ElderCare Advocates is a team practice, staffed by seasoned geriatric care managers, gerontologists, psychotherapists, and consultants who understand the process of aging and the challenges it presents. We recognize that caring for an elderly loved one can be stressful, guilt provoking, time intensive, and often frustrating. We also understand that you have been putting off making this call for quite some time now, and that you are finally reaching out to us because you are worried, can no longer afford to wait and see how things turn out, and are very near your wits' end. We recognize that you probably feel very awkward and embarrassed in making this call and having to discuss highly personal matters with total strangers; however for your peace of mind we just want you to know that regardless of what you will tell us we've probably heard it, or something just like it, from someone else before you. Now that you have finally made the correct decision by contacting us, and we have hopefully acknowledged at least some of your feelings and concerns, we want you to know that we empathize with you and your apprehensions. As such, we wish to reassure you that at ElderCare Advocates our primary goals are, first and foremost, securing the safety of your family member, preventing that "dreaded crisis" otherwise known as the "worst-case scenario" from ever materializing, establishing a viable and secure plan of care, and restoring stability. Our objectives are simple enough: tackling head on both the problems and the concerns frequently associated with aging; namely,  an increasing loss of independence, function, self, and ultimately hope. Our goals are also quite simple, wherever and whenever, to the degree that is possible, we strive to improve the quality of life for your parent and provide them with a sense of hope and meaningfulness at their stage of life, to the best of our abilities.

Having said all this, we also try never to overlook the importance of providing respite for the caregiver, relieving them of  some of their numerous chores and responsibilities, and hopefully preventing "caregiver burnout." ElderCare Advocates subscribes to the philosophy that  by minimizing the stress on the adult-child, the needs of the parents will be better served.

ElderCare Advocates is a family business.  We understand the unique dynamics of family relationships in contemporary American society, as well as the many conflicts and concerns inherent in the intergenerational partnership. We have never subscribed to the old wives' myth that "one parent can take care of ten children, but ten children cannot take care of one parent." At ElderCare Advocates we recognize many of the difficulties associated with the "sandwich  generation", such as: adult children living at a distance, dual-working spouses, caring for younger children, or caring for our own declining health as we ourselves age, to name but a few. Nevertheless, we remain both optimistic and singularly committed to finding acceptable solutions for these as well as for some of the other difficult choices you will  face. 

At ElderCare Advocates we never forget our professional duty and will always demonstrate the utmost sensitivity and good judgment when dealing with delicate issues and difficult situations.

 Fred Moskovitz graduated from Brooklyn College of The City University of New York (CUNY) with a BA in Psychology in 1971. He attended graduate school at The City College of The City University of New York (CUNY) and received an MS in Education in School Psychology in 1974. He received a post-graduate Certificate in Gerontology, with distinction, from Marymount Manhattan College in 2001, and earned his doctorate (Psy. D.) in Psychology from California Coast University in 2004. Additionally, Fred spent upward of fifteen years studying at major Rabbinical institutions where he studied Ethics, Talmudic reasoning, and Pastoral Care. Fred is currently certified as a long-term care manager (CMC) through the National Academy of Certified Care Managers (NACCM).  

Fred established ElderCare Advocates in 1999 after spending 25 successful years in the diamond and precious stone industry. He decided to combine his extensive knowledge of business, management, communication, and negotiation together with his passion for working with people, and in particular with the elderly. Having grown up in a family of nursing home entrepreneurs, Fred is intimately knowledgeable about skilled nursing facilities, institutional models, as well as their strengths and numerous weaknesses. As a gerontologist, Fred understands that most people prefer to age in their own homes, whenever possible, rather than moving in with children or relocating to senior housing, assisted living, or nursing homes. ElderCare Advocates tries to assist its clients to "age in place" if they so desire, or to relocate if they truly wish. By integrating the principles of good business management, excellent communication skills, and a formidable background in psychology and gerontology, Fred has developed his own successful model for the practice of geriatric care management which he refers to as "Integrative and Behavioral Gerontology & Geriatrics".

Fred was a New York State Certified Emergency Medical Technician/Defibrillation (EMT-D) for 12 years until his retirement in 2001, and is experienced with many of the common medical emergencies associated with the elderly. Fred volunteered his time with the community’s largest private Volunteer Ambulance Organization, Hatzoloh. 

Fred was a lecturer at the Options Program for Continuing Education at The College of Staten Island of The City University of New York (CUNY). This unique program was specifically designed to enrich the lives of mature adults by offering them a second opportunity to continue their dreams of studying in a collegial environment. Fred taught a series of courses with such titles as “Caregiving for the Elderly”, and "Contemporary Issues in Psychology." Additionally, Fred has been a frequent guest lecturer at Marymount Manhattan College in a course entitled "Death and Bereavement," as well as having addressed numerous community forums on issues related to aging. Fred has extensive experience, personal and professional,  in dealing with Holocaust survivors, their children, and families. He has led a grief counseling support group for young widows at the Metropolitan Hospice of Greater New York, and is himself a trained hospice volunteer. Fred has also completed a rigorous training program at The Alzheimer's Association qualifying him as a support group leader, and attends their monthly peer-supervision group as well.   

Fred has served as a director of the New York Diamond Dealers Club, a 2,000 member trade organization.  He has served as its Chairman of the Board of Directors, and was nominated as a presidential candidate. His daily duties included educational forums, ethics seminars, interviewing new applicants for membership, and representing the Diamond Dealers Club with both local and overseas dignitaries. Fred hosted the first combined Russian-Chinese delegation to visit the United States, and was an American delegate to the World Congress of Diamond Bourses in Israel. In addition, Fred is an experienced mediator and arbitrator and has participated in numerous arbitration proceedings between Diamond Club members in dispute; on many occasions, Fred has successfully narrowed intractable differences into solutions acceptable  to both parties.

Fred has successfully completed a Certification course in Guardianship Law (Article 81), and has served as a court appointed guardian, on a pro bono basis. At behest of the courts, he has also served as a court appointed supervisor of visitations for a renowned family embroiled in guardianship litigation.

Fred, together with Esther Moskovitz, in one of ElderCare's proudest moments,  officiated at the 60th Wedding Anniversary, and the renewal of vows, for an 85 year old couple and long-time clients of ElderCare Advocates which took place in a local nursing home. The Jewish style ceremony was well attended by family, friends, and fellow-residents, and was followed by a "wedding reception" in honor of the "new" couple. Neither dementia nor stroke, thanks to the very able help of their caring daughter, would prevent this loving couple from expressing their life-long love for one another. The bride in a gown, at the side of the groom in wheelchair, left the ceremony with a sign slung over the back of the wheelchair which read "Just Married."; truly, not a dry pair of eyes were to be seen anywhere during this historic occasion. At ElderCare Advocates we will walk that "extra mile" for our clients.   

Fred was instrumental in coordinating and serving as a panelist in an academic discussion of "Technology and The Future of Home Health Care." The informal presentation, dealing with the nascent field of Telephonic Medicine, was made at the International Longevity Center (ILC) in New York City and moderated by Harry "Rick" Moody, Ph. D.        

In January 2006, Fred conducted an educational workshop for members of The New York City Chapter of Hadassah on the topic of Medicare "Part D."

In May 2006, at the Rabbinical Council of America's (RCA) National Convention, Fred co-led a workshop entitled "Healthcare Chaplains: Alzheimer's and Dementia Issues." The participants included U.S. Army military chaplains, pastoral counselors from various skilled nursing facilities, clergyman associated with charitable organizations, and Rabbis from community synagogues located throughout the U.S. 

During the Spring semester of 2007, Fred taught a course entitled "Counseling Older Adults and their Families," in the Gerontology Certificate Program and Department of Psychology at Marymount Manhattan College.

Fred recently (2007) appeared on "Innersight" a weekly broadcast dealing with educational issues on PBS Cablevision, Channel 20, where he was interviewed on the topic of "Geriatric Care Management." 

In June 2007, Fred was invited to appear for a second interview on PBS Cablevision, Channel 20, to discuss "Counseling Older People," on the weekly broadcast entitled "Exploring Your Emotions."

In May 2008, The National Jewish Council for Disabilities asked Fred to present two workshops at their 22nd Annual Convention, "Aging With Special Needs; Forewarned is Forearmed," and "The Dagwood Generation; Is It More Than You Can Handle?" The National Council is an affiliate of the Orthodox Union, catering to the needs of individual's with Developmental Disabilities and Down's Syndrome.  

In August 2008, Flushing Savings Bank hosted a communitywide seminar run by Fred directed towards Baby Boomers currently dealing with aging parents as well as their own children titled  "Caregiver Burnout in the Sandwich Generation."   

Fred is a member of the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers (NAPGCM), New York State Chapter of The National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers (NYGCM), National Academy of Certified Care Managers (NACCM) American Society on Aging (ASA), The National Council On The Aging (NCOA), The Gerontological Society of America (GSA), Friends and Relatives of Institutionalized Aged (FRIA), Association of Orthodox Jewish Scientists (AOJS), Nefesh (The International Network of Orthodox Mental Health Professionals)  Senior Umbrella Network of Brooklyn (SUN-B), Guardians of The Sick (Bikur Cholim), as well a member of numerous community organizations and charities.

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Esther Moskovitz emigrated from Israel to the United States in her early years, a child of Holocaust survivors, and despite having to learn a new language, went on to become a  member of, Arista, a national honor society during high-school; she graduated from Brooklyn College of The City University of New York (CUNY) with cum laude honors and a BA in English Literature in 1975.

Esther currently divides her time between her position as a partner and Officer of ElderCare Advocates, with her career as an Early Childhood teacher. During her more than seventeen years as a teacher of four and five year olds Esther has developed a large following of satisfied parents and is greatly sought after in the community; additionally, Esther has trained dozens of paras, assistants, as well as coaching newly certified teachers in the art of  successful communication with children. With extraordinary patience, common sense, and with her feet firmly planted on the ground Esther has "graduated" many hundreds of children into highly competitive private schools in the community, and is well respected by the administration, as well as by her colleagues.

 Esther's traits of calmness under fire, patience, and authentic listening when  combined with her superior communication skills tried and tested by concerned family members and professionals, have made her an integral part of  ElderCare Advocates. She is proficient in the issues related to long-term care financial planning, "spending-down" of assets, applications for Medicaid benefits, M-11q's, and fair-hearings. Esther is continuously upgrading her knowledge and skills by attending conferences, seminars and workshops and liaises on behalf of our clients with a number of Board Certified "elderlawyers" when it becomes necessary for our clients to solicit outside counsel.  Additionally, Esther's commonsense advice and input is frequently sought after on a variety of issues related to geriatric care management.  Her personal experience of caring for, and advocating on behalf of, her mother during her final battle with breast cancer has made Esther both sensitive as well as quite knowledgeable about "end-of-life issues." Esther is a strong supporter of Advance Directives, e.g.., Health Care proxies, Durable Power of Attorneys, and Living Wills; as well as of Long-Term Care Insurance Policies.    

Esther has many years of experience in the corporate world, having honed her skills in financial management, merchandising, marketing, and organization as the Vice-President  at Fred Moskovitz, Inc. during Fred's twenty-five year tenure in the diamond industry, and as its Chairman of the Board. Additionally, Esther speaks and/or understands three languages (English, Hebrew, and Yiddish) and even has a smattering of Hungarian to add to the goulash, which has broadened her ability to communicate effectively and relate to seniors from various age-groups and backgrounds.

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