Given today’s lengthy life spans and the number of choices for retirement living, the situation described in the article about Bernard Liles outliving his savings (“At 101, kicked out of retirement home,” WJW, Aug. 1) is likely to occur, unfortunately, more often. Within the not-for-profit sector in general, and the Jewish not-for-profit community in particular, there may be options and choices that can be of assistance.
The campus of Charles E. Smith Life Communities is one example of a mission-driven organization, founded to provide essential services to the seniors in our community, with options at every level of care and every income level.
One correction in Mr. Schwartz’s story: Individuals do not run out of Medicaid funds. Rather, if Hebrew Home residents exhaust their personal funds, they apply for Medicaid reimbursement. Today, 72 percent of Hebrew Home residents are Medicaid recipients. This reimbursement falls short of the cost of care, and it is charitable contributions from the community that are so critical to bridge this substantial funding gap.
WARREN R. SLAVIN, President/CEO, Charles E. Smith Life Communities
