Eldercare Services:
Addressing the Challenge
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A Message to the Jewish
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Allied Jewish Campaign
F F
E UNITED
JEWISH
OUNDATION
For 90 years, our Detroit Jewish community has sought to meet the
needs of our elderly, according to the most cherished values of our faith. The
growth in support services and programs provided by our Jewish Federation
agencies in recent years confirms a deep commitment to our older citizens.
of Metropolitan Detroit
FILLING GAPS IN SERVICE
Contributors to the Allied Jewish Campaign, the new Jewish Community Trust for the Elderly and many endowment funds
are helping create and expand services and programs to meet the growing needs of older adults.
Here are some of them:
• Commission on Jewish Eldercare Services (COJES):
Serving as a central planning and coordinating body for corn-
munity services to older adults, COJES has already initiated
several projects, some of which are listed below. It's a partner-
ship of Federation, United Jewish Foundation and Federation
agencies that serve older adults.
• Community chaplaincy director: Rabbi Simon Feld, who
has been named to this new position, will organize a corps of
rabbis and volunteers to provide pastoral care, Jewish pro-
grams and holiday celebrations for the 600 frail elderly Jews
who live in nursing homes and assisted living facilities through-
out the Detroit area. Under the auspices of the Jewish Horne for
Aged, Rabbi Feld will be assisted by Rabbi A. Irving Schnipper,
who has been serving the residents of six nursing facilities.
• Preferred providers: The Jewish Federation has engaged in a
series of arrangements with private operators to offer residen-
tial care for the elderly within a Jewish environment. In addition
to the residential services managed by Federation agencies,
these are the preferred providers:
• Assisted Living Associates has purchased and will convert
Prentis Manor, the former Jewish Home for Aged skilled nurs-
ing faciity, to provide care for persons who need assistance with
such services as bathing, dressing and eating but do not
require a high level of medical care. There will be a special unit
for individuals who suffer from dementia disorders. The facility
will offer kosher food and Jewish programming.
• The Marvin and Betty Danto Family Health Care Center and
Menorah House are privately owned and operated skilled nur-
sing centers. These West Bloomfield and Southfield facilities
provide Jewish programs and ambience, as well as kosher food.
FEDERATION AGENCY PROGRAMS
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A broad spectrum of programs is offered by Federation agencies to meet the needs of older adults, many of them living
on modest incomes. Some of these services:
• Jewish Federation Apartments, celebrating its 30th anniversary,
• Jewish Home for Aged's Edward I. and Freda Fleischman
provides residences for independent older adults in Oak Park and
Residence is an assisted living facility for those who require a
West
Bloomfield. Four of the Jewish Federation Apartments are
minimum of medical services. Special activities, kosher food
for people on limited income.
and holiday celebrations contribute to the Jewish environment.
Day care for the frail elderly also is provided. JHA Auxiliary
• Jewish Community Center, in Oak Park and West Bloomfield, is
volunteers visit with elderly persons living in various facili-
the primary meeting place for recreational, educational and cultural
ties throughout the metropolitan area.
activities for older adults.
• Jewish Family Service sponsors a residential program for
• Jewish Vocational Service provides volunteer opportunities and
frail elderly persons, who live in a private apartment setting
adult day programs for senior citizens, including a sheltered work-
with communal housekeeping and other services. The
shop.
agency also provides counseling, in-home support services
and Meals on Wheels (in cooperation with the National Coun-
• Sinai Hospital, which now is part of the Detroit Medical Center
cil of Jewish Women). JFS' Resettlement Service offers a
system, continues to render medical services to the Jewish frail
range of programs, including citizenship assistance, to elderly
elderly of modest means, particularly new Americans.
immigrants.