The Association of Associations for the Elderly in Israel, Halev and Matav, will hold a warning strike for the second time in about three weeks to protest the failure to update the rate paid to them.
Tomorrow, about 120 day centers for the elderly, which serve as a social and health safety net for about fifteen thousand elderly people in Israel, will be closed. The decision to shut down the day centers again was made after the demand to update the tariff was not accepted and there was no progress in contacts with the Ministry of Finance and Welfare.
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The organizations say that the welfare minister did not respond to their demand to meet with them in order to resolve the crisis. The tariff paid to the day centers has not been updated since 2021, which the operators claim is causing financial deficits estimated at millions of shekels, and the concern is that some of the centers, which are a significant anchor for the elderly, will not be able to continue operating independently until the end of the year.
Shmuel Kedar, CEO of the Association of Associations for the Elderly, says: "Day centers for the elderly provide care and relieve loneliness among thousands of elderly people throughout Israel. Due to the critical importance of the centers for the elderly, it was expected that the warning strike we held last month would bring the Minister of Social Affairs and the Ministry of Social Affairs to the table in order to provide practical solutions to the crisis as soon as possible. In practice, we see no progress or intention to solve the budget crisis at the day centers, but rather a transfer of responsibility between the ministries of finance, welfare and labor. We would love to return to activity and routine as soon as possible, but in the current budgetary situation of the day centers, we have no choice and will not rest until the crisis is resolved."
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Lior Strasberg, CEO of Matav: "There is a professional consensus regarding the importance of day centers as a significant therapeutic and social factor, which also prevents functional deterioration of senior citizens in Israel. This is a vital and life-saving service for the frail and mentally frail public, for whom the day center is a reason to go home. We at Matav are proud of the service and this is the moment we must fight for for the dear elderly and their families who rely on the day centers. Unfortunately, in recent years the rate of the day center has eroded dramatically, and the time has come to take action and prevent the collapse of the day centers in Israel. We are determined to fight to preserve and strengthen the activities of the day centers. We call on the Minister of Social Affairs and Social Security to act urgently to bring about a solution to the crisis."
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