This month, we’re thrilled to spotlight Nicole Andrews, Food Program & Care Manager for the JFCS Aging in Place program. With six years of dedicated service under her belt, Nicole plays a crucial role in a team of three care managers, working tirelessly to support our senior community.
“When we expanded our food program through a partnership with Feeding Northeast Florida, I was initially involved in managing this new collaboration. I was sitting in on staff meetings and our case management load was growing. I had the credentials to work in that capacity, and I had already started to get to know some of our clients through the food program. I had developed a rapport, which is critical for case management and social work. It was a natural process for my work to expand into the case management side of things.”
An objective mindset has also been a key to her success.
“We need to leave the possibility open that our recommendations may not be to support a client in staying in the home. Our recommendations might be that they need assisted living or skilled nursing.”
Typically, when adult children of elderly parents first reach out to Nicole and her team for assistance, Nicole has “no judgment.” Often, sudden life circumstances largely steer the conversation. “Life throws different things at different people, and we support them. We’re helping them through all those life surprises and challenges.”
And what has been the most impactful aspect of her work?
“It’s been fascinating at times to get to know a client, think they have a need, and then realize just how deep that need goes and how many different facets there are to it.”
Clear communication and managing expectations are also central to her work. Nicole underscores the importance of supporting family members who are often grappling with their own stress.
“We provide a lot of support to family members too. Sometimes kids call, stressed out because they’ve seen a decline in mom and dad. Even if that decline expected it can be difficult. Individuals often retain their rights to make decisions different from their kids’. So we help navigate that. There are clients that I’ve been able to provide guidance to over the phone, and they’re able to take it and run with it. And some people need a little more help, or the circumstances change.”
In cases where a deeper assessment is required, Nicole and her team might suggest a site visit or additional resources to better understand the situation. She outlines the key considerations involved in determining the best care for an aging parent:
“We look at the adult child’s lifestyle and what they can actually offer mom and dad; whether they can care for them with their own schedules and families; and sometimes the guilt associated with that and having those kinds of hard conversations. Obviously, we’re not physicians and can’t give out medical advice, but we know to screen for certain things. These are our tools, which to us seem routine, but for someone who hasn’t encountered this before, it’s completely new.”
Nicole’s work is a blend of compassion, expertise, and adaptability.
“We are advocates for all involved. We keep everyone’s best interests in mind and mediate a compromise to do what we can within this family unit to bring everyone peace of mind and happiness.”
Navigating the maze of senior care can often feel like an uphill battle. As problems and responsibilities grow larger or more complex than a caregiver or adult child can handle, knowing where to turn for help is critical. Through the Aging in Place program, our experienced counselors guide people through difficult conversations regarding senior care and recommend tailored solutions to fit their needs.
What makes JFCS’s approach stand out is its dual focus: serving both the general public and specifically, the Jewish elderly community. Nicole emphasizes the program’s dedication to cultural and historical sensitivity, saying, “We provide geriatric case management and have the privilege of working with many Holocaust survivors, ensuring our services are deeply respectful and tailored to their unique backgrounds.
Nicole and the Aging in Place team provide advice and resources, including transportation to and from appointments, meal delivery, optimization of governmental and insurance benefits, advocacy for seniors with outside parties, and emotional and practical support for families and seniors during transitions, therapy, and referrals.
Nicole Andrews embodies the empathy and professionalism that define the Aging in Place program, delivering compassionate and critical support for our seniors and their families.