Hard Hitting News

The latest plans for Borman Hall have left families wondering about the
future of their elderly relatives.

RUTH LITTMANN STAFF WRITER

Diskin of Oak Park. "I really
think the Federation and ev-
eryone else should do every-
thing possible to keep the Home
rurming, despite the cost."
Elaine Nugent, also of Oak
Park, agrees. She worries about
her mother, an Alzheimer's pa-
tient, who cannot express her
own feelings about the im-
pending change.
Ms. Nugent and Mr. Riger
are doubtful, in the wake of the
decision on Borman Hall, that
their support for the Jewish
community will continue on a
par with the past. But West
Bloomfield resident Bernard
Benton, whose mother lives in
Borman, expressed confidence
in community leadership.

"There was
not a lot of
anger."

Marsha Diskin believes Borman should stay open.

Denise Bortolani-Rabidoux

Continued From Page One

board that there would be con-
tinued commitment to the frail
Jewish elderly."
Those who attended Sun-
day's meeting said the family
forum re-addressed issues out-
lined in last week's Jewish
News. Jewish Home for Aged
leaders told them that Borman
Hall is too expensive and
problematic to operate. In five
months, the Jewish communi-
ty will decide to sell Borman to
another operator or close
the home and relocate its resi-
dents.
"I hope it'll stay open," said
Bob Hollender of Southfield.
Mr. Hollender's wife, Stella,

says her mother has always re-
ceived excellent care at Borman.
She said it will be sad if it clos-
es.
"It's like they're taking a
home with elderly people in it
and dividing it. I feel bad for the
people who are there," Ms.
Hollender said. "Why did they
put all that money into this
place if they weren't intending
to keep it open?"
Over the past five years, the
community has allotted $15
million to the JHA, which in-
cludes Borman Hall,
Fleischman Residence and
Prentis Manor. The bulk of this
sum, however, went to keep

Borman open in the face of
three failed state inspections by
the Michigan Department of
Public Health.
The Elder Care Options
Committee is continuing to look
into cost-effective ways of meet-
ing the needs of frail Jewish el-
derly in the future. The
suggestion of opening a nursing
home in West Bloomfield re-
mains a long-term possibility,
but not everyone supports it.
Oak Park and Southfield resi-
dents say a West Bloomfield fa-
cility would not be convenient
for them.
"I think we should stay here
(in Detroit)," said Marsha

`They may close this facility,
but if they do, they'll try to have
another one before they close
it," he said.
Right now, however, people
are loath to say too much.
Borman's future is in limbo.
They'll know more in five
months.
Until that time, Dr. Robert
Stoler, son of Borman resident
Roselee Stoler, has some sug-
gestions for management of fu-
ture Jewish nursing homes.
One of the factors leading to c”
Borman's degeneration, he said, _
is insufficient family participa-
lion.
cc
"One of the things r d like to LU
see happen is family members (213
serving on the board," he said. L
"I'm not angry or sad. I'm dis- >
c,
appointed. A good family mem-
ber is someone who is there
many times a week, checking 23
on their loved ones." ❑

U