The following article was published by The Association of Aging Services of North America in its Spring 2007 newsletter, "The Scribe".  

For the original article, please refer to page no. 7 in the enclosed newsletter.

Israeli Aging Services through the eyes of a Israeli Geriatric Medical Center: "Shmuel Harofeh"

Based on the official data of the Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics, Israel is among the countries with the highest life expectancy rate in the world: 78 years for men and 82 years for women (2006).

Four years ago, in 2002, the number of Israeli citizens above the age of 65 was 655,000 while the expected number of this age category in six years time, in 2010, is 721,000, an increase of 10%.

The Israeli Ministry of Health operates six regional governmental geriatric hospitals to include "Shmuel Harofeh" near Rishon-Le-Zion, some 20 Km southeast of Tel-Aviv.

The hospital serves a region extending from South Tel-Aviv to Gedera, with a population of over one million, 10% of whom are in the elderly age group, above the age of 65

"Shmuel Harofeh" combines medical and hospitalization services with the teaching of geriatrics and research on the health problems of old age. It is a governmental owned hospital affiliated with the Sackler Faculty of Medicine at the Tel-Aviv University. The hospital has 355 beds and provides a variety of medical services through 10 geriatric departments: from rehabilitation services to the treatment of acute conditions and from psychogeriatrics to long term medical care.

Six out of the 10 departments operate in a rather new infrastructure, built partially thanks to a grant by the Conference of Jewish Material Claims against Germany.

Among the services to the aged patients and their families, is a small synagogue with a "Seffer Torah" donated by the Friend of "Shmuel Harofeh".

Since 1990, the center's medical staff, many of whom are rather new immigrants from Russia, have trained 532 medical students, interns and doctors from all over Israel.
Research is conducted in all fields of geriatric medicine, published in scientific publications and presented at conventions in Israel and abroad. The research activity is in an impetus now with the creation of "The Unit for Geriatric Research and Medical Education". This unit is promoting and supporting staff members' initiatives in research. It also offers research tools like computerized data systems, statistical services and an up to date medical library. The main research topic for the last years is highlighting enteral feeding and related aspects, geriatric medical education and various clinical aspects of the long-term care.