Israel’s Pension Minister visits Melbourne’s Jewish Care
Israel’s Deputy Minister of Pensioner Affairs, Dr Lea Nass, shared information and ideas with Jewish Care aged care staff and community leaders when she visited Melbourne in December.
Dr Lea Nass and representatives of fellow aged care providers were hosted on 16 December at Jewish Care’s Staff Education Centre.
The visit enabled Dr Nass to hear about care for the elderly in Victoria from leaders of the aged care sector, including Jewish Care, Aged and Community Care Victoria, Alzheimer’s Australia and Carer’s Victoria.
The visit concluded with a tour of two Jewish Care’s aged care facilities – Smorgon Nursing Home and Monetefiore Homes for the Aged.
Jewish Care chief executive officer, Bill Appleby, said the visit provided a high level forum for ideas exchange.
“The Australian Jewish community welcomes the collaboration of knowledge with Dr Nass in the aim of providing the very best of care for senior citizens – both here and overseas,” he said.
Jewish Care highlighted important research regarding the changing demographics of the Jewish community and how that was impacting on its future plans for aged care provision.
“We view the ageing process as an evolving journey,” Mr Appleby said.
“By providing appropriate support, when and as required, we can greatly enhance people’s lives.”
Dr Nass and her fellow delegates also met with the Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, Mark Butler, the Minister for Health and Ageing of Victoria, David Davis, and members of the Jewish community.
The aim of the visit is to strengthen the relations between the ministries, currently the only two ministries in the world to deal directly with senior citizens.
