Aging in Israel: Research, Policy and Practice

Description

In the twentieth century, all developed nations began to undergo unprecedented demographic changes, as their birth rates declined, and life expectancies increased significantly --an average of thirty years in less than a century. These developments have caused major transformations in the composition of populations in these countries, especially in terms of the proportions of the various age groups. While the age groups of children and adolescents have decreased, those of elderly persons aged 65 and over, have increased. Consistent with the situation in other developed nations, the absolute number and percentage of elderly persons in the Israeli population is increasing, while the percentage of younger persons is decreasing. Israel, however, differs from other developed countries in the pace of this demographic change, the composition of its population, and the ways it can address needs related to aging. The demographic figures in Israel indicate that not only is the proportion of elderly persons in the total population growing, but that the old population itself is rapidly aging as well. This volume exemplifies how social science research can promote knowledge about and understanding of needs and opportunities for adaptation, and assist in evaluating the outcomes of policies and services on the personal, community and national levels, as well as suggest required changes. The variety of topics covered in this volume on age-related research, policies and practice reflects a wide range of research by Israeli scholars on social aspects of aging. Their research offers a glimpse into the knowledge base that has been built over the years on the aging process in Israel, the population of elderly people, and the national policies and network of services for the aged. Other developed countries with aging populations have much to learn from the Israeli experience. Cover Half Title About The Author Title Page Copyright Page Contents Sources Part 1: Introduction Prologue—Aging in Israel: Demographic Changes, 3Societal Adaptation, and Remaining ChallengesSara Carmel Part 2: Coping with Losses and Changes at Old Age 1. Coping with Losses and Past Trauma in Old Age:The Separation-Individuation Perspective 2. Interpersonal Relatedness and Self-De? nition in Late Adulthood Depression: Personality Predispositions and Protective Factors 3. Long-Term Bereavement Processes of Older Parents: The Three Phases of Grief 4. Chronically Ill, Old, and Institutionalized:Being a Nursing Home Resident 5. Self-Identity in Older Persons Suffering from Dementia: Preliminary Results Part 3: Social Diversity, Quality of Life, and Successful Aging 6. Contribution of Social Arrangements to the Attainment of Successful Aging: The Experience of the Israeli Kibbutz 7. The Effect of a Communal Life Style on Depressive Symptoms in Late Life 8. The Willingness to Enter a Nursing Home: A Comparison of Holocaust Survivors with Elderly People Who Did Not Experience the Holocaust 9. Healthy Aging Around the World: Israel Too? 10. Elders’ Quality of Life and Intergenerational Relations: A Cross-National Comparison 11. Correlates of Successful Aging: Are They Universal? Part 4: Taking Care of and Caregiving—The Micro and Macro Levels 12. Terms of Visibility: Eldercare in an Aging Nation-State—The Israeli Case 13. Immigration, State Support, and the Economic Well-Being of the Elderly in Israel 14. Assisted Living for Older People in Israel:Market Control or Government Regulation? 15. Fragmentation of Care for Frail Older People—An International Problem. Experience from Three Countries: Israel, Canada, and the United States 16. Old-Age Home in Jerusalem: Post-Occupancy Evaluation 17. A Nursing Home in Arab-Israeli Society:Targeting Utilization in a Changing Social and Economic Environment 18. Life-Sustaining Treatments: What Doctors Do,What They Want for Themselves, and What Elderly Persons Want 19. Modernization and Elder Abuse in an Arab-Israeli Context 20. A Comparison of Well-Being of Demented vs Physically Impaired Family Caregivers of Hospitalized Elderly Part 5: Predictors of Survival at Old Age 21. Determinants of the Health and Survival of the Elderly: Suggestions from Two Different Experiences— Italy and Israel 22. Mortality Differentials among Israeli Men 23. Gender Differences in the Self-Rated Health—Mortality Association: Is It Poor Self-Rated Health That Predicts Mortality or Excellent Self-Rated Health That Predicts Survival? 24. The Will to Live and Survival at Old Age:Gender Differences 25. Beyond Keeping Active: Concomitants of Being a Volunteer in Old-Old Age