J

ewish Senior Life of
Metropolitan Detroit
held its 14th Annual
Meeting on June 25 at
Meer Apartments in West
Bloomfield. The event focused
on how the agency continues
to pursue excellence and go
from strength to strength, the
theme of the 2024 event, at its
six independent living, assist-
ed living and memory care
communities.
Deborah Rosenthal, outgo-
ing campaign chair of Jewish
Federation of Metropolitan
Detroit and outgoing gover-
nance chair (as well as past
president) of Jewish Senior
Life, reiterated Federation’s
ongoing support and commit-
ment to JSL’s mission of serv-
ing the needs of older adults in
the community. JSL’s outgoing

president, Mark Kowalsky,
shared that he looks forward
to continuing to steer positive
initiatives for the agency in his
role as immediate past presi-
dent/governance chair.
JSL CEO Nancy Siegel
Heinrich gave her ninth annu-
al meeting address, looking
back at where the agency has
been and where it is going.
She focused on the strength-
to-strength theme, discussed
what makes JSL strong, and
shared the ways JSL draws on
its strengths to achieve new
heights during challenging
times, highlighting the orga-
nization’s five renovated com-
munities and excellent balance
sheet. She also addressed real
challenges including life post-
Covid, the tight employment
market and the inflationary

economy within a senior hous-
ing marketplace with great
occupancy competition, and
the need to reduce expenses
and increase revenue.
“My belief is that it is time
to lean into our mission,”
Heinrich said. “How many
marketplace housing providers
are going to make tzedakah
available for seniors who make
too much money to qualify
for subsidized housing but not
enough to afford market rents
or for those who need assist-
ed living? The answer to that
question is none, except for
Jewish Senior Life. If we aren’t
there for our seniors, who will
be?”
Heinrich reiterated that
when baby boomers are ready
to consider a senior living
facility, Jewish Senior Life

will be there for them. She
outlined numerous ways that
JSL will continue to sustain
and improve the organization,
including reducing expenses
while continuing to invest in
maintaining and upgrading its
communities, top-to-bottom
customer service training,
providing more living and
dining options for market rate
residents, and joining with
Federation for increased com-
munity support to ensure that
middle income older adults
can live in safe, loving, com-
munity integrated residences.
JSL has also launched the
first of its kind Live and
Learn Community at Meer,
thanks to grants from The
Gerson Innovation Fund, the
Marcia Applebaum Older
Adults Enrichment Fund and

Jewish Senior Life shares its vision and mission at 14th Annual Meeting.
There for Jewish Seniors

continued on page 16

CAROLYN KRIEGER SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

OUR COMMUNITY

14 | JULY 25 • 2024
J
N

L to R: JSL Board Members Jason Fisher, Asa Gotlieb, Heather Salesin, Lowell Salesin, Sonya Kay, Dan Cherrin, Alan Sternfeld, Karen Rubenfire,
Nancy Reed, Jack Rothenberg, Mark Kowalsky, Mark Berke