High Holidays for Older Adults and Caregivers

Authored by Rachel Adlerstone, "High Holidays for Older Adults and Caregivers" offers guidance for navigating the Jewish High Holy Days when individuals experience changes in stamina, mobility, hearing, vision, memory, or medical requirements. The book supports participation without patronizing older adults or excessively valorizing endurance. It prioritizes the individual's needs and preferences rather than presumptions about what should be maintained. The author's approach focuses on practical adaptations and respectful communication.

This resource covers topics such as planning around energy levels, adapting services into shorter segments, and addressing concerns related to hearing, vision, and mobility. It provides insights into managing medication, meals, and fasting, and offers dementia-aware guidance that utilizes familiar melodies and simple orientation. The book also addresses the needs of caregivers, providing strategies for respite and acknowledging their requirements for sacred time. It explores options for home, facility, and synagogue participation, and discusses preserving choice and dignity through conversations about honors, Yizkor, and the transfer of ritual objects. Checklists facilitate coordination among synagogue staff and care teams, ensuring agency, access, and relationships are maintained amid changing circumstances.