Life's Journeys

A message from Dottie Deremo,
President/CEO, Hospice of Michigan

or religious programming at various
synagogues, temples, Jewish organiza-
tions and JVS. We also transport them
to these programs.
• Friendly volunteer visitors and
professional case management services.
• Coordination with the Jewish
chaplaincy services to assure that peo-
ple have access to them, when possi-
ble. Unfortunately, many times we
also arrange their funerals and the Pro-
ject Outreach coordinator and volun-
teer visitors are the only mourners pre-
sent. Additionally, JVS does move
people living in terrible conditions or
in unsafe areas. There are many rea-
sons why some still remain isolated
from the multitude of religious, cul-
tural and social services available in
"Jewish areas."
• Many residents choose not to
leave the central part of Detroit, as
this is a familiar environment in
which they feel comfortable.
• There are very few Oakland
County apartments that are affordable
for people living independently. The
costs are usually higher that the SSI or
SSDI the person receives. There are
long waiting lists for subsidizing hous-
ing.
• Many adult foster-care facilities in
Oakland County are located in non-
Jewish areas and represent no
improvement in living conditions.
• Some of the individuals served are
affiliated with the Downtown Syna-
gogue, which meets their religious and
some of their Jewish cultural needs.
However, they still depend on Project
Outreach staff and volunteers to mon-
itor and assure their well being.
We agree with Mr. Korelitz's con-
clusion that more needs to be done.
JVS annually cares for 120-125
"Leahs" with only a part-time social
worker and 10 very special volun-
teers. Our entire program is funded
through philanthropic efforts. Both
money and volunteer time are need-
ed to increase the intensity and
breadth of services to the "Leahs" of
our community.
We invite Mr. Korelitz and any of
your readers who want to join the JVS
staff and volunteers to make a better
life for the "Leahs" of the community
or contribute to this effort.
Barbara Nurenberg

president and CEO,

Dennis S. Bernard

board chairman,
Jewish Vocational Service
Southfield

any of us have guidebooks
in our homes on "When to
Call the Doctor," probably
purchased when we were raising
children. Eventually, some of us
need a companion hook, "When to
Call Hospice of Michigan." It has
been troubling to me and to our
Executive Medical Director, Dr.
John Finn, that families wait so
long before availing themselves of
hospice services. They assume that
only a physician or nursing home
director can make that contact. But
YOU can also arrange for. hospice
services when you or someone you
love is living with a terminal illness.
How comforting to know help is
on the way.
What you may not know is how
speedily the Hospice of Michigan
team responds to that call for help.
In a typical situation we are on site
within 24 hours, whether it is at a
hospital, nursing home or private
residence.
Let me illustrate with a typical
situation. The family of an 88-year-
old woman at Menorah House rec-
ognized that their mother's death
was imminent. She had lived inde-
pendently until the last few- months.
Her systems seemed to he failing,
and she had stopped eating. The
family met with our sign-on repre-
sentative to get answers to their
questions and then with a Hospice
nurse to verify. that the patient met
the criteria for hospice care.
Within 24 hours, a specially-
trained Hospice of Michigan nurse
was at Menorah House, initiating
appropriate palliative (comfort)
care. Furthermore, Bobbie Blitz, our
liaison representative to the Jewish
community, arranged to meet with

the family. She assured them that
their mother would he treated in a
warm and dignified way. She prom-
ised to visit them and to arrange
whatever services they might
request, such as a bedside service,
special prayers at a synagogue or
temple or a visit from their family
rabbi or our spiritual care rabbi.
This was a case where Hospice
of Michigan was called within the
last days of life. Fifteen percent of
our patients are referred to us in
the last 72 hours of life. Let me
urge you to not to wait for these
final days but know that there is so
much more we can offer over a
longer period of time. The
Medicare Hospice Benefit allows for
up to six months of hospice care.
Recently a survey revealed that
the majority of Americans would
prefer to he cared for at home
when faced with the final stages of
a terminal illness. Hospice of
Michigan makes this feasible and
manageable. Our staff includes

physicians, nurses, social workers,
counselors, therapists, home health

aides and trained volunteers. Our
nursing assistance is available
around-the-clock.
However, even with daily visits
from our team, caring for the termi-
nally ill at home can prove exhaust-
ing, both physically and emotionally.
We can arrange for respite care so
that you can take much needed
time to renew yourself, whether
this means a few hours to attend to
business matters or just time for a
walk in the woods. It can even
mean transferring a patient to a
nursing home for up to five days,
allowing caregivers a desperately
needed time-out.
No one need ever hesitate to
contact Hospice of Michigan because
of concerns about cost. Hospice
care is covered by Medicare,
Medicaid and most private health
insurance policies. Furthermore,
Hospice of Michigan policy is to
accept all patients who need and
seek our care,, regardless of their
diagnosis or ability to pay.
We are especially mindful of
the need to comfort our patients'
families, particularly when death
occurs. We continue to support
family members for more than a
year following the loved one's
death. When it is appropriate, we
encourage them to join our grief
support groups.
When should you call Hospice of
Michigan? When your loved one is
declining from a life-limiting illness;
when this looms as a frightening and
overwhelming experience; when
you cannot hear to see your loved
one in pain. For information on our
Jewish Hospice Program, please call
Bobbie Blitz at 248-966-8262.

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