"Where is the long-term care money?" asked the headline in this section. The writer, Adv. Dafna Shagal Fodor, relates to questions raised by the Knesset Committee for Foreign Workers, but it seems that she is not interested in hearing answers, but rather in echoing erroneous and outrageous statements made in the committee recently – many of them not based on facts, whose sole purpose is to create "headlines" that do a great injustice to the companies and nursing associations.
According to the Central Bureau of Statistics, at the end of 2021, the population of senior citizens in Israel numbered about 1.163 million people, constituting about 12.3% of the country's population. In light of the development of science and the increasing life expectancy of senior citizens, according to forecasts, by 2040 their share will rise to about 14.2% of the population, to about 2 million people.
Some 330,130 of Israel's elderly today are considered "eligible for the Long-Term Care Law," and as a result, receive more than 140 million hours of care annually provided by companies and associations through some 30,<> dedicated Israeli caregivers, and some <>,<> foreign caregivers and thousands of social workers.
As part of their activities, companies and nursing associations provide professional training to foreign and Israeli caretakers according to a program set by the National Insurance Institute. Every training course the employees undergo is approved in advance, as is the content taught in it. At the end of each course, organized reports are submitted to the National Insurance Institute, including details of the content transferred, actual training hours, employee attendance, and so on.
The National Insurance Institute audits and supervises the service provided through an accounting firm chosen by the institution. Foreign workers in Israel are entitled to social benefits just like Israeli workers, including payment for travel. Therefore, foreign workers employed in the industry receive reimbursement for travel expenses and other legal rights.
The time has come to remind those who have forgotten that the Long-Term Care Law, which has been operating successfully in Israel for many years, has changed the care of the elderly in Israel for the better and immeasurably, and is considered one of the great successes of the legislation in Israel. Thanks to him, the State of Israel is one of the world leaders in serving elderly long-term care residents, who receive essential help in cooking, bathing, personal hygiene, purchasing medicines and helping manage daily life, and he has reduced loneliness among the elderly, improved their nutrition and more. All this is to be proud of.
In conclusion, it is important to note that all "long-term care money", as defined in the title of the article, reaches its destination according to the requirements of the law and agreements with the National Insurance Institute, and is expressed in the daily care received by those entitled to the Long-Term Care Law and its improvement.
About 96% of all elderly people in Israel today prefer to age at home. The vast majority of elderly people eligible for the Long-Term Care Law choose home nursing care, provided by associations and nursing companies, over the possible alternatives.
The nursing industry is currently one of the most supervised in Israel, and it goes without saying that nursing companies and associations operate legally.
Wrong? We'll fix it! If you find a mistake in the article, please share with us