“Many seniors don’t want to leave the home and community they love when their health needs change. Our integrated care team brings medical services to them, allowing residents to age in place with dignity, surrounded by familiar faces.”
Geriatric Nurse Clinician, Ashira Edelman heads an amazing team of medical professionals that provides in-house nursing services at Beit Tovei Ha’ir, where she is committed to providing a fully integrated program of medical and nursing care.
Every resident of Beit Tovei has a Kupat Cholim (medical insurance) policy that covers their health services in Israel, with their choice of family doctor. However, it is not always convenient for them to visit their clinic for every treatment they need, so Ashira’s nursing team offers and provides an envelope of additional in-house care.
For example, blood tests can be carried out in-house and sent to the Kupah (health fund) laboratory for analysis, to avoid a trip to the clinic. The Beit Tovei clinic nurses, nurse practitioner and hospice nurses can evaluate a resident who is feeling unwell and either provide treatment, in consultation with their family doctor, or refer them to a specialist. If a resident is suffering from an infection and taking antibiotics, the Residence nurse will visit them at home or call them to check on their recovery, and intervene if necessary. All Beit Tovei apartments have emergency call buttons, and residents know that there is always a first-aid medic or nurse on site to provide emergency care if they trip or fall.
Ashira explains: “We have a team of specialist doctors who run weekly clinics, and an expert geriatric nurse practitioner who is licensed to prescribe and works alongside the family doctors to oversee the daily care of any resident who has acute or chronic health problems. We also have a team of medically trained nursing aides and care-givers on staff who are available to help with daily tasks as needed, which is more cost effective for the resident than paying for a dedicated carer to come in to help them.”
“Many of our residents live independent lives but need help with certain tasks. For example. if their eye-sight is deteriorating and they live alone, we will supervise their medications to ensure that they take them at the right time every day. Our Enrichment Center offers activities for elderly residents who experience cognitive decline and can no longer participate in the regular programs. It is very helpful for each spouse to be able to receive different levels of support, while continuing to live together in their own apartment.
“We are also proactive in helping our residents to live long and healthy lives. We have a physical therapist on staff, who promotes strength and coordination and advises on fall prevention. We have a dietician and Weight Watchers group, and we run programs to promote quality of life and independence. We also encourage the residents to join our exercise classes and to use the in-house gym and swimming pool.
Aging in Place
“The management of Beit Tovei Ha’ir has a unique vision for end-of-life care, and have established a program called “Aging in Place” that enables residents to pay for in-house nursing and stay in their own apartment until their final days. Unless they need specialist treatment that cannot be provided outside of a hospital, we do our best to treat them at home.”
“We recognize that many residents who experience declining health and loss of independence do not want to move into a care facility, to we bring the facility to them. This is also tremendously supportive for their spouse, who gets to stay in their apartment and is relieved of the pressures of caring for their loved one. In some cases, a resident who lives alone relies on our staff to oversee their care, and to keep in touch with family members living far away.
“We create an integrated care plan that can be adjusted as required. Our nurses supervise the care team and monitor the patient’s fluid intake and vital signs, and to offer pain relief measures and medication. Our in-house Rabbi can visit, and we understand and respect the wishes of the family for a spiritual and dignified end to every life.
“I don’t know of any other senior residence that offers such a comprehensive support package, and devotes such care and attention to every one of our residents. I think we are all realistic enough to know that our health will decline one day, and so we want to reassure each person that we are here for them. We will do our best to ensure that they will never need to move into an impersonal hospital ward, but can end their days, at 120, receiving palliative care from people that they know, and surrounded by their friends and family.”
