Karen Frank, RN
Senior Care Nurse
(862) 485-9062
 nursekarenfrank@gmail.com



KAREN FRANK, R.N., is the AABJD Senior Care Congregational Nurse. Her work integrates physical and spiritual health. She meets with our members and their families to consult on health concerns, assists in making lifestyle choices, helps to grapple with spiritual issues, and connects families to community resources.

Karen makes hospital visits to our members listening to their concerns and helping in many ways to make their return home more seamless. She visits the frail and homebound members of our congregation to keep them connected to the community and safe in their homes.

She is available to:

• Make home assessment visits, looking for ways of making the home safer and more accessible to the frail elderly

• Pour medication into boxes for the week, assess medication compliance, provide calls to the doctor and pharmacy as needed 

• Assess vital signs and physical symptoms and teach family members when to call the doctor 

• Teach families basic patient care eg wound care, giving injections, assessing blood sugar using a monitor, care of incontinence, and caring for patients with dementia 

• Provide medical equipment such as walkers and wheelchairs, bedside commodes and shower chairs 

She also meets with members who are dealing with difficult medical diagnoses or conditions and provides counsel to aid them in navigating both their treatment options and their spiritual distress. She helps families to cope with challenging situations provide them the support that is needed.

Karen holds degrees in psychology from the University of Michigan and nursing from Oakland University. She is also a certified Jewish Spiritual Director. 

This program is made possible by a generous grant from the Grotta Fund of Metrowest.

Members of Together on Tuesday had a busy year 2009-2010.  Following is a summary of all the wonderful programs we enjoyed.

During the summer, we viewed two intense and thought provoking movies: “Defiance”, the true story of the Jews who were saved by the Bielski brothers during World War II, and “Nothing But The Truth” which raises many questions concerning the 1^st amendment and national security.

In order to prepare ourselves for the Days of Awe, Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, Rabbi Zwickler discussed the ethical versus the ritual. Does observing one absolve us from the other? The following week, Chaim Lauer presented a talk entitled: “Stop, Look, Listen! Torah and T’Shuvah”. And, of course, we had our annual Sukkot party featuring the music of Tuvia Zimber, a Dvar Torah by Rabbi Shimshon Jacob and a delicious catered lunch by Reuven.

We did not neglect other important holidays. Our annual Chanukah party was highlighted by Dr. Ira Epstein‘s presentation of “Comedy Through Music” featuring Victor Borge. The following meeting, Chaim Lauer led a discussion entitled “Seasons Greetings And Chanukah Bushes”.

Rabbi Zwickler answered our questions at the meeting devoted to “All You Ever Wanted To Know About Passover.”   

For Yom Hashoah, Dr. Marc Shapiro gave a very learned lecture on the “Unusual Response To The Rise Of Nazism”. We also attended the holocaust exhibit at the Whippany JCC.

To commemorate Israel Independence Day, Dr. Ira Epstein returned with a most informative program on the history of Hatikvah and how it became our national anthem.

At subsequent meetings we learned about the Jews from Arab countries who were driven out of their homes and are trying to get reparations. This talk was given by Dr. Stan Urman, the director of Justice For Jews From Arab Countries. We were awed by the Shoulson’s Judaica Collection and we laughed at the Jewish humor of Moshe Schreiber.

Dana Liebmann made us aware of the Jews who perished on the Titanic. Barbara Kessel discussed her research of Jews, who, as adults, learned they were Jewish. We also heard a discussion of the meaning of Jewish names, both first and last from Chaim Lauer.

We viewed three Yiddish films during the winter: Gefilte Fish: Yiddle Mit A Fiddle: And Drei Tuchter.             

Our health and well-being were of major interest. We had a program on “How To Get A Good Night’s Sleep” given by the director of The Sleep Disorder Center Of St. Barnabas Hospital. Eye care and how to strengthen one’s bones and prevent breakage was discussed by Drs. Roberta and Yitzchak Strauchler. A program on stress and another on what services are available in the community so that we may stay in our home, even though we need some assistance, was presented by our nurse Karen Frank.

An expert on the Obama Health Plan, Dr. Eli Fishman, attempted to explain its many facets. Lew Abrams, MSW, an expert on drug abuse, made us aware of what to look for should this happen to someone close to us.

We heard from a representative of the League Of Women Voters prior to the November election.

The author of the controversial book, “FDR’s Deadly Secret”, Dr. Steven Lamazow, spoke about his theory, and David Aaron presented a great program on the “Rise, Development And Demise Of The Big Band Era”.

We took some wonderful trips. In the fall we went to Wave Hill overlooking the Hudson River. We viewed the Cezanne exhibit at the Montclair Art Museum. We attended the Folksbeine Yiddish Theater twice to see Theodore Bickel and “The Adventures Of Hershele Ostropolyer” starring, Mike Burstein. We also went to the UJA Benefit Concert at The New Jersey PAC.

We enjoyed our Year End Party catered by Herb‘n Spice (Beth Indyk) with entertainment by The Sterling Duo.

We would like to thank the office staff, Anne, Esterina, and Helen, as well as our custodial staff, Eduardo, Fatima and Maria.

Special thanks to Karen Frank for her continued concern and support for the well-being of our members, and a super thank-you to Chaim Lauer for making wonderful programs available for us during the winter months.

We think it was a great year and we hope you think so too!