“Moving to an assisted living facility is a big decision,” says Aliza Siekierski, manager of the Bayit Balev assisted living center in Jerusalem. “It’s something that needs to be discussed.”
In recent years, the prolonged COVID pandemic and the recent security situation have brought the issue of loneliness and resilience among older adults into sharper focus. Assisted living can be an optimal solution for creating a life full of interest and social connections –an island of sanity in today’s chaotic reality.
Yet, the decision whether to move into assisted living is one that is often accompanied by doubts and concerns. One of the main fears among seniors regarding a move to assisted living is the concern of losing their personal identity by becoming part of a community of people living in the same complex. Others worry that if they move into assisted living, their families will visit them less frequently, thinking that now someone else is taking care of them.
Finally, assisted living has often been perceived as an option only for the wealthy, rather than something that is affordable for many older people.
These issues and others will be addressed at Bayit Balev’s upcoming Open House, on Monday, September 8, between 9:45 AM and 1:00 PM, at all six Bayit Balev assisted living facilities in Israel –Jerusalem, Ramat Hasharon, Tel Aviv, Petah Tikva, Kfar Saba, and Kiryat Motzkin.
Visitors to the Open House at the Bayit Balev residences will not only learn about the activities, events, and facilities that are available at each of the Bayit Balev homes but will also discuss the issues involved in making the move to assisted living, including the topics mentioned above.
The wide variety of activities offered in Bayit Balev homes provides residents with a comprehensive framework from which they can choose and decide what to participate in, according to their own wishes and personal preferences, while retaining their individual identities and preferences. And when it comes to family, residents’ families at Bayit Balev are considered part of the home, and are welcomed with open arms. Not only do family visits continue, but they often increase, and become quality gatherings with shared activities.
Regarding affordability, there are many payment models for assisted living, and in some of them, it is not even necessary to sell one’s home. There are a variety of options and dozens of financial models to fund an assisted living apartment—from reverse mortgages to deposits with relatively short depreciation periods.
“The Open House is an opportunity to see the facilities, to view the apartments, and to meet with residents,” says Siekierski. “We are going to introduce the different areas of the home and the activities that we have. It’s a wonderful opportunity for people who feel somewhat intimidated by meetings to experience it in the setting of a social gathering.” Bayit Balev residents will provide input at the event and will show their apartments to visitors, giving them an idea of what day-to-day life is like at Bayit Balev.
Almost thirty percent of the residents of Bayit Balev in Jerusalem are English speakers, says Siekierski, and all of the signage appears in Hebrew and English. Staff members are fluent in both languages, and events and ceremonies are conducted in both Hebrew and English, making it especially attractive for the English-speaking population. The population at Bayit Balev in Jerusalem is composed of both religious and secular residents, and it has an active synagogue that holds daily and Shabbat services.
All of the Bayit Balev homes offer a wide variety of activities for their residents. “Assisted living is like a buffet,” explains Siekierski. “The variety of activities gives people the opportunity to get to know a new side of themselves or bring up something that they’ve done in the past, but it also allows residents to have their own identity and their own lives and their own privacy.”
The Jerusalem branch of Bayit Balev offers a wide range of activities for its residents, including lectures and book clubs in both Hebrew and English, excursions in the city, and most recently, its ‘Camera Empowerment’ program, which makes residents the ‘stars’ of brief films as they describe their life’s accomplishments. Bayit Balev in Jerusalem is planning a full slate of activities for the coming year, including arts and crafts, Bible studies (Tanakh), yoga, music, and Qigong (also known as Chi Kung), an ancient Chinese practice of coordinated mind, body, and breath designed to improve health, vitality, and spiritual well-being.
“I have my own vision and view of the way I see aging in general and the way I want to implement it here at Bayit Balev in Jerusalem,” says Siekierski. “Assisted living is not necessarily taking older people and putting them in a gated area, separate from the rest of the population. There is the idea of opening it up, and I think that’s going to be the future of assisted living.”
Bayit Balev in Jerusalem lives up to this concept. One of the most unusual features of the residence is its multigenerational nature. Two kindergarten classes – one for disabled children from the Jerusalem Variety Center for Child and Family Development and one municipal program – meet in the Bayit Balev building, which enables unique interactions and activities between the residents and the children, who view the Bayit Balev residents as their “kindergarten grandparents.” Residents interact with the children throughout the year, celebrating birthdays and Jewish holidays together, and the sense of closeness between the generations is palpable.
In addition, learning-disabled young adults from the nearby Feuerstein Institute work in the Bayit Balev coffee shop, mingling and speaking with the residents, enabling them to gain a better understanding of the world around them.
Bayit Balev in Jerusalem will soon launch a pilot program that aims to further integrate Feuerstein students with the residents by engaging with them in various activities, including board games, discussion groups, computer assistance, and other initiatives.
Another multigenerational project that Siekierski is planning at Bayit Balev in Jerusalem will involve housing young Israelis in their late 20s and 30s in the facility, where they will interact and engage with the residents. These two programs will increase interactions between residents and different levels of Israeli society, making the residence a more vibrant and growing community that reflects diverse age groups and interests.
“There are many English-speaking people in Jerusalem,” says Siekierski, “and there are also quite a few English-speaking people in the Diaspora who want to age in Jerusalem. There’s something about Jerusalem that makes people want to come and live here for the last third of their lives.”
Dr. Galit Kaufman, CEO of Bayit Balev, emphasizes the importance of the upcoming Bayit Balev Open House and says, “This is a special opportunity for people who are considering making a significant move from their home to assisted living. Bayit Balev is more than just a home – it’s a place where one can fulfill dreams, form new friendships, and remain happy even after retirement. I invite you to come to the Open House, to experience our residences, the atmosphere, and our warm community – and to discover what a full and meaningful life in the third age looks like.”
For more information about Bayit Balev’s Open House on Monday, September 8, call *5626.
This article was written in cooperation with Bayit Balev