Tasteful & Timeless metro » continued from page 10 Drasnin-Reuben Photography R ETIR EMENT LI V ING Beautiful, maintenance-free apartment homes are available now at Fox Run. The Brighton Large one bedroom JHCN CEO Rabbi Bunny Freedman shares a laugh with Stanford University profes- sor Robert Sapolsky and JHCN Senior Director Rabbi Joseph H. Krakoff at JHCN’s 2016 Shenkman-Weisberg Caring Coalition Conference. Living Area 12’3” x 17’9” can teach by example the art of caring for each patient on their own unique reli- gious, ethnic or cultural terms.” Linen Bedroom 12’4” x 13’0” Walk-In Closet DW Bath Kitchen 8’7” x 8’1” W/D The McKinley Extra large two bedroom New design continued on page 14 Bedroom 11’11” x 20’11” LifeLinks Helps Bridge The Gap Living/Dining Area 14’0” x 22’8” Bedroom 11’5” x 13’6” Walk-In Closet Walk-In Closet Closet Linen DW Closet Bath Bath Kitchen 7’4” x 5’10” Pantry Laundry W D Call 1-800-917-8169 for your free brochure or to schedule a personal tour. 11330693 Novi | 1-800-917-8169 | EricksonLiving.com 12 May 12 • 2016 A PERFECT FIT When Joey Krakoff was in rabbinical school, he did a rotation at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. “I thought I was ready,” he said. “The very first person I saw had just gotten a prognosis of a week to live. I was not ready, but I got drawn in, and we talked for three hours. “When there is nothing more to do for the body, the real work begins in healing the soul,” he said simply. “I was always drawn to this; I’ve always had an affinity for helping those who are ill,” Krakoff said. “It’s an honor and a privilege to be let in, to be trusted. You never know what you’ll find.” What Krakoff found is a perfect fit. After leaving Congregation Shaarey Zedek in Southfield in July 2014 after 16 years, he heard from Freedman that August asking him about doing work for the Jewish Hospice & Chaplaincy Network. “I didn’t walk in with any more than the thought of exploring this,” Krakoff said. “I threw out some questions, and we decided to see how we could work together. The relationship evolved and grew organically. “I was deeply impressed by the team of rabbis — all streams of Judaism, men and women — who got along and respected one another, and who are passionate 2061700 Individuals given a terminal diagno- sis are often initially confused and understandably afraid; they and their families often have nowhere to turn. Rabbis Joseph Krakoff and E.B. “Bunny” Freedman of the Jewish Hospice & Chaplaincy Network (JHCN) in West Bloomfield created LifeLinks to deliver resources directly to their doors. Many homebound Jewish patients diagnosed with terminal illness have pain and symptom management needs but choose not to enter hospice for vari- ous reasons, including fear and uncer- tainty. Others would choose hospice care but are deemed ineligible by new, stricter government regulations that create bar- riers to entry. Over the last three years, more than 400 of these patients have come to JHCN not yet ready for hospice but needing advice, guidance, solace and comfort. JHCN offers them supportive care, including navigation/advocacy, spiritual care/access to a team of rab- bis, social work and volunteer services as well as Jewish community and heath care resources. While working with supportive care patients, JHCN discovered many could not access adequate symptom and pain management — a gap existed in care delivery for these homebound patients. When a patient is referred to LifeLinks by a medical practitioner, a nurse prac- tioner who specializes in palliative care can visit, make an initial assessment and then establish contact with the referring doctor and make suggestions for treat- ment and/or prescriptions as needed for the patient’s care and comfort. Eligibilty for LifeLinks includes indi- viduals who have a terminal illness and/ or progressive decline that may include chronic illness, uncontrolled pain or symptoms, and being frail and elderly. Since June 1, 2015, about 180 patients have been aided by LifeLinks. There is no charge for services. For more information, contact the Jewish Hospice & Chaplaincy Network at (248) 592-2687 or go to www. jewishhospice.org. *