An exchange on ageing

DURING a whirlwind visit to Australia last week, Israel’s Deputy Minister for Senior Citizens, Dr Lea Nass, exchanged ideas in one of the only other countries with a government ministry responsible for senior citizens.

Dr Nass met with federal Minister for Mental Health and Ageing Mark Butler, Victorian Minister for Health and Ageing David Davis, and members of the Jewish community.
The three-day official visit, which included the presentation of a community service award on behalf of the Jewish Community Council of Victoria (JCCV), aimed to strengthen the relationship between the two countries.

Beginning her visit at Jewish Care, the MK was hosted by president Bruce Rosengarten and chief executive Bill Appleby, with representatives from various other aged-care facilities also in attendance.

Explaining that the visit provided a high level forum to exchange ideas, Appelby highlighted joint concerns about changing demographics, namely the increase in the elderly population, and the impact this would have on future planning for aged-care provision.

“The Australian Jewish community welcomes the collaboration of knowledge with Dr Nass in the aim of providing the very best of care for senior citizens, both here and overseas,” Appelby said.

Following a boardroom lunch with the Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce, Dr Nass took an afternoon tour of the facilities at Emmy Monash Aged Care and attended a meeting hosted by new president Joe Krampel and chief executive Tanya Abramson.

The issues of aged-care services and caring for Holocaust survivors was on the agenda the following afternoon, when Dr Nass met with representatives of the Rabbinical Council of Victoria (RCV).

She talked of budgetary challenges and highlighted a number of Israeli initiatives in place to assist the elderly, among them a new national service option to spend a year volunteering in aged-care facilities.

In thanking the Minister for her visit, RCV executive director Ari Morris said the community can learn a great deal from Dr Nass’s initiatives.

“We would encourage all community organisations, including schools and youth movements, to allocate periods each year to spending constructive time with older members of the community,” Morris said.

DALIA SABLE