In an effort to stay closely connected to its senior members since having to shut down its daily senior center operations, which included its congregant meals program, due to the coronavirus, KleinLife in Northeast Philadelphia has added a new telephone talk therapy program.
“Our goal is to keep in touch with our members during the pandemic health emergency to help them cope and manage the issues related to anxiety and depression which is often problematic within this active elderly population,” said Andre Krug, president and CEO of KleinLife. “To further this along, we’ve added the telephone talk therapy to our Home Delivered Meals program in an effort to maintain close communications with our members.”
Krug also announced that Mariya Keselman-Mekler, LPC, ATR-BC, KleinLife’s counseling and program manager and certified art therapist, is overseeing and implementing the call therapy program. Some 58 members and counting receive talk therapy, with frequency of service depending on their individual needs.
“Through telehealth, participants are able to communicate their concerns, worries and triggers and get confidential support to cope with feelings that may come up for them,” she said. “There are definitely patterns in the concerns that people express that need support, however, I am committed to taking a person-centered, trauma-informed and eclectic approach to meet their individual needs. We are trying to provide services in ways most accessible to our participants. There is no cost for the program, which is being funded by KleinLife.”
For more information, contact KleinLife at 215-698-7300 or visit kleinlife.org
