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Let th

Bridging The Gap

New Hebrew Free Loan fund helps seniors
cover short-term critical needs.

Kelli Haines I Special to the Jewish News

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A

ndrea Rachles needed help
for her sister. Andrea, who
lives in California, and her
Michigan-based sister have only
each other and a cousin.
"My sister is retired and lives on
Social Security and a very small
pension," Andrea said. "When her
health became fragile and we were
looking for ways to support her
needs, we learned she fell in a gap
between being 'too comfortable' to
qualify for services and not being
able to cover the costs of the care
she needed"
During this period when she was
in and out of the hospital being
treated, Andrea's sister also needed
a new place to live, to orchestrate a
move and to arrange for in-home
care while she recovered.
"That was a panicky period
when my sister needed so much,
and I had so few solutions" Andrea
said.
Betty and D. Dan Kahn
Andrea sought options long-
distance, flying in and out of
Michigan when she could. During
ered by insurance or a walker, scooter,
a conversation with a Jewish Family
hearing aid or other durable medical
Service caseworker, Andrea heard about
equipment. One-time expenditures on
the new D. Dan and Betty Kahn Older
wheelchair ramps, widening doorways
Adult Care Loan Fund (KOACLF), and
or similar home accessibility needs can
jumped at it. The fund was established
also be covered as well as expenses to
at Hebrew Free Loan to help cover short- move a senior closer to family, into a
term or one-time critical needs identi-
senior apartment or to an assisted living
fied through a partnership between HFL, facility.

"This fund can provide things seniors need

to remain in their homes or in senior living

where they receive daily interaction and care:'

— Larry Wolfe

Exit 198 from 1-94
Exit 20 from 1-275

Jewish Family Service and Jewish Senior
Life. As the agencies' staffs interact with
the community, they recognize seniors
who meet the criteria and suggest the
KOACLF.
With a maximum single loan amount
of $10,000, the fund helps adults age
62 and older cover costs for services,
such as temporary nursing care after
a hospital stay, medications not cov-

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62

November 19 2015

JN

Borrowers can be identified though
other agencies, seniors or their families
can approach HFL directly, or they can
come through JSL's community access
number, (248) 661-1836, which JSL
describes as a hub for senior-related
information, providing resources and
information about the community's
comprehensive services.

MEETING THE NEED
Larry Wolfe of the D. Dan and Betty
Kahn Foundation helped target the
fund for people like Andrea and her
sister.
As the population of the elderly
in our Jewish community increases,
there is enormous demand for ser-
vices and lifestyle changes requiring
financial outlay that many families do
not have available," Wolfe said. "More
and more we hear about services and
products that are needed or could
improve quality of life, but are just
out of reach"
Wolfe related how D. Dan Kahn
was able to renovate his home to
accommodate his challenges as he
aged.
"It feels personal because I know
he had options, and I see how often
others do not. The Kahn Older Adult
Care Loan Fund exists to allow them
to live in dignity by utilizing interest-
free loans from HFL to help get them
what they require"
HFL Executive Director David
Contorer said, "It's symbiotic. Dignity
is a fundamental part of the KOACLF,
and it's part of the HFL logo. Our effort
works because we have great partners in
JFS and JSL. Our Jewish agencies work
well together to serve all kinds of needs,
and this is another component to how
we all strive to strengthen our services to
others"
Perry Ohren, JFS CEO, agreed. "If we
find JFS can't help, we know who can.
Agency to agency, we keep abreast of
one another's capabilities. The KOACLF
is one great tool in the broad array of
services offered across our community
agencies"
Back in California, Andrea Rachles is
grateful for the benefit to her sister, but
points to dual benefits.
"The response from everyone was so
kind and helpful, and I feel gratitude to
these agencies for coming through for
us," she said.
"Emotionally, the daily stresses
became a sense of relief when I found
supporters in the Detroit Jewish com-
munity who took my sister's situation as
seriously as I did. They helped her move
and get the care she needed so she can
recover; and when they helped her, they
really helped me, too" *