Partners
ESHEL - The Association for the Planning and Development of Services for the Aged in Israel
JDC-ESHEL was founded in 1969 by the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee and
the Government of Israel in order to develop services for the rapidly expanding
elderly population. In the early days of the State of Israel, the elderly population
was relatively small, but soon this segment of the population was growing rapidly, due to
increased life expectancy, and also to waves of immigration, which brought a
disproportionate percentage of older people to Israel, many of whom suffered from health
problems. Since its inception, JDC-ESHEL has transformed the quality of life of the
elderly
in Israel, building 18 homes for the aged, 150 day care centers, 2,250 sheltered housing units,
and assisting in the establishment of 115 local associations for the elderly, 84 supportive
communities, and many programs to enhance the quality of life of the elderly,
including health promotion programs, training for thousands of professionals and volunteers,
and long range planning.
Principles of Operation
JDC-ESHEL does not operate programs directly, but initiates and develops them, turning them over
to local or national organizations once they have been established. All activities involved coordination,
cooperation and pooling of resources with local and national government bodies and other NGOs dealing
with the elderly. JDC-ESHEL takes a comprehensive approach to the development of programs and services,
which integrates health and social needs in order to improve the quality of life of the elderly, as
well as a commitment to education and training to meet these goals. All programs strongly emphasize
professionalism and on the need to effect a system-wide impact on services for the elderly.
Areas of Activity
JDC-ESHEL is involved in all aspects of services for the elderly, including community and institutional
services for disabled and mentally frail elderly, housing, warm home programs, employment and volunteer
programs, health promotion programs, and special programs for Ethiopians and Arabs. JDC-ESHEL also
publishes books and pamphlets and produces videos, and encourages the use of technology to help the elderly.
Training is provided for those who work with the elderly, and JDC-ESHEL works internationally, providing
technical assistance and advice to help the elderly throughout the world.
MJHS - Metropolitan Jewish Health System
Metropolitan Jewish Health System is a highly integrated system that provides a continuum of care
to aging and chronically ill individuals of all ages. The system's history illustrates how the company
grew to offer such a wide range of services since its origin as a nursing home in the early 1900s.
The agencies and programs of Metropolitan Jewish Health System include two extended care facilities
and an extensive network of home and continuing care services, and a Medicare HMO.
The services provided by these agencies and programs include:
Home Care
Skilled Nursing
Facilities
Hospice
Adult Day Health
Palliative Care
Research Department
Elderplan
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