June 20th, 2011

When Matisse and Picasso Make House Calls Selfhelp Seniors Feel a Lot Better!

 
An innovative collaboration between Selfhelp’s Virtual Senior Center (VSC) and The Jewish Museum is making it possible for many of Selfhelp’s homebound seniors to enjoy exhibitions from The Jewish Museum in the comfort of their own homes.  The high tech, online, face-to-face virtual visits enable seniors to enjoy lectures from the Museum’s art experts, ask them questions and share their own opinions.
 
“I just can’t tell you what this means to me,” says John, a Selfhelp senior who has attended each of the four 2010 classes – two on the Museum’s permanent archeological objects; one about the Legendary escape artist Houdini; and the fourth on the amazing modern art collection that the Cone sisters of Baltimore amassed over decades of study and acquisition.  The Cone sisters’ collection will be on exhibit at The Jewish Museum through September 25, 2011 (Fifth Avenue and 92nd Street).
 
“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to collaborate with Selfhelp’s Virtual Senior Center to bring these exceptional works of art to homebound seniors – a critically underserved, overlooked segment of our country,” said Nelly Silagy Benedek, Director of Education at The Jewish Museum.
 
“The opportunities offered by reconnecting seniors with live classes, experts and friends -- through our Virtual Senior Center technology – are truly amazing,” explains Leo Asen, VP Senior Communities at Selfhelp Community Services.  “We are so thankful to the Jewish Museum for facilitating these virtual classes,” he added.
 
Selfhelp’s Virtual Senior Center also offers classes and participation that include current events discussions, reminiscence, self esteem, yoga and other exercise, and more. A generous grant from funding partner UJA-Federation of New York, is enabling further curriculum development. The Virtual Senior Center hopes to earn additional grants and donations that will allow access by many more seniors.
 
“When I think of all that the Virtual Senior Center has done for me, it makes me want to cry,” adds Milton Greidinger, a charter member of the VSC who has adapted the VSC into a tool he can use on a daily basis to stay connected with friends and family, remain independent and encourage other seniors to get reconnected again.
 
Select editors were invited to watch the June 1 class, which was “attended” by a writer from Psychology Today, a medical columnist and expected to be reported in Medical News Today and Newswise nationally syndicated news.

 

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Nelly Silagy Benedek, Director of Education at The Jewish Museum, leads a live, online Selfhelp Virtual Senior Center class for seniors who participate from their homes.  The June 1 class offered an engaging discussion of the Cone sisters’ renowned collection of modern art.

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Selfhelp's Corporate Sponsors Gold:  Enterprise Community Partners Silver:  JP Morgan Chase, Newmark Knight Frank, Procida Construction Corp. Bronze:  Arnold & Porter LLP, DSA Services Inc., Douglas Elliman Property Management,  Gruzen Samton LLP, Reznick Group Copper:  Best Development Group LLC, Citibank N.A., Katsky Korins LLP, Loeb & Troper LLP, Matrix Asset Advisors, Rockabill Advisors LLC, Teva Pharmaceuticals

[If you are interested in becoming a sponsor for expansion of the Virtual Senior Center, you may contact Lois Deutsch at ldeutsch@selfhelp.net]

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For further information or questions email us at conference@selfhelp.net.
Visit us online at www.selfhe
Selfhelp is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to maintaining the independence and dignity of seniors and at-risk populations through a spectrum of housing, home health care, and social services and will lead in applying new methods and technologies to address changing needs of its community. Selfhelp will continue to serve as the “last surviving relative” to its historic constituency, victims of Nazi persecution.Visit us online at:  www.selfhelp.net

Selfhelp Community Services, Inc. 520 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018    Call us at 212.971.7764 Lindsey Gutkin-Demers, Project Coordinator lgukin@selfhelp.net www.selfhelp.net                                                                                                                                               Thank you for your support.