ISRAEL BONDS COMMUNITY RELIEF PROJECTS
ZWST in Germany
Tablets4Saftas –
a project from the Central Welfare Board
of Jews in Germany
Aron Schuster, Germany
Due to the Corona pandemic, visits to all Jewish nursing homes for the elderly in Germany were prohibited and are still only possible to a very limited extent. Thousands of older people were suddenly cut off from contact with their relatives. The elderly in particular are often affected by loneliness and isolation, which was exacerbated by this crisis.
“The idea behind the campaign is to provide tablets to the nursing homes so that the residents can use video telephony and online exchange to keep in touch with their families and friends.”
Aron Schuster, director of the Central Welfare Board of Jews in Germany
Loneliness is a multifaceted phenomenon with a variety of causes. Older people are affected and need support, not only in times of Corona. Results of the German Age Survey 2017 show that loneliness increases in old age, slightly more in women than in men.
It was therefore important to us to enable the residents of the nursing homes to use new and digital forms of communication in order to be closer to their families and friends despite the separation.
Together with Mitzve Makers e.V., the Central Welfare Board of Jews in Germany started the large-scale donation campaign #Tablets4Safta. The idea behind the campaign is to provide tablets to the nursing homes so that the residents can use video telephony and online exchange to keep in touch with their families and friends. The tablets can also be used in the future, e.g. to improve memory training for residents with dementia.
With this project, we are able to support Jewish nursing homes for the elderly by giving their residents the chance to stay connected digitally. The facilities of fully inpatient care for the elderly are still the most challenged in the Corona crisis. The employees on-site do incredible work, but help is needed. Thanks to many small donations and two large donations from Israel Bonds Germany and Deutsche Telekom, we can make everyday life in our nursing homes for the elderly a little easier.
Aron Schuster is the director of the ZWST, Central Welfare Board of Jews in Germany.
PHOTO: Aron Schuster
Keeping the elder generation connected during Corona
Michael Grauss, Director, Israel Bonds Germany
The Corona pandemic has affected us all in many ways, but one population group was hit particularly hard: the elderly. Not only do they belong to the high-risk group for which an infection with the COVID-19 virus could have the most serious consequences, but they also suffer from social isolation. Visits to nursing homes for the elderly in Germany are only possible to a very limited extent. This means that thousands of people living in these facilities are suddenly cut off from contact with their relatives.
“Keeping the bonds between families and friends strong during the Corona pandemic is vital”
Michael Grauss, Director, Israel Bonds Germany
The Central Jewish Welfare Organization in Germany (ZWST) maintains several nursing homes for Jewish elderly people throughout Germany in cooperation with the local Jewish communities. In these facilities, another factor comes into play: the possible re-traumatization of Holocaust survivors through the ongoing isolation. The ZWST came up with a great idea to make the current situation somewhat more bearable for the residents of their nursing homes: the project Tablets4Safta.
Israel Bonds decided to sponsor this project and financially support the purchase of 70 tablets. We believe that this project makes a meaningful contribution to improving the quality of life for elderly people in this difficult time and we are very happy to be part of it. With the ZWST we have found an experienced partner with the necessary infrastructure to implement this project fast and efficiently. In this time of crisis, we need to stand together, support and help each other and we at Israel Bonds are fortunate to contribute. Keeping the bonds between families and friends strong during the Corona pandemic is vital and we do our best to help.
Michael Grauss is the Director of Israel Bonds in Germany
PHOTO: Michael Grauss