Here's a task for the current government and multiple social ministries: Handling urban citizens • During the Corona, urban mortality increased by almost 50% • Ministry of Labor and Welfare: "Minister considers this a central task" • Ministry of Social Equality: "Creating a plan to fight loneliness" • Special project

• Special Project: Has there been an increase in urban mortality during the Corona period?

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  Zaka

65. This is the number of people who have died since the beginning of their year alone in their apartment, and for days to weeks no one knew they were not living. 

If you look at the numbers in recent years, the figures do not bode well: During 2019, no less than 132 men and women died in these difficult circumstances, and in 2018 - 104 men and women. In all cases, these are awake people - causing their deaths to "slip under the radar." Due to the length of time since their death, ZAKs who arrived at their apartments encountered unbelievably harsh mirrors. What is common to all cases is a condition defined as "lost human photographer".

This is a topic most of us prefer to repress and not to mind, since the mind does not think of death in these difficult circumstances. Still, the Corona era seems to force us to deal with the phenomenon of urbanism in Israel, for if we had previously encountered the same city in the corridor or on the street bench, and smiled politely at them, during these closures these interactions would also have diminished significantly. 

A virus and its name is loneliness

ZAKA data from the last four years reveal that the phenomenon of the urban people dying alone in their homes is broad and unimaginable: an average of 111 males and females die each year in their homes without anyone knowing about it, and their deaths are revealed only in retrospect. Despite the development of interpersonal technology and communication, the phenomenon is only getting worse: while in 2017, 98 people died in their homes, in 2018 the number was already 104 people, and in 2019 there were 132 deaths.  

The phenomenon intensified especially during the Corona period. ZAKA data indicate a dramatic 47% increase in Arab people mortality over the same period last year - from 44 to 65 cases. In the last two weeks, no less than 25 people have died in their homes, and were later found to be in a state of loss of a human photographer. . 

"There is a close connection between the rise in urban mortality and the Corona," Zaki spokesman Moti Bukzin said today. "During the time when we were all in closure, if the neighbors did not see the same Arab person coming out of the house, it was not considered an exception. Neither did the neighbors themselves leave the house. "    

"During the 'house arrest' imposed on the elderly, it was not taken into account that the terrible loneliness affected them irreversibly, and degraded them mentally and physically," says Yael Manny, director of the Mitchell Community Center in Tel Aviv on behalf of the "Reut" nonprofit. Alone on the couch in the face of threatening news, and their hearts have some connection and human contact. When the mind hurts, the body "joins the celebration." 

Buccin testified about an ironic incident that occurred about a week ago when an 80-year-old body was discovered in Sharon's apartment, and food packages were placed outside his door. ZAKA volunteer Yaniv Levy said in tears about the case: "I was ashamed of us all. The entry handle was hung with falafel, but no one bothered to check what was going on with it. It's a certificate of poverty for us as a company. "    

Myth and Fracture: Not just the elderly 

Israel 2020 has another, lesser-known epidemic - loneliness. Despite the tendency to attribute it to the elderly, it is not just a golden age. "I estimate that about 35% to 40% of the urban people who die alone in their homes - they are under 60," says Buktsin. "There are quite a few cases of 50-60 year olds who live alone. Most of the time they are unhealthy. Sometimes they are at odds with the family, sometimes they are single and single." 

Tragically, not in all cases it is a "quick death". Alongside those who may lose their lives due to a heart event or stroke, there are cases of people slipping in the bath, for example, and not having any help until they finally died.       

Our request to the Central Bureau of Statistics indicates that there are two important figures that have not been segmented: the number of elderly people who are defined as unemployed or unrelated, and the number of urban people in Israel in general. Is it possible that the root of the problem is the initial mapping and detection of those people who are alone and may be in distress?     

Be that as it may, it is hard not to feel the helplessness of the ZAK people over the painful subject: "The feeling is that lesser road accidents and suicides can be prevented," says Buktsin - "but this is an unnecessary death!"   

"Volunteers sent home" 

The Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs said: "Minister Itzik Shmuli considers central task isolation and guided to formulate a detailed plan. Today, there are programs that address old citizen solitude, including 165 day centers, 350 exemplars and 40 enriched clubs, warm homes and social clubs. , An integrated treatment program is being implemented to help locate elderly veteran citizens, under which a nurse and social worker accompany the veteran citizen for three months to six months, and about a month ago, 20,000 civilian veteran citizens were distressed and fall sensors in a joint project with Yad Sara.

The Ministry of Social Equality said: "Upon taking office, Minister Meirav Cohen announced that the issue of combating the loneliness of senior citizens will be the focus of the activity. In addition, the firm currently operates on several levels, including the operation of call center * 8840 to handle veteran citizens' inquiries, the Veterans in Movement program, the "National Service Plan" and the exclusion of others.