Blog

Hi, TI community,

I’m Sarah Z. Levinson, and I’m the manager of the St. Louis NORC at Jewish Family Services (JFS).

I moved to St. Louis for graduate school in 2009 and met my husband, Ben, at a Shabbat dinner. Ben went to preschool and had his Bar Mitzvah at TI, which is also the congregation where my grandfather’s roommate in rabbinical school, Alvan Rubin, had been Rabbi. (Pictured below: Rabbi Rubin, right, with Sarah's family members on the day her grandfather was ordained and her grandparents got engaged in 1948.)

When I first stepped inside TI’s building, it reminded me of Temple Beth Abraham in Tarrytown, NY, my grandfather’s congregation of 42 years where I attended preschool and my mom taught Sunday School. Our daughter, Hannah (6), progressed from Tadpole to Dolphin at Deutsch Early Childhood Center (DECC) and enjoys learning and being with friends at Temple Israel Religious School (TIRS), where I have been teaching since 2021.

My passion is supporting people to age with optimal health, well-being, independence, and dignity in their homes and communities. Prior to joining the staff of the St. Louis NORC, I worked at the Adult Day Center at the J and Aging Ahead. Between 2012 and 2017, I served as a NORC volunteer, helping older people with minor home repairs and technology assistance. I joined the NORC staff in 2017 when its founding manager, Karen Berry Elbert (also a TI member), retired after 15 successful years. I am proud of the way our team has adapted to changing community and organizational needs while staying true to our roots in person-centered care and collaboration with community partners to enhance safety, connection, and quality of life as we age.

Our NORC members inspire me to live and age well. Just as I relied on DECC and now TIRS to help me connect with others and navigate new experiences, NORC offers connection, support, and resources for people over age 60 and their loved ones.
 
Read on for more information about the St. Louis NORC and ElderLink, a free and confidential information and referral phone line staffed by JFS case managers trained to help older adults and caregivers navigate new stages of life.

A naturally occurring retirement community (NORC) is a neighborhood, subdivision, building, or geographic area that was not originally designed for older people, but now has a large percentage of residents over age sixty (60).

St. Louis NORC is a neighborhood program that supports individuals to age independently, comfortably, and securely in their homes. While membership was initially limited to a 3-mile service area from The J in Creve Coeur, many offerings are available to individuals living beyond that radius.

Here are examples of ways that St. Louis NORC facilitates connection each year:

• Monthly engagement opportunities
• Friendly phone calls during the holidays, for birthdays, and by request
• Annual home visits by NORC staff, professionals who care and provide connections to programs and services to meet your unique needs.
• Discounts to area businesses
• Annual directory of NORC members who consent to sharing information
• Minor home repair and technology assistance by trained and screened volunteers

If you’d like to learn more about NORC membership or becoming a volunteer, I’d love to hear from you. Contact me at slevinson@jfsstl.org or (314) 812-9342, or become a NORC member and read the latest newsletter by clicking here!

Sincerely,
Sarah
St. Louis NORC Manager (she/her/hers)
Jewish Family Services

ElderLink, (314) 812-9300, is a free and confidential phone line that provides older adults and their caregivers with access to resources and referrals that best meet their needs. Staffed by a knowledgeable and experienced JFS case manager, ElderLink is available Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Through our network of partners, ElderLink connects callers to a range of services, including in-home support, food assistance, transportation resources, housing options, utility assistance, socialization opportunities, help to apply for benefits, and much more. Our JFS case manager works with callers to ensure that they have the tools and resources needed to navigate new stages of life.