Wednesday October 14th was an exciting day in Jerusalem. After many years of work, waiting and anticipation, Melabev's new state-of-the art building for Alzheimer's care opened in Talpiot. Guests at the event were given a tour of the building, which has been designed with the needs of this population in mind. The activity rooms are large, bright and airy and can accomodate up to sixty English speaking group members at one time in the activity club and memory club. There is a special beauty parlor, a snoezelen room for stimulation or relaxation, a computer room where they use Savion a computer program of mental stimulation developed by Melabev's occupational therapist,Yehudit Lange, and a large garden space outside which will be used for horticulture therapy. The lovely kitchen can be used for therapeutic cooking activities as well. Showers can be given at the center. The building meets all the requirements of the ministry of health which means that people attending can use their National Health Insurance benefits ( Hok Siud) to cover the cost of attending this service.
The opening was a gala event led by Motti Zelikovotch, Director-General of Melabev, with lots of food and continuous musical entertainment provided by Betty Klein, Melabev's music therapist. The exciting moment was when mezuzot were affixed to each of the 5 glass doors that greet the clients on their arrival into the building. Prof. Arnold Rosin, co-founder of Melabev was given the honor to affix the first mezuzah. This honor was also bestowed on Dr. Harry Fine and Dr. Irving Spitz with their grandchild. The Klitsner Family put up a mezuah: Jane Kliltsner, son and daughter-in-law Rabbi Shmuel and Judy Klitsner, and Judy's mother, Ruth Freistat. Izzie and Edie Davidowitz and Sol Rothschild also placed a mezuzah.
Nancy Brown, Harvey Chesterman, and Bonnie Segal affixed a mezuzah in the name of the Friends of Melabev, who were recently honored with a volunteer award by Mayor Nir Barkat for their outstanding service to Jerusalem's elderly with Alzheimer's disease. Harvey used the mezuah moment to make a pitch for the upcoming 6th Annual Walkathon.
Motti Zelikovitch was the MC of the event which included greetings from Harry Sapir, chairman of the Board of Melabev, Mrs. Bernice Beare Rosenberg, representing the Beare foundation, Dr. Roy Stern, and Mrs. Orna Bar, Director, Foundation of the Frail Elderly of the National Insurance Institute. Both Leah Abramowitz, Director of the Institute for Studies on Aging and co-founder of Melabev and Marsha Donshik, Director of the Irene Stern Enrichment Program and Director of Melabev's new building gave moving speeches - from the heart.
The event was attended by beneficiaries of Melabev's care, volunteers who help the professionals provide the care, staff members, girls doing National Service - Sherut Leumi, donors who have helped make this building possible , and curious people from the community. All were impressed by the new building. If you haven't seen the building yet, you are invited to come see- the building that raises the standards for care of people with dementia.
