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Dispatches from Mobile Dental Unit in Israel
In so many societies, elderly often lack a sense of connection to the outside world. These feelings of isolation can be particularly painful for homebound seniors, who cannot always access the care and programs they desperately need. Thankfully this was not the case for Leah, an 83-year-old Holocaust survivor living in Israel. When JDC-ESHEL's dental mobile unit arrived, unsolicited, in front of her home a few weeks ago, she was touched and surprised.
"I didn't even ask them for help, I don't know how they knew," says the elderly woman of JDC-ESHEL — the Association for Planning and Development of Services for the Aged in Israel. After learning through a newspaper article published on Israel's Holocaust Memorial Day that Leah could not afford the dentures she needs, JDC-ESHEL dispatched one of its dental mobile units to assist her. The dentists examined her condition and scheduled a treatment program. JDC-ESHEL began its mobile dental service in 2001 to provide homebound elderly who are frail or have limited mobility with the dental healthcare they need. The service has expanded slowly, growing from one mobile dental unit to three, covering the north, south and central regions of the country. With great reach, the program has served over 8,000 people to date — often multiple times each — from the northern city of Rosh Hanikra to Arad in the south. Between the summer of 2001 and June 2006 8023 elderly patients were checked and offered treatment programs and 5,505 received direct treatment from the service. While the outreach to Leah was unique, the dental mobile units' clients generally find out about the service by word of mouth. Promotion of the service is channeled via JDC-ESHEL's other innovative projects to benefit seniors, such as its network of day care centers for the elderly and homes for the aged throughout Israel. In the program's initial years, a limited radio advertisement campaign was also run to publicize the dental service to elderly in need who were not connected to other JDC initiatives. "We feel more dignified with good dental care — it helps us to eat better and to feel better about ourselves with how we look to other people," said one of the repeat clients. Beneficiaries also appreciate the 50% subsidy which makes maintaining healthy teeth and gums affordable. The service is made completely accessible to its homebound clients, as the equipment transported by the van is entirely mobile, allowing them to receive high-quality dental healthcare in the comfort of their own homes. June 2006 |
