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financial sense to stay open.
"I just looked at the long-term situ-
ation with what we thought our mar-
ket was, and we saw that market dry-
ing up," he said. "This project was set
up with a specific, targeted audience
in mind that just never materialized."
Hamburger explained that there
aren't enough middle-income older
Jewish adults who want to live in a
Jewish facility. And much of the costs
of running an assisted living residence
are fixed; there are no subsidies from
the state.
Additionally, the 75-bed facility
could not compete with the assisted
living companies built during the
1990s, offering older adults lavish
surroundings in some of the more
affluent communities. Wall Street
invested heavily, but
pulled back as the market
became saturated.
Some companies still
look at Michigan as fertile
ground for their projects,
but most are focusing
their efforts on marketing
and keeping themselves
affordable, said Kathleen
Murphy, vice president of
the Michigan Assisted
Living Association. That
means offering families a
la carte services, among
other incentives.
Janet Antin, hired two
years ago at Elan as direc-
tor of community services, pointed at
the stacks of brochures sent to her in
the past few weeks from other assist-
ed living companies touting their
virtues. So competitive are these facil-
ities that one large chain has even
offered residents a month rent-free
and no-expense moving.
And, said Mittelman, people have
more alternatives today.
"There are more programs out in
the community — day programs,
home care — so people are staying
where they're at a lot longer. If those
support services weren't available, they
might be coming to us," she said.

only other kosher assisted living resi-
dence in the area and only one suit-
able for many of Elan's residents, is
on the Eugene and Marcia
Applebaum Jewish Community
Campus in West Bloomfield. ,Margot
Parr, executive director of Jewish
Home and Aging Services, said the
108-bed Fleischman will absorb as
many Elan residents as it can. She
said the number of open beds fluctu-
ates day to day.
But, "our first priority is taking as
many residents from Elan as possible.
We usually maintain a waiting list
here," Parr said.
Broudy said she can't consider
Fleischman because of the cost, despite
subsidies it receives from the
Federation. The cost of a room there

"I am disheartened

that there's no one in the

Jewish community to step

forward for Elan. It's such

a wonderful facility.

Absorbing Elan Residents

John Jacobs, co-chair of the
Federation's Commission on Jewish
Eldercare Services, said COJES' con-
cern is making sure Elan Village resi-
dents are relocated to "a place they
can have a good quality of life, where
there's hopefully Jewish content.
This week, COJES is doing assess-
ments of Elan residents.
The Fleischman Residence, the

"

— Nancy Grossman

ranges from $1,600 to $2,400 month-
ly, not including extra assistance
required by a resident.
Parr said Fleischman is competitive-
ly priced, and it will accommodate res-
idents who cannot afford the cost
because "an important component is
to serve indigent older adults."
But Broudy doesn't think she quali-
fies. Although she'd prefer a Jewish
environment, she believes she'll move
to American House in West
Bloomfield, part of a chain of assisted
living homes in metro Detroit.
"I'll like it there. I have to like it
there," she said.
Dora Appel of Pleasant Ridge and
her brother, Max Appel, hope their
mother, Ethel Appel, finds a home at
Fleischman because it is kosher and
offers religious and cultural activities,
as Elan does.
Ethel, a Holocaust survivor who is
in her 80s, moved to Elan Village
from an apartment in New Jersey
three years ago when her family decid-
ed to move her to Michigan to be
closer to Dora and her family.
"I liked it here," Ethel said. "I par-

ticipate in everything — mah jongg,
cards. I used to dance."

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No One To Save Elan

I

But for three residents, including
Eileen Israel, a place infused with the
Yiddishkeit (Jewishness) of Elan won't
be easy to find. They are recipients of
a state Medicaid waiver, which is
designed to allow low-income older
adults to pay for services either in an
assisted living facility or at home. And
only a few assisted living residences,
including one in Farmington Hills,
participate in the program.
"I'd like to go to Fleischman, but I
can't really afford it," said Israel, who
is in her 80s.
Sitting outside Elan in the bright
sunshine last week with her daughter,
Nancy Grossman of Walled Lake,
Israel shook her head at her bad for-
tune. She moved into Elan nine
months ago and had planned to stay.
Grossman was coping with her late
husband's illness and a broken ankle,
so when her mother found a home at
Elan, some of her anxiety was lifted.
"I am disheartened there's no one in
the Jewish community to step forward
for Elan. It's such a wonderful facility
and I'm angry there's not another
Jewish assisted living facility in the
city," Grossman said.
Mittelman's feelings about the
impending closure of Elan are more
complicated. She is deeply saddened,
she said, but buoyed by the praise she
has received from families and the out-
pouring of affection from the staff.
"I feel really good in terms of what
we accomplished. I'm very sad, of
course, but when I look around and
see all the love and caring, I know I
did something right," she said.
And for her, leaving Elan will be
akin to leaving an old friend. -
Mittelman played a key role at .
Prentis Manor, joining the staff when
she was 17 years old and eventually
becoming its top administrator. Some
of the same folks she worked with
there stayed with her at Elan.
On Tuesday, July 9, Mittelman will
host a 2:30 p.m. gathering of alumni
and former residents and their families
for a farewell party.
Activities Director Alicia Nuccilli is
among the longtime staffers who came
from Prentis, which was open 1972-
1996.
"I'm very emotional, as it is, so the
announcement has really impacted
me," she said. "Goodbyes are going to
be the hardest. I love every one of
these residents." ❑

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DETROIT JEWISH NEWS

7/ 5

2002

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