Life's Journeys
A message from Dottie Deremo,
President/CEO, Hospice of Michigan
friend of the victims. "Two wives are
left without husbands because they
were on the other helicopter," Golomb
told the Associated Press.
"They are all active in the commu-
nities, they're all friends," New York
City Councilman Noach Dear said of
the victims. "They were a lot of fun to
be with."
The sole survivor, Chana Daskai,
suffered burns over 80 percent of her
body.
Brits Warn
Of Terrorism
London/JTA — A group that moni-
tors anti-Semitic incidents in Britain is
warning that Palestinian terrorists may
expand their activities to target Jews
around the world.
The Community Security Trust
points out that Hamas' Web site asks
rhetorically, "Aren't all Jews and
Zionists fighting your own brethren
and targeting you all?"
A Hezbollah-controlled television
station, meanwhile, reported that a
group allied with Palestinian Authority
leader Yasser Arafat's Fatah movement
issued a threat to attack "Zionists and
their U.S. allies anywhere, inside and
outside occupied Palestine."
Birthright Grads
Get Free Stuff
New York/JTA — Alumni of free
10-day trips to Israel are being
offered two free Jewish-Chemed
books and a year's subscription to a
Jewish publication.
In a new project funded by the
New York-based Avi Chai
Foundation, the 22,000 young adults
who have participated in Birthright
Israel trips — as well as future alumni
— will be able to choose from 170
fiction and nonfiction titles and 14
publications.
Mid-Career Rabbis:
The Movie
New York/JTA — The Conservative
movement's Jewish Theological
Seminary is making a documentary
film on the growing number of people
who decide to become rabbis and can-
tors for second careers.
"Faith: Second Career Clergy" is
scheduled to air early next year on
ABC stations in the United States.
0
ur first concern at Hospice of
Michigan, always, is what we
can do for those who are living
with terminal illness. But another
concern is how to help those who
are caring for the terminally ill.
Studies tell us one out of four house-
holds today is involved with care-
giving at some level.
Surviving the Caregiver Century
Indeed, this has been called the
Caregiver Century. Estimates suggest
there are 54 million caregivers in the
United States today, which makes
this a significant demographic force
— one that is expected to grow to
72 million by 2005. Nearly half the
people in this caregiver group are
between ages 45 and 64, while the
median age of the care recipient is
71. If you do not have caregiving
responsibility at this time, there's a
good chance that it awaits you.
Some regard caregiving as "privi-
leged work."This opinion is shared
by Rita Mahon, one of our dedicated
Hospice of Michigan nurses and our
Interim Director of Human Resources.
Rita describes caregiving as the
greatest gift a person can give or
receive. But it is work, nonetheless,
and unlike most work, time off and
vacations are not in the contract.
One of our goals at Hospice of
Michigan is to teach caregivers more
efficient ways to administer care. This
includes how to give medications,
transfer a person from bed to chair
and prepare palate-pleasing foods
that are also nutritious.
The respite that refreshes
We also believe that respite care
for caregivers is an essential part of
our care plan for patients. One week
of respite care is available for every
month of hospice service.
Respite care enables a caregiver
to get away or take relaxing time at
home while the patient is transferred
to a caregiving facility. Respite care
makes it possible for a caregiver to
attend a special event, such as a
wedding or a bar or bat mitzvah, or
simply enjoy a full night's sleep or a
leisurely dinner with friends. These
periods of respite can restore a care-
giver's spirits. And yet our nurses tell
us this is one of our most underused
benefits. Why is this so?
Respite care makes it possible
for a caregiver to attend a
special event... or simply enjoy
afull night's sleep...
Rita Mahon explains that caregivers
are often so committed they don't
want to leave. Some are reluctant to
share control. Half of the caregiving
population is a spouse or partner
who may feel the need for total
responsibility. She encourages these
caregivers to make a list of what
they would like to do if given the
time, such as grocery shopping, gar-
dening, returning overdue library
books, etc., so that those who offer
to help can address these practical
concerns.
Sometimes families need to be
reassured that it is permissible to
take a break. Bobbie Blitz, our Jewish
liaison specialist, recalls a case
where the family had brought home
a terminally ill mother who had lived
out of state. "We're putting our lives
on hold," her daughter told Bobbie.
But one day, when Bobbie visited,
she found the daughter close to
exhaustion. "Go take a shower. Take a
nap. Read a book," Bobbie instructed.
Three days later, when the mother
died, her daughter was able to smile
and feel at peace.
Resources for caregivers
Besides being exhausting, caregiv-
ing is lonely. Fortunately there are
numerous resources now available to
caregivers. Our Hospice nurses and
social workers are walking directories
with names of agencies and websites
such as the Family Caregiver Alliance,
the National Family Caregivers
Association and Children of Aging
Parents, all of which are dedicated to
making life easier.
One excellent resource is Today's
Caregiver magazine. Founded just
six years ago, the bi-monthly publica-
tion provides advice on coping
skills, long-term care, hospice care,
clinical trials and legal issues, along
with feature stories and interviews
related to caregiving. But even more
welcome, it provides a forum for
caregivers to express their frustrations
and exchange ideas that work.
To learn more about our Jewish
Hospice program and the resources
and publications related to caregiving,
call Bobbie Blitz at 248-253-2580.
MIDDLEBELT DERMATOLOGY CENTER
F
Botox Special
$350 full face
ADVERTISE IN
ENTERTAINMENT
SECTION!
Call the
Sales Department
(248)
35 4-71 : 23
Ext:209:
coupon expires 9/14/01
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Botox for crows feet, forehead wrinkles & frown lines
Collagen for wrinkles & lip enhancement
Laser Hair Removal
Micro-dermabrasion and Chemical Peels
Lasers for small facial veins & sun spots
Glycolic Acid treatments for•skin rejuvenation
Sclerotherapy for spider viens on the legs
54eft Aderifee4
Saiteree
S4ifit ealte
248-476-1000
21141 Middlebelt • Farmington Hills
8/17
2001
23