As we prepare for Rosh Hashana, much is new and changed at Melabev. Most important, we have new premises for our English speakers Memory Club and day center, thanks to many, many donors. We are grateful to everyone, although I can only mention a few here: Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, the Aaron Beare Foundation, the Family of Irene Stern, Bituach Leumi (National Insurance Institute) and the Claims Conference and the Anonymous donor who started this process. We cannot thank you enough !
A new Advisory Committee on Senior Citizen Affairs was formed by the Municipality of Jerusalem, which I and the founders of Melabev, Prof. Arnold Rosin and Mrs. Leah Abramowitz, were invited to join because of expertise in eldercare.
We have an arrangement with a Hotline for eldercare (formerly called “Moked 109”), which will be run by our trained volunteers. This Hotline will greatly help older adults and their caregivers.
One evening we gave presentations in Maaleh Adumim, a suburb north of Jerusalem, where they do not yet have a day center for Alzheimer’s care. Similarly, we conducted a study day for social workers from East Jerusalem. Melabev has a new web site that has already attracted surfers from around the world: Australia, the U.S. and India.
We have reached out to the national police headquarters in light of the many recent cases of Alzheimer's patients wandering unattended in Israel which ended in misfortune. We have prepared guidelines to help police officers learn how to spot an Alzheimer’s patient who is lost and how to identify and connect him or her with the family that is searching for them.
Many of you participate in the Friends of Melabev Annual Walkathons and Virtual Dinners and contribute on various occasions throughout the year, for which we thank you. I am pleased to announce that the City of Jerusalem's Volunteers Unit is honoring the Friends of Melabev with the Mayor's Award for Excellence for 2009. The awards ceremony will take place October 18, in City Hall. A special "Kol HaKavod" ro Mrs. Estelle Fink, a long-time Friend of Melabev who was recently honored as "Yakir Yerushalayim" (Worthy of Jerusalem).
We have initiated a series of tours of the premises in Pisgat Zeev for Hebrew speaking community leaders which could result in a new contingent to the “Friends”.
During my recent trip to the United States, I had the good fortune of meeting with a number of gracious hosts and hostesses. Warm and positive discussions were held with the representatives of major organizations, private individuals and business leaders. We look forward to fruitful outcomes in the weeks and months ahead.
There have been some serious challenges in the past year, especially caused by the global economic situation that has been felt by practically everyone, within our families – and in Melabev. Still, we must continue to provide all the services possible to the older adults in our care and their families – from assessment through end of life.
In this coming year, we know that there are the same challenges
as in the past, aside from the lingering global financial crisis.
The maximum fee for which we can charge or be reimbursed,
is below our actual costs. I recently met with Minister of
Social Welfare, Isaac Herzog, as a first step to change this,
but meanwhile we depend on donations to close this gap.
Our beautiful new premises for English speakers must be maintained – heated in winter and cooled in summer and kept clean and in perfect condition at all times.
Melabev could not have come this far without your help. I thank you and trust you will even increase your assistance to the extent possible in the year ahead. We rely on your support to continue to grow and broaden our services to our older adults and their caregivers.
In the name of all of us at Melabev, I wish a good, prosperous and healthy new year to you and your family!
Motti Zelikovitch, Director-General
