The distressing wails of an elderly widower with dementia tugged at Diana Rafailova’s heart as she interned at a Brooklyn nursing home, alerting the student dietician to a greater problem.
“It was upsetting to me that nobody came to visit him,” says the Sheepshead Bay resident, who grew up in a close-knit family in Moscow. “It made me realize that there were so many sick, elderly people out there who were alone.”
Rafailova and her mother, an elder care specialist, brainstormed an idea to create an adult social day care center that could serve as a second home for Brooklyn’s forsaken seniors.
“We decided to start our own little family,” says the Woman of Distinction, 23, who planned the facility while completing her degree at Brooklyn College where she was studying dietetics and nutrition on a full academic scholarship.
The Maaser Social Adult Day Care Center opened in June 2011, with four clients and Rafailova as the president, program director, and dietician on a mission to give desolate elders a reason to live.
“We wanted to offer activities that made them happy,” she says.
Today Maaser — a Hebrew word rooted in charity — boasts 100 Russian-speaking clients and a dozen skilled workers at the bay facility, and a sister center in Queens. Clients enjoy balanced meals, customized recreational, cognitive, and educational services and programs, including fitness and cooking classes, in addition to nutritional workshops and multicultural events.
A recent potluck dinner Rafailova coordinated allowed the bay seniors to meet with their peers at the Queens facility and sample new foods and friendships.
“It is important that they are aware of the different cultures and traditions that make up our country,” she says.
Midwood senior Moisey Shteynman, 86, says Masser has enlivened his twilight years.
“Before all I wanted to do was sit in front of my TV, but now I am living life,” he says. “I get to socialize, feel intellectually challenged, and learn new things which help me improve myself and my lifestyle.”
The Woman of Distinction’s creative programs have honed hidden talents.
Her elder chorus drew rave reviews after performing at a 69th Precinct Community Council fair and the Be Proud Foundation’s annual grandmother pageant.
“Motivating activities make our members feel important and happy,” says Rafailova, who rushed to their aid after Hurricane Sandy destroyed the bay facility and its transportation van, leaving many seniors stranded without supplies.
She and her mom, who was undergoing cancer treatment, walked in treacherous floods to deliver emergency rations to the shut-ins.
“We brought them food everyday so they would have something to eat and not feel alone,” she says.
Rafailova’s elder advocacy has made solitary seniors smile again and boosted her own relationships.
“I was lucky enough to have a loving family,” she says. “But now I feel as if I have 100 grandmothers and grandfathers.”
OCCUPATION: President, dietitian, and program director.
COMPANY: Maaser Corporation.
CLAIM TO FAME: Motivating people to conquer their loneliness, and find happiness in new experiences and friendships.
FAVORITE PLACE: New York City.
WOMAN I ADMIRE: My mother Alevtina Rafailova because she is a breast cancer survivor and the strongest person I know, and because she goes to extraordinary lengths to help others.
MOTTO: Rise up and attack each day with enthusiasm and a wide smile.
