{"id":1380,"date":"2021-04-11T23:38:44","date_gmt":"2021-04-11T20:38:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thejoint.org.il\/en\/?p=1380"},"modified":"2023-06-15T11:43:53","modified_gmt":"2023-06-15T08:43:53","slug":"now-is-the-time-visits-to-survivors-ease-loneliness-by-maggie-gad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thejoint.org.il\/en\/now-is-the-time-visits-to-survivors-ease-loneliness-by-maggie-gad\/","title":{"rendered":"Now Is the Time: The Power of One Visit a Week | By Maggie Gad"},"content":{"rendered":"
At the end of 2020, there were about 174,500 Holocaust survivors living in Israel with an average age of 85. Some 50 percent of them report experiencing loneliness. Most suffer from significant physical, cognitive and emotional decline which also affects their ability to function socially. A new study by the National Initiative for Alleviating Loneliness among Holocaust Survivors shows how one hour a week can make a difference.<\/p>\n
The struggle of survivors is exacerbated by old age which causes suppressed memories and traumas from the Holocaust to resurface. While they were preoccupied with mid-life challenges such as employment and raising a family, and they were healthy, they were able to repress the past. However, as they grow old illness as well as the loss of relatives and friends reawaken memories of the war, reviving fears and anxieties and reopening wounds.<\/p>\n
Yad L\u2019Yad is an initiative of the Holocaust Survivors\u2019 Rights Authority, Joint-Eshel and MATAV. It provides a network of volunteers who pay a one-hour visit each week to 5,860 survivors nationwide.<\/p>\n
Esther Oded is one inspiring example of a survivor who has benefited from the program. You can watch her story here:<\/p>\n