From Monday, July 11 through Thursday, July 14, 2022, Yeshiva University’s Wurzweiler School of Social Work Care Café partnered with Nachas Health and Family Network for a four-day retreat for a group of Holocaust survivors at the Hudson Valley Resort & Spa in Kerhonkson, NY.
This much-anticipated vacation served as a break from the long periods of isolation many experienced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing the survivors to gather in a fun and loving environment. Many survivors communicated that they were unable to enjoy group activities for more than two years and were so happy to be together. One survivor, Ms. Friedman, shared that she was “overjoyed” to be with her friends and noted, “Just look at everyone! We are still here! It’s beautiful!”
Yechiel Lichtenstein, LMHC
The days were filled with warm sunlight and hourly activities curated by the Hudson Valley Resort events team. Such activities included swimming, singing, creative arts, family meals and other social gatherings.
As a part of the education series, featured guest speaker and psychotherapist, Yechiel Lichtenstein, LMHC (Licensed Mental Health Counselor), offered a psychoeducation workshop on community safety. His talk addressed the critical elements of the emotional, environmental and physical safety impacting older adults. He offered practical tips for ways to improve one’s home, stressed the importance of hydration with water and its benefits and provided advice on how to safely address anxiety and changes in emotional well-being effectively.
It is a joy to continue to serve our survivors alongside Nachas Health, and we look forward to continuing to celebrate their lives every day!
For more information about Nachas Health, contact them at https://www.nachashealth.org/.
To reach Yechiel Lichtenstein, LMHC, log on to https://www.facebook.com/yechielm.lichtenstein.
For more information about Care Café, contact us at carecafe@yu.edu.
