Senior citizens to demonstrate outside Knesset on Tuesday

While the government has yet to settle its differences with the disabled, it will face an attack on another front on Tuesday, when senior citizens assemble outside the Knesset to demand what they believe to be their rights.

Ken LeZaken, a senior citizen’s organization whose name translates as “Yes to the Elder,” said it wants to stop senior citizens from being subjected to abuse and humiliation.

The reference is to insurance companies that refuse to pay out on policies and to inadequate medical and nursing care for senior citizens. The group is demanding that laws regarding hospitalization and proper care of sick seniors be followed, and that reforms on health-related legislation affecting the elderly be enacted and implemented immediately.

According to Ken LeZaken chairman Natan Lavon, there has been no progress made in legislation on mandatory nursing care of the elderly since Ya’acov Litzman changed from deputy health minister to minister.

Problems related to nursing care for the chronically ill, said Lavon, are a nightmare for families who have neither the time nor strength to care for sick elderly parents at home. The organization has called for seniors to come to Tuesday’s protest in Jerusalem and is offering transportation from all over the country to the demonstration.

Meanwhile, if the predictions of weather forecasters prove accurate, the protest will be a washout, as heavy rains are anticipated on Tuesday.

Seniors who wish to participate in the demonstration regardless of the weather should call 050-488-8690 to arrange transportation.