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ADKAN 2007

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Background

The Center for Research and Study of Aging was established in 1990 to respond to pressing issues in the field of aging that concern present-day Israeli society. The response takes the form of conducting research, formulating and promoting social policy, and developing educational resources.

During the years, funds for research projects were obtained from the Joint-Israel through the Association for Planning and Development of Services for the Elderly in Israel (ESHEL), the Rashi Foundation, the Bereavement Fund, The Israeli Cancer Society, the Ministry of Science, The European Commission, The Israel Science Foundation, The National Insurance Institute and The US-Israel Bi-National Foundation.

The Center serves as a databank for methods of treatment and care techniques, conducts surveys, qualitative and quantitative research, and develops educational programs. It also offers consultation and training for professionals in the fields of gerontology and geriatrics.

The Center’s Goals:

The Center aims to advance knowledge and promote research to impact the formulation and implementation of policy for the elderly in the following ways:

Research:

♦ To conduct research especially in the areas of intergenerational family relations, quality of life, health, mental health and aging, elder abuse, law and aging

♦ To support and encourage interdisciplinary policy research
♦ To develop cross-national comparative research programs in collaboration with other research institutions and scholars around the world

Policy:
♦ To identify and clarify long-range policy
♦ To re-examine policy issues systematically
♦ To develop strategies for the dissemination of data to legislators and government ministries
♦ To place policy topics on the appropriate agendas

Education and Resources:
♦ To develop a data clearinghouse and resource center for policy-makers, practitioners, researchers, advocates, public interest groups, and the consumers
♦ To disseminate data to appropriate agencies through training programs and educational opportunities

The Character of the Center:

The Center is:

Collaborative:

♦ Through exchange of cross-cultural and cross-national partnerships with other gerontology centers and researchers in Israel and abroad
♦ Through exchange of research with universities and research institutes around the globe
♦ Through faculty-exchange programs with universities, mainly in the United States,

Europe and Canada

Interdisciplinary:

♦ The center's staff is interdisciplinary and includes gerontologists, sociologist, physicians, social workers, lawyers

♦ Knowledge and skills from variety of the social and behavioral sciences are developed in research and educational programs
♦ Knowledge and skills are disseminated to policy makers and the different professional groups working with the aged

MAJOR PROGRAMS AREAS and ACTIVITIES

Research

The center conducts studies and publishes research reports on a variety topics, like:
♦ Intergenerational family relationship and caregiving

♦ Elder abuse and maltreatment vis-à-vis the role of families
♦ Patterns of knowledge, attitudes and services use by family care-givers for Alzheimer patients
♦ Quality of life in the community and residential settings for the elderly

Research Center of Excellence on Immigration and Aging

Goals

♦ Research and training on issues of immigration as a life transitions during the individual and familial life course, especially during later stage of life

♦ Implications for micro and macro levels

Vision and Mission

♦ To become a leading center for research on immigration, migration and aging in order to understand its complexity and diversity, as a life transition

♦ Understanding the effects of immigration on quality of life of the elders and their family, as well as the implications for the host society

♦ Collaborating on the international level, through involving senior researchers and students from multiple disciplines

Specific Objectives

♦ Exploring the phenomenon of immigration and migration in old age and its implications on the individual, family and society levels

♦ Understanding life transitions and their effects on different types and groups of immigrants while considering social and cultural factors

♦ Identification of quality of life components within the populations of aged immigrants and their families in Israel, and in comparative cross-cultural perspectives

♦ Identifying the challenges of the health and welfare service systems, as they are perceived by users, services providers, professionals, and policy designers

♦ Identification and analysis of service provision patterns within the changing social and cultural contexts

♦ Building data bases and developing measurement tools in order to explore

o Adjustment of immigrants' populations

o Coping patterns and family relations

o The effects of changes in demographic, technological, health progress, and social-economical and legal changes on their quality of life

♦ Inter-disciplinary and inter-institutional cooperation within Israel

♦ Inter-disciplinary cooperation with researchers abroad

Education and Training in the Center of Research and Study of Aging

In the academic area, the Center has been introducing the topic of gerontology into various curricula at all degree levels:
Graduate training of social workers with the elderly through the introduction of numerous courses;
Program on aging for the faculty of Architecture and Town Planning at the Technion;
Creation of a Learning center for undergraduate social work students training in various agencies.

In the area of continuing education studies:
♦ A two-year certificate program for directors of old-age and nursing homes, which is recognized nationally
♦ Continues training for graduates of the above program

Exchange Programs

The Center attempts to focus on establishing relationships with experts at universities and research institutions in Israel and abroad for the purpose of exchanging information and sharing the most current approaches and research methodologies.

The Center maintains ongoing ties with members of the Social Sciences and Behavioral Section of the European Gerontological Association.

A fruitful exchange is developing with the European Master of Gerontology.

Consultation

The Center provides guidance and consultation for staff at the University of Haifa and the Technion and for workers in various agencies providing services to the aged. In preparing its programs, initiating services, and piloting experimental projects, the Center works in cooperation with agencies and organizations in the welfare and health services sectors.

PEOPLE & CONTACT

Director

Prof. Ariela Lowenstein, Haifa University.

Research Team
o Prof. Yitzhak Brick – יו"ר הוועד המנהל

o Prof. Jacob Gindin

o Dr. Tova Band-Winterstin

o Dr. Nurit Gur Yaish
o Dr. Sinoff Gary