MONNI MUST / NATURALLY PHOTOGRAPHY
health
Enriching Lives
Jewish Hospice and Chaplaincy Network offers programs
to bring comfort, joy to those near the end of life.
ROCHEL BURSTYN CONTRIBUTING WRITER
P
hysical suffering often requires
more than just treating physical
pain to feel relief, and the Jewish
Hospice and Chaplaincy Network (JHCN)
takes this understanding to heart.
When Carole Jo Lasser, a gifted pia-
nist and sought-after piano teacher, was
terminally ill, JHCN found volunteers to
play music for her. After Lasser passed
away in June 2016, her parents, Myron
and Jacqueline Milgrom, wanted to honor
her memory by providing the same com-
fort she had received to other patients.
A music fund was created in her name,
the first offering of the Sylvia and Samuel
Babcock Life Enrichments program that
Nancy and Jimmy Grosfeld helped estab-
lish in memory of Nancy’s parents.
“We are very gratified and pleased that
our daughter is remembered musically,”
Myron Milgrom said.
Currently, six musicians visit JHCN
patients, with more in the pipeline.
“The stimulation and entertainment
they get is very meaningful,” said Rabbi
Joseph Krakoff, JHCN senior director.
“Music and speech are used by different
parts of the brain so patients who have
dementia or who are limited in speech
will start singing along to the music. It’s
amazing; the patient doesn’t seem like the
same person anymore.”
Based out of West Bloomfield, JHCN
was formed in 1999 to take care of people
in their last weeks and days of life; in
2015, the organization started helping
pre-hospice palliative care patients. Each
year, they serve more than 550 patients
68
August 30 • 2018
jn
and thousands of their family members.
hair specialist go on multiple home visits
“JHCN is intended to enrich people’s
each week. To date, they’ve done more
lives until their very last
than 100 treatments, which have
CLOCKWISE: JHCN
moment,” said Rabbi E.B.
allowed patients to uphold their
pet visit specialist
“Bunny” Freedman, JHCN
dignity, take pride in their appear-
Rosalind Zukowski and
founding director and CEO.
ance and feel as good as possible.
her 3-year-old mini
“The essence of the program
The patients don’t pay for ser-
labradoodle, Frannie,
is to think about the person
vices.
All enrichment programs
visit Hilda Bloom; Adat
who’s living and how to give
Shalom Hazzan Daniel come at no charge; everything
them a better life for as long
Gross sings to Cantor is covered by grants from the
as God wants them on this
Jewish Fund, the Michigan Health
Joseph Birnholtz and
Earth.
his wife, Edith; Lauretta Endowment Fund and the local
“The genius of the enrich-
Jewish community’s philanthropy.
Figg receives an in-
ment program is that people
Ross Partrich set up the
home manicure from
JHCN salon specialist Pet Visits Fund with his wife,
can have limited life left, but
Laurie Novetsk.
their lives can still be full.
Samantha, and parents, Myrna
We’re helping make their last
and Spencer Partrich.
days better and richer, and
“We’re very proud to be part
we feel blessed to be able to
of JHCN and the wonderful pro-
do so.”
grams that Rabbi Freedman and Rabbi
Krakoff have bought to our community.
They’re the cutting edge in this type of
NEW PROGRAMS
care; Jewish communities across the
The Babcock Life Enrichment program
country emulate what JHCN has been
also provides salon care.
doing in Detroit,” Ross Partrich said.
“For some of our patients, a big and
“The pet visit program is particularly
enjoyable part of their lives revolved
dear to our hearts as my mother has ser-
around going to the beauty shop,” Krakoff vice dogs and sees firsthand the positive
said.
effects pet visits have on patients and
To counteract the trauma of losing this
their families.”
cherished part of their normal sched-
The dogs are trained and certified as
ule, with the generosity of Michele and
therapy dogs and will calmly jump onto
Mitchell Bleznak and a grant from the
patients’ laps and allow themselves to be
Jewish Women’s Foundation of Jewish
hugged for as long as the patient wants. It
Federation, a salon fund was created.
can be a very emotional experience and
Manicures, pedicures and hair treatments often evokes memories of childhood pets,
for hospice and palliative care “Lifelinks”
leading to heart-warming conversations.
patients are provided in their own homes.
Sales rep Rosalind Zukowski, 47, of
Currently, four manicurists and one
Birmingham and her 3-year-old mini lab-
radoodle, Frannie, were the first pet team
to sign up. After a volunteer orientation in
February, they started their weekly visits
in March.
“I get so much enjoyment from seeing
the patients’ faces light up when Frannie
comes into their room. Her visits don’t
only benefit the patient but also the fam-
ily members,” Zukowski said.
Another two pet-and-owner teams
have since joined the program, including
Sherrill Platt, 68, of Oak Park, a puppy
raiser for Leader Dogs for the Blind.
Searches for other trained dogs and their
owners are under way as the requests for
the pet visits are always increasing.
Another program is Natalie and
Manny’s Legacy Enrichment, made pos-
sible by the Charach family, which focuses
on life review and involves a professional
archivist meeting with patients to docu-
ment their life challenges, achievements
and lessons learned, a priceless gift for
the family once they’re gone.
Though these Life Enrichment pro-
grams are new, there’s hope for more in
the future. JHCN has just established the
Beverly and Irving Laker Art Enrichment
program and has undefined plans so far
for a chair yoga program, massage pro-
gram and pet visits with other appropri-
ate animals besides dogs.
“We’re doing much more than we ever
could have imagined,” Krakoff said. •
For further information about sponsorship or volun-
teer opportunities, contact Rabbi Krakoff at (248)
592-2687.