Social Services
Our Social Services Department aims to enhance the quality of life of older adults and their families by providing a full spectrum of programs and services that support aging with dignity and promote independence while embracing Jewish values.
Our integrated team delivers case management, Therapeutic Dementia Care, Community Mental Health, Kosher meals-on-wheels and services for Holocaust Survivors, which can include homecare, financial assistance and other services. Our professional team provides information, referrals, consultation, evaluation and crisis intervention.
In collaboration with the Health and Social Services Network of Quebec and community agencies, we strive to ensure the best service and support. Our dedicated team of case managers, recreational therapists, creative arts therapists and educators speak a variety of languages, including English, French, Hebrew, Russian, and Yiddish.
Reach out to us
Social Services
Intake and Case Management
Our professional team is available to provide personalized plans to meet the needs of older adults:
Partnering with the public sector and community agencies ensures the best service and support available.
Community Assistance Program
The Community Assistance Program (CAP) is available to the Jewish senior population on a limited income and/or facing an emergency due to financial difficulties.
CAP funds are allocated to financially vulnerable seniors to empower them to cope with unforeseen challenges of daily living while preserving their dignity and respect. Department professionals use this program as an intervention tool within a more comprehensive psychosocial plan. The assistance is provided with compassion and confidentiality.
Community Mental Health
PROMOTING STRENGTH & RECOVERY
Our mental health team provides support and empowers older adults who live with a mental illness. We help enhance their quality of life by promoting community engagement, providing psychosocial support, and offering tailored intervention plans.
We focus on breaking isolation through a variety of socialization groups and activities, including:
Creative artstherapies
Socialization groups
(coffee and chat, journaling)
Pet therapy
Specialized cooking group
Jewish holiday celebrations
“One of my favourite activities is the cooking group. We work as a team, preparing easy and tasty meals together with the guidance of a chef. Rather than staying at home feeling isolated, I push myself to go to the Centre. I never feel alone even though sometimes it’s hard to push myself. I am also part of the Journaling Club and I’ve sung in the Glee Club – there is such a variety of services and programming for me to join and enjoy.”
– Erika Kober
- The Community Mental Health Day Program is funded in part by the Rona & Irving Levitt Family Foundation Endowment Fund.
- The Pet Therapy Program is funded by the Adler Lipkus Foundation, Albert Levy and the Jeff & Elizabeth Kolovsky Foundation.
L’Espoir Day Program
The L’Espoir Day Program offers programming and activities to help maintain and improve the social, physiological, emotional, and cognitive well-being of older adults living with cognitive impairments such as Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. The goal is to enhance the quality of life of participants and provide respite and support to caregivers.
Each participant is treated with respect and dignity in a structured environment adapted to their needs, interests, and skills. Programming is designed to highlight participants’ strengths and enhance their sense of self-worth.
Groups are offered in:
- English and French at the Côte Saint-Luc Aquatic and Community Centre (7500 Mackle Road, Côte Saint-Luc).
- Russian at the Cummings Centre (5700 Westbury Ave., Montreal).
Program Features
- Cognitive stimulation to empower decision-making and critical thinking
- Reality orientation and reminiscence
- Physical activity to increase flexibility, range of motion and endurance
- Creative arts therapies to encourage self-expression and a sense of accomplishment
- Opportunities for socialization and maintenance of communication skills
- Celebrations for special occasions such as birthdays and holidays
For information about pricing and eligibility criteria
- This program is funded in large part by the generosity of donors to the Cummings Jewish Centre for Seniors Foundation.
Benefits for Caregivers
Family caregivers are unsung heroes who work tirelessly to ensure the well-being of those in their care. Caregiving for a loved one requires significant commitment, patience, and compassion. It can be a round-the-clock job where time is a valuable commodity. The Cummings Centre’s day program offers therapeutic recreational programming for people living with dementia, but it also provides family caregivers with the respite they need. The program represents a block of time in the day when the caregivers know their loved ones are safe and engaged. Some caregivers take this time to run errands, attend medical appointments or even pursue leisure interests. Caregivers in the program can also receive direct support and referrals from program staff.
“Thank you all who are working on this program. It makes a difference to the families of those who participate, not just those who are in it.”
– Caregiver participant
“You guys really are angels sent from above to bring joy and happiness to our lives. I am forever grateful.”
– Caregiver participant
Cummings-Connex Integration Program
This new service model is for individuals experiencing challenges or barriers impacting their ability to participate in programs. Individuals seeking support in choosing social activities are linked with a professional who will assess their needs and leisure interests and connect them to Cummings Centre’s recreational and therapeutic programs. This service seeks to evaluate the individual holistically, incorporating their psychosocial needs while exploring their abilities, interests, and physical functioning.
For information, please email us at cjcsconnex@cummingscentre.org
Recent news and events
Online Fraud – Protect Yourself!
While we can enjoy everything today’s technology can do for us, we must remain cautious. Scammers have become more savvy and sophisticated. Whether it’s
Honouring Cummings Volunteers
Volunteers Make Waves. Together, we create ripples of change. The volunteer corps of over 650 strong work side by side with the professional team
Online Fraud – Protect Yourself!
While we can enjoy everything today’s technology can do for us, we must remain cautious. Scammers have become more savvy and sophisticated. Whether it’s
Honouring Cummings Volunteers
Volunteers Make Waves. Together, we create ripples of change. The volunteer corps of over 650 strong work side by side with the professional team
“I have been participating in the Community Mental Health program at the Cummings Centre for 19 years now. My case manager means more to me than words can express. All the people I have met at Cummings have touched my life in the most positive way. From the Drama and Art Therapy classes to coaching from my case worker to help me build up my self-esteem, I know in my heart that there is no other place in the world where I would be treated as kindly as the Cummings Centre.”
-Deena