The Beit Shemesh day care center has been given preliminary approval for a land allocation by the Jewish Agency to build a new facility. With a very long waiting list of elderly who wish to participate in the program, the approval couldn't come too soon. Melabev director Motti Zelikovitch expects to have initial plans for the facility in the coming months.
There are 37 participants in the program, which has been located in the Zinman Community Center in Beit Shemesh since it began five years ago. We appreciate the use of their space, but unfortunately it was not originally built for dementia care. This puts extra burdens on the dedicated volunteers and staff . In addition, since the physical structure does not meet the standards of the Bituach Leumi (National Insurance Insitute), the government does not pay anything towards coverage for the services Melabev renders.
All the members must pay out of their pockets and be subsidized by Melabev. With the building of a new center some financial relief will be available for those who qualify. Shoshona Lichtman, Director of the center, estimates that a new facility would need to accommodate at least 75 elderly, both Hebrew and Russian speakers, who are currently waiting for appropriate placement.
You can play a part in getting this building built by donating to Melabev.
