Aging with Dignity
Dear Friends,
The Holiday season is here once again.
AKIM-Jerusalem has a proud record of assisting so many special people. Our challenge at
this time is not merely to start anew but to maintain all of our existing services while being
sensitive and adapting to the changing needs of our clients .
Overall the population in Israel is aging. Elderly persons over the age of 65 represent some
10%. At AKIM-Jerusalem more than 50% of our current residents are elderly.
Dinah, 67, is a resident at AKIM-Jerusalem's Beit Julia hostel where the staff specialize in addressing the issues of aging. She suffers from a number of age related health issues such as high blood pressure and diabetes. Despite this Dinah's days can be fulfilling and rewarding: she leaves for her work each morning at a protected work environment and when she returns to the hostel later on, she participates in activities such as art, drama and felting in a warm and caring social environment.
Dinah is aware of the need to eat well and to exercise in order to maintain an active lifestyle. She therefore attends one on one sessions at the gym where our dietician and other specialists help her to make healthy choices with a view to slowing down further physical decline as she grows older.
Health and welfare providers often lack the understanding of what an aging, disabled
population requires and as a result their clients risk receiving inadequate and inappropriate care.
AKIM-Jerusalem has provided for its residents in their younger years and is committed
to continue to do so as they age. In this way people like Dinah can maintain their physical wellbeing and perhaps more importantly their dignity.
To achieve these objectives our infrastructure, facilities and programs must be designed
to accommodate the full range of physical and social changes that our clients encounter.
As consumers no doubt you value sensitive and appropriate health care. With your help and
generosity AKIM-Jerusalem will be enabled to provide no less to its beneficiaries.
On their behalf we wish you and your family a healthy and happy New Year.
Efrat Vagner
Director of Resource Development
and External Affairs
