to] take care of yourself.”
The day began with a breakfast and included a variety of entertainers. It was attended by about 200 people. Also present were elected officials Senator Frank Padavan, Assemblymembers Ann Margaret Carrozza and Audrey Pheffer and Councilmember Helen Sears, all of whom extended their gratitude to the caregivers.
“In life, the people you remember the most are not the wealthiest, the most prominent, and the people with titles. You remember most, the people who cared about you and demonstrated that [care] by doing something for you or a member of your family,” Padavan said.
Pheffer said that, while caregivers are more humane and better for seniors, they are also important because without them taking care of the individual it would be the state’s responsibility, which would create a greater expense.
The Queens Health Coalition was founded in 1994 and “provides essential links between the underserved communities of Queens and quality health care.” Along with its Caregivers Respite Program, its other caregiver services include training, counseling and supplemental services. Some of its other services focus on prenatal and perinatal, infant mortality reduction and Medicare Part D.
For more information on QHC and its services, call 718-762-0346 or visit www.qhcnyc.org.