The Forgotten People: Elderly Poverty in Israel

By: Yocheved Singer

Poverty impacts a wide range of demographics in Israel, notably the ultra-Orthodox communities and the Arab population. However, another often marginalized and forgotten group is the elderly generation. The elderly in Israel are among the most impoverished and in need, due to the high cost of living and limited financial assistance available to them.

21% of Israel’s seniors are below the poverty line. That means, 1 out of every 5 elderly Israelis is poor.

I know what you’re thinking, Why didn’t they plan their finances? Why didn’t they plan for the future while they were young?

Sadly, the families we work with do not have the luxury to consider financial planning.

Simply put, they did not have the finances to plan.

Many Israelis work for minimum wage, living paycheck to paycheck. They live their entire life never having the ability to purchase anything more than the bare essentials. Their immediate concern is to cover basic necessities and ensure that their families have enough food to survive.

When these hardworking individuals retire and are no longer able to work, they find themselves struggling to survive. Basic necessities like food, rent, and medical expenses become a constant source of stress and worry. The situation is even more severe for elderly Israelis who are single or have no children to care for them. Without any support system, they are left to fend for themselves.

At Ten Gav, we receive many requests for help from the elderly. Let’s take a look at some cases that came in recently…

Ruti

Ruti, 75, is completely bed bound. Despite four back operations, she suffers such terrible pain in her back and legs that she is unable to walk, and both sitting and lying down is uncomfortable. Ruti, lives on the fourth floor of a public housing unit without an elevator. Ruti leaves the house only to attend medical appointments and requires an ambulance with a lift to get her out. This is such an inconvenience that she leaves the house for no other reason.

Ruti cannot afford the orthopedic, supportive bed that her doctor recommends, even though, as someone whose world is limited to the confines of her bed, less pain could make all the difference to her spirit and state of mind.

Leah

Leah, now 90, has numerous health issues, including high blood pressure, arthritis, and anemia. She is legally blind and bedridden. She survives on a monthly government paycheck. Leah, who immigrated from Ethiopia close to 40 years ago, is a widow with seven grown children. Though her children visit often, none of them are in a position to help her financially.

Recently, Leah's air-conditioning/heating unit broke. Because of her advanced age and medical condition, she is very sensitive to extreme changes in temperature.

Jamal

Jamal, 81, lives alone in Hadera and struggles to make ends meet.

Jamal never had a profession and, over the years, worked odd jobs in order to survive. Today, he has no pension and lives off a monthly government stipend.

Jamal lives in a tiny one-room apartment and makes do with the little he has.

Until now, Jamal has done all of his washing by hand. As his health deteriorates, this is getting more and more difficult. If he could get help buying a washing machine, there is no doubt his quality of life would greatly improve.

While the government does provide some financial assistance in the form of social security and old-age pensions, these often fall short of covering the elderly's basic needs. As a result, many elderly Israelis are forced to rely on charity organizations and volunteer groups to help them get by.

It is heartbreaking to see these forgotten people, who have spent their entire lives working hard to provide for their families, struggling to survive in their golden years. It's time for us as a society to recognize their plight and take action to provide them with the support and care they deserve.

Whether it's through increased government assistance, charitable donations, or simply volunteering our time and resources, we can all make a difference!

Together, we can ensure that the elderly are not forgotten and that their needs are met with dignity and compassion.

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