"Supportive Communities" Provide Peace of Mind for Israel's Elderly and Their Families

The High Holidays used to be a lonely time for 75-year-old Shoshana. Her husband passed away six years ago, and her children and grandchildren live far away. However, since she joined her local Supportive Community program in Hadera, a program developed by JDC in partnership with the Israel Ministry of Social Affairs, the local municipality and the local association for the elderly, her loneliness is gone.

"The Community coordinator came to visit me just before Rosh Hashanah and delivered a package, complete with honey," says Shoshana. "She wished me a sweet New Year and we sat together for a while."

In addition to house visits and frequent phone calls, the Supportive Community coordinator also plans outings, activities and social and cultural events. Now, thanks to the lectures, art and exercise classes at the Supportive Community's local Clubhouse, Shoshana's days are as busy as she likes.

"I made New Years cards and Sukkah decorations in our Supportive Community art class," Shoshana proudly shares. "Now I have a reason to leave my home. I know people care about me and miss me if I don't come," Shoshana adds with a smile.

In addition to dispelling loneliness, the Supportive Community fills another important role: it enables elderly, many of whom are without family, to remain in their own homes as they grow older even though they may be less able to perform simple household tasks.

"The Community coordinator came by and fixed my broken window. The coordinator will come whenever I call, for anything. Even to change a light bulb!" Shoshana remarks. The Supportive Community coordinator is on call 24 hours a day, carrying out activities as varied as preventing a midnight flood by fixing a broken water pipe to locating a lost contact lens. Professionals are called in when a task is beyond the coordinator's capabilities.

For many elderly and their families, the program's emergency call button is the most critical element of the program. "I can sleep at night, knowing my mother can get assistance quickly if she needs it," said Shoshana's daughter. The wrist-bound transmitter is easily operated in time of need and ensures 24-hour emergency medical assistance. Also, when home emergencies were compounded by security emergencies with the outbreak of the intifada three years ago, the Supportive Community was readily adapted to provide additional emergency assistance resulting from the tension, fear and physical insecurity caused by the conflict.

"We created an Emergency Supportive Community, which includes extra components such as the provision of emergency lights, blankets, radios, and other equipment for those who need it" explains Shalom, JDC-ESHEL's Director of Housing. "And a community worker and social worker provide much-needed emotional support."

"The success of the model is its adaptability," says Shalom. "It can be adapted to meet the needs of any population and any location. We have Supportive Communities in the Arab sector and for the ultra-religious. We also have created a model for rural areas. In places where there are large concentrations of new immigrants, such as from Argentina and the former Soviet Union, we hire Russian or Spanish speaking staff, " Shalom adds.

In keeping with JDC's operational strategy in Israel, the Supportive Community has an additional advantage: within three years, the project, which receives start-up funding from JDC and local and government partners, becomes self-sufficient, running on low membership fees and municipal support. This enables JDC to initiate new Supportive Communities so additional elderly can enjoy the services provided. In addition, JDC is making a special effort to provide subsidies to enable elderly who cannot afford even the program's nominal fees to benefit from the program.

"Since I joined the Supportive Community, my life is so much better," says Shoshana. "I look forward to the holidays now, and many other things." That holds true not only for Shoshana, but for more than fifteen thousand members like her in 103 Supportive Communities throughout Israel.