B'lev Shalem

20/10/2026

If a parent is moving back to Israel after many years abroad, don't assume their kupat cholim coverage will begin the day they land.

New immigrants (olim chadashim) are generally entitled to healthcare coverage from the day they arrive. But returning Israeli residents (toshavim chozrim) are a different story.

If they’ve lost their Israeli residency, they’ll first need to re-establish it. And they may face a waiting period of up to six months before kupat cholim coverage begins.

There is a way to avoid the waiting period: paying a special fee to Bituach Leumi (₪16,860 in 2026). But residency must still be recognized before coverage can begin.

Private health insurance may help bridge the gap, but policies can have age restrictions or exclusions for pre-existing conditions, making this particularly important for older adults.

The bottom line? Healthcare coverage is something to investigate well before booking a flight.

This is our care tip in the October newsletter,where we share practical guidance each month for families navigating aging in Israel, whether they're here or supporting a parent from abroad.
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From the Heart is a free monthly newsletter for families navigating aging in Israel, offering practical guidance, honest insights, and real-world advice from professionals who know the system inside and out.

14/10/2026

When families hire a live-in caregiver, they often do so in a matter of days, after a fall, a hospitalization or a sudden decline.

In that rush, one fact is easy to miss: hiring a caregiver means taking on the responsibilities of an employer.

That includes complying with Israeli employment law regarding wages, weekly rest, paid holidays and vacation, health insurance, Bituach Leumi contributions, pension and severance.

This month on our blog, we share what we’ve learned from more than ten years of supporting families through this process: how to interview and find the right caregiver, the employment obligations families often overlook, the true monthly cost, and why careful record-keeping protects everyone.

Read the full post →

29/09/2026

Hosting an aging parent this Sukkot?

Here’s what actually makes a difference. Save this one.

𝗚𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗮 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲. One special dish, arranging the flowers, greeting guests at the door, choosing the songs. The task matters less than the feeling that they are still contributing.

𝗧𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁. Twenty guests, singing, kids running in and out all afternoon. Predictability reduces anxiety, especially for someone managing hearing loss, fatigue, or memory changes.

𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁. Bring out old family photographs. Ask about childhood holidays, family traditions, or the stories behind familiar recipes. Create a family trivia game with questions only grandparents can answer. Suddenly everyone wants Saba on their team.

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀. Large-print song sheets with a grandchild seated beside each grandparent to share a page. A comfortable chair with arms. Easy access to the bathroom. A quiet place to rest if the evening becomes overwhelming.

𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿. Introduce her by name. Make sure there is food she enjoys. She is caring for someone you love every day of the year.

𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲. Skip the laptop propped open all evening. Choose one meaningful moment, candle-lighting or dessert, to gather everyone around the screen instead.

None of it requires grand gestures, just a decision before the Chag, that this year your parent won’t simply be present at the celebration–they’ll truly be part of it.

16/09/2026

We tend to think holiday gatherings are hardest for the person hosting them.

But they’re often just as hard for the oldest people at the table.

A parent who chats easily over coffee may struggle to follow a conversation around a table of fifteen. What looks like withdrawal is often hearing loss.

A person living with dementia may find the noise, the crowds, and the change in routine overwhelming.

A parent with limited mobility may spend the entire evening worrying about getting up the stairs, making it to the bathroom, or simply staying awake through a long meal.

And beneath it all is something we hear often in our work: “I don’t want to be a burden.”

None of these challenges mean the Chagim can't be wonderful. They simply mean we need to plan them a little differently—and that planning is one of the greatest gifts we can give our parents.

Our latest article explores each of these challenges and shares simple, practical ways to help an aging parent feel not just present at the table, but truly part of the celebration.

Read it here: https://www.blevshalem.com/post/including-aging-parents-at-the-chagim

09/09/2026

Life within a family is never static. Yet there's something about the Chagim that makes those shifts feel especially real.

The table gets longer.
The generations multiply.
The energy naturally shifts to wherever the noise is.

And somewhere along the way, the people who once made the Chagim happen find themselves beside the celebration instead of at the heart of it.

The good news is that it rarely takes more than a few deliberate choices made before the Chag to bring an aging parent back into the center.

Our new article explores what actually makes the Chagim harder as parents age — from the hidden cost of "releasing" a parent from the role they've always held, to simple, field-tested ways to make sure they are not just present at the table, but truly part of the celebration.

If you are hosting this year, this one is for you.

Read the full article here: https://www.blevshalem.com/post/including-aging-parents-at-the-chagim

26/08/2026

Planning for an aging parent's Aliyah isn't just about preparing for the move. It's one of the best ways to decide whether Aliyah is the right choice in the first place.

Here are five questions every family should ask early in the process.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆? Not the reassuring picture from a two-week visit. An objective one. A comprehensive geriatric assessment before the move gives everyone the same understanding of the starting point.

𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲? Near family, yes. But also near the doctors, hospitals, and community they will need, and somewhere they can get around if they stop driving. Then ask: what type of housing? Independent living, diyur mugan (sheltered housing), or a higher level of care?

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸𝘀? Healthcare begins on arrival. A live-in foreign caregiver can only be arranged after arrival. Who fills that gap, and for how long?

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗶𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘁, 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁? The meaningful comparison is between meeting your parent's care needs where they are today and meeting those same needs in Israel. Sometimes the numbers surprise people, in both directions.

𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁? Before the decision is made. Planning does not commit you. It gives you options, and options are exactly what disappear when an unexpected fall or hospitalization forces the timeline.

Over the years, we've watched older adults who had become increasingly isolated and disconnected rediscover connection, purpose, and the comfort of being surrounded by family. That is what can wait on the other side of a decision that feels overwhelming today.

The full blog walks through each of these in depth: https://www.blevshalem.com/post/bringing-aging-parents-to-israel

When families search for help with an aging parent in Israel, they're often overwhelmed by unfamiliar healthcare systems, caregivers, government benefits, and difficult decisions. In this behind-the-scenes look at geriatric care management, Sharon Beth-Halachmy shares what it truly takes to coordina...

17/08/2026

"Should we bring Mom to Israel?"

One of the biggest mistakes families make with this question is waiting until they have made a final decision before they begin planning.

It feels logical. Why research healthcare, housing, caregiving, and costs before you are sure?

In reality, it is exactly backwards. Planning does not commit you to Aliyah. It gives you the information you need to decide whether the move is realistic, what it would involve, and when the time is right.

In this month's issue of From the Heart, our monthly newsletter, we share three practical steps every family should take before deciding, including the one thing worth starting now even if you are still on the fence.

The issue goes out tomorrow. If your family is having this conversation–or you simply want practical guidance on navigating aging in Israel–we hope you’ll join us.

Sign up here: https://www.blevshalem.com/newsletter