Audrey Zabin and Susan Lewin:

Caregivers

By Susie Davidson

Advocate Correspondent

BOSTON - Changing realities in today' world often transform conventional practices. In the arena of geriatrics, shifting demographic as well as economic and sociological factors have created a need for alternatives to traditional home care.

Audrey Zabin, who serves as president of the New England Chapter of GCM New England and is based in Brighton, and Susan Lewin, who operates Brookline's Generations, All About Elders, strive to incorporate the best aspects of their backgrounds in human psychology and financial management into their work. Zabin and Lewin, both MSW's, run very active practices, yet are available in a flash for emergency situations. Their dedication and efficiency are respected and sought out by local families who want the best and yet most personal management plans for their relatives and friends.

Client referrals come from doctors, lawyers and accountants as well as families. Care plans range from orchestrating complex institutional management to buying safety items for around the house.

In each case, Audrey and Susan provide invaluable assistance. Their involvement can be minimal or all-inclusive; they can make arrangements and hire additional help, or simply provide resource information. They are expert in myriad areas including crisis intervention, financial, legal and medical issues, in-home services, consumer education and individual advocacy. Often, they serve as a conduit for families who live a distance away.

Largely due to community and word of mouth referrals, both Susan and Audrey have a significant Jewish clientele. "We are Jewish mothers and Jewish daughters for our clients," remarks Susan, who is Vice President of Temple Ohabei Shalom (her partner, Esther Rothkopf, is a past first lady of Temple Reyim, Newton).

For Audrey, who enthuses that she "is a very lucky person" in that she loves her work, the field of care management was second nature. "I remember as a little girl going every morning with my father to my grandmother's house. He was very patient and caring with her. I learned these values at a very young age, and I know they are what help guide my work today." Raised in a Conservative, Connecticut Jewish home, she sang in the Temple choir and attended Hebrew High School. "You can walk into any Temple around the world and when you hear your prayers and your tunes you are always home."

It is indeed fortunate for many area families that she and Susan are there to help others successfully maintain this most essential of environments for those who have so deservedly earned it.