A case management demonstration project for the frail elderly in Israel

This article presents an evaluation of an innovative community-based case management demonstration project for the frail elderly in Israel. The evaluation study was part of a nine-countries European project within the framework of the 1999 International Year of the Older People. The Department for the Aged of the Israeli Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs and the author initiated the project. The basis for the project development is described, including institutional structure, workers' qualifications, technical resources, and clients assessment criteria. The findings showed increased quality of life for the elders and their caregivers, more coordination and cooperation between various social and health services, activation of a variety of services, and client satisfaction. Recommendations are made to continue and expand this type of project to a larger segment of the elderly population.