16 | APRIL 9 • 2020 

COURTESY OF RON BLUMER

A

t a time where the state of Michigan is 
under a strict “Stay Home, Stay Safe” 
order to curb the spread of COVID-19, 
many residents in independent living facilities 
are struggling with social distancing and isola-
tion. 
Jewish Senior Life (JSL) sent out a memo on 
Thursday, March 26, to all independent living 
residents and families encouraging them, if pos-
sible, to pick up their loved ones and bring them 
home to live with them until the coronavirus 
crisis comes to an end. 
According to Nancy Heinrich, chief executive 
officer of JSL, the memo only affects residents 
who are a part of the independent living com-
munities. This includes Meer and Hechtman 
apartments in West Bloomfield, and Prentis and 
Teitel apartments in Oak Park. 
“Our independent life communities are not 
healthcare facilities. We don’
t provide daily care 
for them,
” Heinrich told the Jewish News. “We are 
concerned that if a lot of our residents become 
ill and have to be isolated, they will not be able 
to obtain the care that they need to help them 
get through their illness.
” 
While JSL
’
s independent living facilities do not 
provide private care, many residents have their 
own private caregivers. Heinrich is concerned 
that if more residents need private caregivers, 
there will be a shortage. She is also worried that 
caregivers could contract the virus and not be 
able to provide care for the family’
s loved one, 
although she says that, to date, there are no cases 
of the virus in any of JSL
’
s communities. 
“We have instructed our residents to stay in 
their apartments, so they are isolated from one 
another already,
” Heinrich said. “For purposes 
of keeping them safe and keeping them from 
contracting the virus, staying with their families 

might be the best option. 
“We want people to think seriously about 
what would happen if their parent got ill, their 
caregiver couldn’
t make it to help them and if we 
couldn’
t find someone to help their loved one. 
What would happen to their isolated senior?” 
Heinrich added. 
As of April 6, 37 independent living residents 
are now living with their family members. 
Ron Blumer of Lake Orion picked up 
his 95-year-old mother, Edith, from Meer 
Apartments on March 17 before JSL had issued 
the memo. He was actively monitoring the situa-
tion before it had even spread to Michigan. 
“I think it is important for families to step up 
and realize the risk of living communally togeth-
er like that,
” Blumer said. “
All it takes is one 
infection, and that weighed heavily on my mind 
and my decision because my mom has a better 
chance of living with us rather than living with 
100 people.
” 
Anticipating the eventual lockdown of the 
facility also prompted Blumer to take swift 
action, as he realized his mother could rely on 
them easily for groceries and medicine. 
JSL
’
s assisted living communities, Fleischman 
Residence and Coville Apartments, are not 
impacted since they have staff on-site. 
“We are just trying to keep our residents safe 
and think three steps ahead,
” Heinrich said. 
“Thankfully, there are no cases of the virus in 
any of our communities. We know not everyone 
can house their loved ones, so our message to 
those who have loved ones staying with us is 
that we will do everything we can to try and 
ensure that they get the services they need.
” 

CORRIE COLF STAFF WRITER

Jewish Senior Life encourages 
families to take in loved ones 
from independent living.

Family 
First

Jews in the D

Edith Blumer at her 95th birthday party at Meer Apartments 
with her youngest son, Ron, and daughter Susan. 

Adults over 60 can receive up 
to two meals per day deliv-
ered to their door through the 
newly launched JHELP Meal 
Program, thanks to the Jewish 
Federation of Metropolitan 
Detroit.
“This program is a collab-
oration that came out of the 
ongoing and robust commu-
nication between Federation 
and the social service agencies 
in our community during this 
crisis,” said David Kurzmann, 
senior director of community 
and donor relations at Jewish 
Federation of Metropolitan 
Detroit.
“We identified keeping 
older adults in their homes 
and making sure they have 
what they need as a high pri-
ority,” he added.
Kurzmann worked with 
his colleagues at Federation’
s 
JHELP, enlisting Kosher 
Meals on Wheels as its food 
provider. Meal delivery is free, 
and Federation is offering to 
subsidize the cost of meals for 
recipients who do not qualify 
for government assistance and 
are limited financially.
The service is intended 
for adults with disabilities or 
who have no other means to 
procure meals without leaving 
the house. Individuals are 
directed to call JHELP — the 
JHELP staff will then deter-
mine the logistics for fresh, 
healthy meal deliveries. 

To register for the 
JHELP Meal 
Program, call 1-833-445-4357 
Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m.-8 p.m. 
and Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m. or visit 
JHELP
.org.

Federation Delivers 
Fresh, Healthy Meals 
to Seniors in Need

ALLISON JACOBS DIGITAL EDITOR

