By Bonnie Boxer
Beit Hofmann is a unique center for the elderly in Jerusalem, devoted to their physical, intellectual and emotional wellbeing as well as fostering community involvement. About 40% of the participants come from neighborhoods adjacent to the center, while the rest come from neighborhoods all around Jerusalem. The Jerusalem Foundation has built most of the elderly centers in the city over the last 60 years and continues to support programs for the elderly. In 2012, the Jerusalem Foundation renovated Beit Hofmann with the support of Swiss friends and has since backed the center’s activities.
The guiding principle is how to support people as they end their working lives and enter retirement and throughout all the stages of aging. At Beit Hofmann, they find meaningful activities, both physical and cultural, and social contact, appropriate for all stages of aging – all of which are vital to elderly health. There are age-appropriate sports activities, guidance in nutrition and managing personal finances, intellectual stimulation through lectures and discussions, as well as volunteering in the community. Beit Hofmann organizes lectures, clubs for various interests, performances, concerts and trips. About 1,100 people attend various programs. All this is led by a staff of two women and a corps of volunteers.
Many activities and lectures are initiated and led by Beit Hofmann’s elderly participants themselves, who range from those with minimal education to university professors. Current elderly-led activities include a book club, a circle for Holocaust survivors and a men’s group. Staff supports them in bringing their ideas to fruition. Programming is guided by feedback from the participants. There is a minimal charge for participating in activities, with solutions sought for those who cannot afford even that.
Beit Hofmann aims to keep the elderly part of the weave of community life. One day a week, their courses in history, Bible and art are held at a nearby school to provide a different setting and atmosphere. Some Beit Hofmann elderly work one-on-one with students at the school who have educational difficulties. Some also volunteer at local nursery schools, supporting young children who have difficulty adjusting.
A new community involvement program brings the elderly who have live-in help and rarely leave home for one day of age-appropriate exercise, art classes, breakfast and a discussion circle at Beit Hofmann. The next phase is to pair the “younger,” more active and independent elderly for home visits to those of more advanced age and limited ability to get out at all. There is also a support group for family members who care for the elderly.
Says Director Sivan Etz Haim, “The people who come to Beit Hofmann feel at home here.” Staff and volunteers aim to get to know them personally and call them when they haven’t been seen at the center for a while. A recent study by the Joint Distribution Committee showed that people who come regularly to Beit Hofmann feel healthier and are more involved in social and community life.
Director Etz Hadar emphasizes, “Society must realize that the elderly have a contribution to make and should be valued for that. This is essential as the retirement period is now much longer than it used to be. Society can benefit, and so do the elderly whose sense of self-worth is enhanced.”
Photo Credit: Shiran Itach
