As director of our volunteer corps FRIENDS, geriatric social worker Leslie Katz has worked at Jewish Senior Life of Metropolitan Detroit for seven years. In 2018, she met filmmaker Sky Bergman at a Leading Age conference when she took her class on Lives Well Lived.
Inspired by this important documentary, Leslie invited members of our community to gather and view the award-winning film at a local theatre. Over 300 JSL supporters attended, benefitting JSLMi quality of life services and programs.
In 2019 we shared the documentary If You’re Not in the Obit, Eat Breakfast, which delighted the pajama-clad attendees. Well known celebrities Carl Reiner, Betty White, Dick Van Dyke, Tony Bennett and Iris Apfel starred in the 2017 film that gets to the heart of how beloved stars of stage and screen make the best of their lives. We served a breakfast buffet après film in keeping with the theme.
During the difficult autumn days of COVID, we hired our own filmmaker and recreated Sky’s film. Jewish Senior Life’s LIVES WELL LIVED featured several residents from Oak Park and West Bloomfield, MI, interviewed by Leslie.
One of the West Bloomfield residents, 100-year-old Jean Becker, stood out in her lively clothing, wild platform shoes and extraordinary eyeglasses which continue to bring her joy, even though she is visually impaired. Other residents raised our spirits as they shared special family memories and simple tips for living and aging well and making the best of challenging situations.
JSL continues to spotlight our delightful residents and will continue featuring best advice and suggestions for living long and healthy lives.
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