More than one fifth of elderly Israelis have experienced worsening health since the war broke out nearly a year ago, according to a new report from the Jewish humanitarian organization the Joint and the Myers-JDC-Brookdale Institute. More than 10% of families surveyed reported that their elderly loved ones were functioning worse on a day-to-day basis, and more than one quarter said that their loved ones’ financial situations had gotten worse.
Timed to coincide with the United Nations’ International Day of Older People on October 1, the study calls attention to the unique challenges faced by older Israelis. More than 750 elderly people and their families were surveyed across three major cities—Tel Aviv, Netanya, and Ashdod.
The study also found that elderly people had significantly reduced their participation in social activities and other routines. More than one third of the elderly people surveyed said that they saw their friends and family less than before the war. One fifth of the family members said that they were providing financial or emotional support for an older relative or helping the relative perform routine activities.
At the same time, Israel’s elderly population has shown remarkable resilience since the outbreak of the war. Half of the elderly respondents said that they had increased their volunteering efforts since the outbreak of the war, and an additional 20% said that they were interested in starting volunteering. One fifth of the retirees interviewed said that they were interested in going back to work.
Yossi Heymann, who directs the Joint, noted that the International Day of Older People has taken on additional significance during the war. “The crises brought on by the Swords of Iron war emphasized the harm experienced by Israel’s older population, but also its strength,” he said. “The data reveal that elderly people in Israeli deal with challenges relating to health, functioning, and economics, but despite that, some show extraordinary resilience and show up to support the community and the country.”
He said that the elderly people at highest risk during emergency situations like this are those in need of regular support and nursing care from their families or institutions. “We must continue strengthening the local and national support networks and ensure that elderly people in Israel can continue living with dignity and security, in times of crisis as well,” he said.
This article was translated and edited for context by Leah Schwartz.
