uoatumult, Life's Journeys A message from Dottie Deremo, President/CEO, Hospice of Michigan S ince CEOs are often thought to be number crunchers, allow me to "crunch" a few numbers you may find of particular interest. For 99,000 years of human history, the average life span was just 18 years. In 1900 the average life span had increased to 46 years. By 2010, life expectancy is expected to reach 84 for women and 75 for men. More significant numbers for you to consider: The U.S. population over the age of 65 will almost double by the year 2020. The average age of U.S. nurses is 44; only 10 percent of all nurses are under the age of 30. Nursing shortage looms Why cite the age of nurses in this demographic mix? Because this increase of elders significantly increases the size of the population who will require caregivers, and we face an acute shortage of nurses to staff hospitals and nursing homes. This is where 80 percent of the pop- ulation dies, and sadly, this popula- tion often dies bedridden and in pain. The projected shortage of nurs- es, now being addressed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, threatens to exacerbate the situation. One more statistic to consider: A recent study by the National Hospice Foundation indicated that 90 percent of people want to die at home. Plan ahead for care These facts and figures might suggest it may be time for you to confront end-of-life issues so that you might be educated and informed about them while you are still in good mental and physical health. How easy it is to avoid critical decisions. In this country we tend to think of death as an option! If we ignore it, it will somehow go away. How much better to acknowledge it and plan for it, so that when it does approach, plans are in place — end- of-life directives have been safely stored in safe deposit boxes, with copies in the hands of your designat- ed health care advocates. Straightforward discussions with fam- ily members, rabbi and physicians have clarified your wishes. You face whatever the future holds with peace of mind. Michigan recognizes the right of people to designate someone to be a power of attorney for health care. This person will speak for you, if you are too ill to speak, rerding your wishes for care at the end of life. You can get the papers to make this des- ignation from your attorney, your doctor or our Web site, www.hom.org/directives.html. A good number cruncher is also mindful of the human side of the business ledger. The numbers I have cited have led Hospice of Michigan to consider innovative and alternative approaches to health care. We are studying an approach that I call the High Tech/Nigh Touch imperative. The goal is to make it possible for the 90 percent who wish to die at home to have the care and services they require, despite the shrinking num- ber of nurses and nurses aides in the workforce. We believe technology can help us reach more people who need our care and help us better handle the considerable documenta- tion that can eat into our time for patients and families. Join us at Adat Shalom And finally, it is the human side of the business ledger that has led Hospice of Michigan to develop its Jewish Hospice Program. Our Jewish Advisory Committee is currently plan- ning outreach programs under the direction of our senior development officer, Pola Friedman. The first of these programs will take place on Thursday, April 19, at Adat Shalom Synagogue in Farmington Hills, beginning at 7:15 p.m. I will be one of the speakers on a panel that will be moderated by Arthur Horwitz, publisher of the Jewish News. If you'd like more information on the program, call 248-443-5900. Or if you would like more information about our hospice services, contact Bobbie Blitz, our Jewish liaison specialist, at 248-443-5907 or page her at 248-966-8262. ADVERTISEMENT SEND SONEONE SPECIAL A GIFT 52 WEEKS A YEAR Is Iw Come See Our New Spring Merchandise Arriving Daily! ,,e0MPIAISAPIT Weatiloomfield Nam • Next to NI Unique 12481 855-6566 -A DAVID ROSENMAN'S AUTO Alum PURCHASERS NEW & USED CAR BROKER 3/30 2001 38 Sales • Leasing • Buying (248) 851-CARS (248) 851-2277 I SEND A GIFT SUBSCRIPTION TO DETROIT JEWISH NEWS 'TN (246) 354-6620 Institute Honors Religious Leaders At its annual Dove Dinner to be held on Thursday, May 3, the Ecumenical Institute will honor the most Rev. Leonard P Blair and Rabbi Dannel Schwartz. For the past eight years, the institute has given the Dove Award to individuals who set an example of leadership to our com- munity in the area of Jewish-Christian rela- tions. This year, the award has been renamed the James Lyons Award in Rabbi Schwartz Jewish-Christian Relations to honor the legacy of the institute's founder. Bishop Blair and Rabbi Schwartz were both friends of the late Rev. Lyons and are longtime sup- porters of the insti- tute. The Rev. Blair is Bishop Blair the pastor of St. Paul on the Lake Church in Grosse Pointe Farms and is an auxil- iary bishop of the archdiocese of Detroit. His ministry includes serving at Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish in Harper Woods, St. Christopher and St. Christine parishes in Detroit. While serving as ecumenical officer of the Archdiocese, Bishop Blair was a member of the Ecumenical Institute's Board of Trustees. The founding rabbi of Temple Shir Shalom in West Bloomfield, Rabbi Schwartz is treasurer of the North American Board of Rabbis. He has served as president of the Michigan Board of Rabbis and the Birmingham/Bloomfield Clergy Council. He is a chaplain for the Southfield Police Department and William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak. Rabbi Schwartz and Temple Shir Shalom have hosted Ecumenical Institute programs, including the 1997 church-synagogue tour. The Dove Dinner will be held at Cranbrook Institute of Science in Bloomfield Hills. Dinner co-chairs are Helen Daoud and Hilary Isakow. The evening will begin with a cocktail recep- tion at 6:30 p.m.; the awards ceremony will begin at 7 p.m., followed by dinner. Tickets are 5175 per person.