At the second annual conference of the Aging IL Community, Joint-Eshel presented the 2021 Glickman Prize, totaling $25,000, to three initiatives. Aging IL comes up with solutions for the challenges of aging by connecting entrepreneurs, business people, investors, local authorities, philanthropists, and researchers.
The winners were announced at an online event hosted by the Glickman family’s representative in Israel, Dr. Zvi Feine, Joint-Eshel Director General Yossi Heymann, and chairwoman of the award committee Jenny Brodsky. The award committee included representatives from the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs and Social Services, the National Insurance Institute, local associations for older adults, municipalities, academics, and the Joint.
In previous years, the Glickman Prize for Excellence and Quality of Care for older people was given for existing programs, but this year Joint-Eshel chose to honor initiatives in the planning stages to encourage innovation. The winners were chosen from 10 candidates who impressed the judges with the diversity of their programs.
First Place ($10,000) was awarded to Co-Housing Israel (CHI)
The committee stated that suitable housing for older adults is an important issue on the public agenda, adding that CHI empowers senior citizens to solve problems on their own. This initiative is led by community activists aged 50 and above who seek to create affordable housing to help people age gracefully in a positive social setting.
The project targets a broad segment of the population and not only older people that have the financial means to move to comfortable retirement homes. CHI promotes optimal aging in the community and reaches out to senior citizens who do not require assisted living.
Second Place ($8,000) went to “Adel” – an acronym meaning the “Standard for Digital Literacy”
The panel noted that digital literacy for older people should be a top public priority especially in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Judges commended the initiators for creating a prototype that sets the standard for others. The projects helps older adults live independently within the community, stay mentally fit, learn to use the Internet, and adapt to the digital age.
Third Place ($7,000): “Crossing Generations”
Traditionally, the committee bestows the first three prizes, but this year we honored the achievements of Aging IL by allowing its members to choose the Third Place winner. An audience of about 250 people voted digitally to select Crossing Generations, a group that fosters intergenerational relationships and strives to bridge the gaps between the young and the old.
The Joint continues to invite technological and social entrepreneurs, senior citizens and the public at large to join Aging IL, which was founded by the National Insurance Funds, Ashoka Israel, Hackaveret, and Joint-Eshel.
