CLOSE-UP
"There are groups like the elderly
who have real needs that have to be ad-
dressed," Solomon says, adding that
such groups must lobby for themselves.
This year, the social services
budget could be cut by 17 percent.
embers of the Jewish com-
munity have repeatedly
voiced concern over the issue
of providing for the elderly. A
reader survey conducted for
The Jewish News last May by Scar-
borough Research Corp. found that car-
ing for the elderly was the highest
priority among six issues of concern.
More than one-third of the 542 ran-
domly selected readers who responded
to the survey said caring for the elder-
ly should be the No. 1 priority of the
community.
Yet money from the Jewish Welfare
Federation and individual pledges isn't
enough to subsidize the older genera-
tion. As people get older, options tend
to narrow. The elderly who have large
savings accounts, investments and good
health are able to enjoy more options
than their counterparts with ailing
health and fixed incomes. They can af-
ford extras such as catastrophic health
and nursing home insurance policies.
Psychologists say the golden years
are different, but not better or worse.
It all depends on health, money and
family.
Despite
the
changing
demographics that have caused a
breakdown in the nuclear family, more
significant roles for women in the work
place, and the increased mobility of
children who settle in places other
than their hometowns, many Jewish
elderly say they are confident their
children will take them into their
homes. And many do live with their
children.
Yet several over 65 — even those
11
The Okrents look forward to celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary.
now living in nursing homes — say
they do not want to burden their
children.
"I make my own bed. I clean my
room. I take care of myself," says Lib-
by Laurens, 85, a resident of Borman
Hall for 11 years who suffers from
cancer and Parkinson's disease. "I liv-
ed with my son for one year while I
waited to get into the Home. I didn't
think it was fair to stay there. They
had their own lives to live. My kids
didn't put me in here. I put myself in
here."
Laurens, known as a leader to
residents, doesn't mind growing old.
She regularly dons a t-shirt advertis-
ing the Levine Institute on Aging. Its
message is clearly stated: Aging is not
Both Gizzy and Harry are 76,
and they have kept active during
their retirement years. Gizzy, a
former teacher and social worker,
and Harry, a retired lawyer, have
saved money their entire lives to
enjoy their golden years without
fears of becoming penniless. They
never wanted to rely on their
children.
"Our kids would come take
care of us, but we don't want to
count on it," Harry says. Gizzy
adds, "We have our little nest here.
This place is the right place for
now."
The Okrents live in an apart-
ment in Southfield, where Gizzy
organizes regular lunch outings for
women within the complex. She
also knits and crochets blankets,
slippers and sweaters. She reads
and attends library study groups
and enjoys spending time at the
Detroit Institute of Arts.
"I am not a leader," she says. "I
just generate activities. I can't sit
still. I've always been like this."
Harry, too, keeps active. He
serves as a civil mediator in Wayne
County. He hears about 18 cases a
year. He was recently honored for
50 years of service in the Michigan
Bar Association.
Gizzy came to Detroit from
Hungary at age 18. She met Harry,
originally from Indianapolis, at the
City College of Detroit.
They are not afraid of growing
old.
"If physical conditions dictate
changes in our living plans, we will
deal with it," Gizzy says. "If we
become impaired, ,:ve will avail
ourselves. But hopefully, we will
Continued on Page 26
an old issue I'm doing it now.
oney provides several options.
One is for private home
health care, services for
which insurance and Medi-
caid won't pay. Money also
allows some members of the elderly or
M
Perfect Planning . .
Each Saturday, Gizella • and
Harry Okrent make five long-
distance phone calls to their three
children and two grandchildren at
college.
In their retirement years, the
Okrent's priority is their family.
They have attended four Elder
Hostels, week-long college
seminars for seniors, at college
campuses near one of their three
children. There, they study subjects
ranging from astronomy to
Shakespeare.
After the programs are over,
the Okrents like to drive and visit
whichever child lives closest to the
campus. A daughter, Judy, lives in
Cincinnati. Their son, Daniel, lives
in Massachussetts, and Lawrence
resides in Chicago.
The Okrents would like to plan
a seminar at another college.
24
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1988
They'll drive to the college and stay
in a dormitory. Harry loves road
trips, and they both enjoy exploring
new towns.
They already have studied at
the University of Wisconsin in
Oshkosh and Eau Claire, at the
University of Michigan and at
Quinnipiac in Connecticut. They
are keeping their options open.
Meanwhile, they will be
honored this week at a party
celebrating their 50th wedding an-
niversary, when they also will
celebrate 50 years of good planning
for their retirement.
"We learned the value of
money a long time ago," Gizzy says.
"If we didn't have money, we didn't
spend it. The purpose of money is
to spend what you have to, and to
save so there is money in your
future."