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Friday, December 7, 1984

THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS

.

E

ighty-four-year-old Sidney
Barnett can choose to stay in
his room where he types let-
ters to relatives and former
employees or he can partici-
pate in lectures, dance and music pro-
grams, discussion groups and myriad
other activities in the newly dedicated
Edward I. and Freda Fleischman Re-
sidence of the Jewish Home for Aged.
Dedicated Sunday in ceremonies
at the adjacent Jewish Community
Center on the Jewish Community
Campus in West Bloomfield, the Fleis-
chman Residence currently houses 50
senior adults, and has the capacity for
106. Barnett, a former retail men's clo-
thing store owner, was the first resi-
dent of the facility, which opened Oct.

1.

The synagogue at the Blumberg Plaza doubles as an activity room.

A 'T R E N D
A D DR E SS

BY HEIDI PRESS
Local News Editor

Sidney Barnett types a letter to a former employee in his room at the new Fleischman Residence.

A shy man who prefers his room to
the brightly colored Nosh Nook, com-
munal dining room and fireplaced
lobby, Barnett, nonetheless, said that
he found advantages over his previous
place of residence.
"There is more personal contact
here. The fact that it's newer, more
privacy — I really enjoy it more."
Barnett has a single room, fur-
nished with a desk, bookshelves, dres-
ser, bureau and single bed. A new color
TV rests atop the bureau, and he has a
full bath and closet. On each floor
there is a laundry room and lounge
with a large-screen TV, mini-kitchen
and comfortable chairs and tables.
Double and two-room suites also are
available.
Each resident is allowed to bring
his own furniture and Barnett also
enjoys a balcony. For security, each
room has an emergency call system.
Barnett enjoys the services of a
housekeeper, who comes in weekly,
and is supplied with fresh linens. If he
wants, he can even have his bed made
for him, but he likes to do that himself,
he said.
That kind of independence is
encouraged at the Fleischman Resi-
dence. According to Jewish Home for
Aged Executive Vice President
Charles Wolfe, that's what makes the
facility unique.
"(The residence) has the ability to
extend the independent lifestyle for a
long time because of design. of the
facility and the programs it offers."
Sylvia Serwin, associate director
of the Home for Aged and administator
of the Fleischman Residence, concur-
red with Wolfe on the uniqueness of
the residence.
"It offers a setting which has
never before been available to people
in the Jewish community . . . It keeps
them (the elderly) from going into a
nursing home," she said.
In addition to programs and ac-
tivities, the adjoining Louis C. and
Edith B. Blumberg Plaza has a beauty
and barber shop, club room, synagogue
which doubles as an activity room, and
the grounds boast a mini-park with
walkways and park benches. Services
available to the residents also include
a closed-circuit video system, mainte-
nance, meals, religious activities, 24-
hour security and transportation.
Daily religious services are con-
ducted by a religious director. The
staff also includes a program and ac-
tivities director and full-time social
worker. The Jewish Home for Aged
Auxiliary helps staff the Nosh Nook.
Although an architect, Nicholas
Pastor and Associates, and general