Copyright (c) 2009 All rights reserved. http://works.bepress.com/israel_doron Recent documents in Israel Doron Dr. en-us Tue, 28 Jul 2009 15:01:35 PDT 3600 http://works.bepress.com/israel_doron/43 http://works.bepress.com/israel_doron/43 Sun, 26 Jul 2009 22:15:52 PDT Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a condition whose genetic background is a major focus of current scientific research. AD, whose prevalence increases with each decade from age 50, presents today's aging society not only with a serious medical problem, but also with significant financial and social problems. Research into the genetic background of AD enables us to predict predisposition to the disease, presenting society with bio-ethical challenges, and confronting adults with dilemmas regarding their aging parents.One cannot ignore the argument that genetic testing for AD benefits society in general - after all, every individual who undergoes a test for AD contributes to scientific knowledge of the disease. However, this goes counter to the prevailing liberalism of Western society, which puts the rights of the individual before the general good. Future scientific breakthroughs and technological developments will no doubt prompt further public debate on other ethical dilemmas, some even more complex.The aim of this article is to consider the ethical aspects of offering genetic counseling for AD. To do this, a representative hypothetical case is analyzed using applied ethics. As this case analysis demonstrates, there is no moral justification, in light of the limited genetic understanding available, for performing widespread genetic testing in order to alleviate fears for the future and, in any case, such tests are illegal without informed consent. Israel Doron Ethics and Ageing http://works.bepress.com/israel_doron/42 http://works.bepress.com/israel_doron/42 Sun, 26 Jul 2009 22:06:32 PDT In an age of globalization and privatization, local governments and municipalities are searching to definine their social role and place. In an ageing society such as Canada, arguing that promoting the legal rights of older persons should be part of the legal authority of the municipal government, is not simple. It is simpler to abide by the position that without an efficient centralized machinery, social and environmental problems will remain unsolved or unaddressed. This article presents a different understanding of the place of municipal government in Canada. The goal of this article is to present an original legal-policy argument: It is time for local communities and local governments in Canada to use their legal authorities in order to enact local by-laws that define and establish the rights of their older citizens. The argument maintains that local municipalities hold the legal power and the social potential of making a significant contribution in the legal sphere to the promotion of the rights of older people, and that this power has been so far neglected. The article supports the argument on three pillars: (1) an empirical analysis of existing by-laws in different municipalities across Canada; (2) a socio-legal analysis of the advantages of municipal law as a tool for social change; (3) a case analysis of a recent municipal legal reform in the province of British Columbia. Israel Doron Law and Ageing http://works.bepress.com/israel_doron/41 http://works.bepress.com/israel_doron/41 Sun, 26 Jul 2009 22:00:53 PDT This article aims to discuss the complexity of being a social worker in homes for independent and frail elders in Israel, balancing between safeguarding residents' dignity, while preserving their freedom of choice. Data were based on an empirical study in which 84 social workers from 77 old age homes participated. Findings showed that the smaller the gap between real and ideal, the fewer the problems in job performance, the greater the perceived job appreciation, and the better the protection of residents' rights. In addition, the gap was smaller in homes with available legal consultation and an active residents' council, social workers who were not employed elsewhere, and who participated in relevant courses. The discussion addresses the nature of the gap between real and ideal. The consequences of reducing the gap are revealed, relating to a more complex meaning of paternalism versus autonomy than the simple dichotomy of negative versus positive. Israel Doron Law and Ageing http://works.bepress.com/israel_doron/40 http://works.bepress.com/israel_doron/40 Sat, 18 Apr 2009 06:15:04 PDT Over the past few decades, many diverse documents concerning the rights and status of the aged have been prepared at the international level. Each of the various bodies and organizations involved in producing these documents has regarded the subject from a slightly different angle. This has resulted in the preparation of an extensive set of international documents that cover a wide spectrum of subjects and issues relevant to older persons all over the world.The Rights of Older Persons provides a unique collection of all the main, important international documents relating to the status of the aged and the phenomenon of ageing at the international level. For the first time, readers, the aged and professionals from all over the world can obtain a comprehensive picture of the worldwide activities in the field of international law and ageing. Israel Doron Law and Ageing http://works.bepress.com/israel_doron/39 http://works.bepress.com/israel_doron/39 Sat, 18 Apr 2009 06:06:10 PDT Until now, no attempt has been made to develop a research tool to provide a broad descriptive picture of the actual knowledge that older people have of their legal rights. This article will describe a first attempt, conducted in Israel, to create such a tool, known as the Facts on Law and Ageing Quiz (FoLAQ). This quiz was developed to provide a short and standardised tool for assessing older people's knowledge of their legal rights in Israel. It is also intended to serve as a research platform for similar studies in other countries worldwide. The research was designed using a quantitative approach. The research population consisted of adult Jews, aged 50 or more years, living in the community in Israel. Using a computer-assisted telephone interview (CATI), a randomly chosen sample of 227 persons aged 50 and over was asked 20 multiple-choice questions on central legal issues, and 13 closed questions on their socio-demographic background. The findings revealed that, in general, the majority of older persons in Israel know little about their legal rights. Specifically, the most vulnerable groups in this context were the less educated, the poor, the older-old, and women. Finally, the findings also showed that knowledge gaps were particularly obvious with regard to (1) national legal schemes covering social security in old age, and (2) the rights of older people regarding Israel's national health insurance scheme. Israel Doron Law and Ageing http://works.bepress.com/israel_doron/38 http://works.bepress.com/israel_doron/38 Sat, 18 Apr 2009 05:56:20 PDT Within the broad and complex framework of laws in Israel relating to the older population, this article focuses on a single act of legislation: the Senior Citizens Law, 5750-1989 (hereinafter "the Senior Citizens' Law"). During its hitherto brief life, this law has undergone numerous transformations, ups and downs, additions and deletions, successes and failures. At the time of its enactment, there were those who placed great hopes for the future of older people's rights on the law. As of today, however, this article will attempt to argue that the law has failed to realize its objectives. The article includes two sections: the first section will describe the history of the law and the transformations it has undergone, while the second will attempt to show why, despite certain achievements, the law has ultimately failed to fulfill its promise. Israel Doron Law and Ageing http://works.bepress.com/israel_doron/37 http://works.bepress.com/israel_doron/37 Sat, 18 Apr 2009 05:48:30 PDT Intergenerational equity is a central issue not only in gerontological theories but for the gerontological field at large. This concept makes possible the social construction of old age, which entails social policy outcomes, and provides another important angel to issues of justice, abuse and neglect of older people. The fairness of financial redistribution between generations has significant impact on the development of social services, privatization, and shifts in social policy. When looking closer at these issues within the Israeli social context, a complex and incoherent picture emerges. Israel Doron Law and Ageing http://works.bepress.com/israel_doron/35 http://works.bepress.com/israel_doron/35 Wed, 13 Aug 2008 02:42:38 PDT Prison populations in many Western countries are growing older - a trend which is expected to become more pronounced in the coming years. This study therefore aimed to better understand the experiences of older independent prisoners held in a special separate wing for older prisoners in Ma'asiyahu Prison in Israel. The research was qualitative, involving a maximum-variation sample of 12 of the older prisoners in the wing, who were interviewed in depth.Previous studies have tended to describe the experience of older prisoners in terms of extremes, viewing prison as either a 'heaven' or 'hell' for such prisoners. Our study, however, found that the older prisoners actually viewed incarceration as a mixture of both extremes, with misery and suffering being coupled with a sense of safety and comfort. This complex and contradictory viewpoint can be explained by considering two central points: (1) that the separate older prisoners' wing of Ma'asiyahu Prison acted as a 'city of refuge' (protecting as well as confining prisoners) and (2) that the prisoners there were socially and psychologically 'mature'. Both themes are discussed in depth in the article. Israel Doron Law and Ageing http://works.bepress.com/israel_doron/34 http://works.bepress.com/israel_doron/34 Sat, 09 Aug 2008 23:06:02 PDT In 1996, a substantial change occurred in the field of social work in Israel: the Social Work Act 1996 was enactment. For the first time in Israeli history, and after long years of political struggle, the social work profession was covered and regulated by direct legislation. Ten years have passed by since this major change took place. Yet, very little attention was given to this legal change in academic research, empirical studies or professional writings within the social work field in Israel.This research begins to explore the meaning of the legal change that took place in 1996. Based on sociological theories of professionalism, the research quantitatively studies the attitudes of 337 social workers toward the Social Workers Act of 1996.The findings expose that in general there are positive attitudes and support by social workers in Israel to the Social Workers Act 1996, especially to its political and professional elements. However, the findings raise questions regarding the impact of the law on the rights of persons receiving the care or services from the social workers. Israel Doron Law, Social Policy and Social Work http://works.bepress.com/israel_doron/33 http://works.bepress.com/israel_doron/33 Sat, 09 Aug 2008 22:55:49 PDT The present paper addrresses the advancement of research, policies, legislation and practices experiences designed to deal with elder abuse and neglect in Israel. Ariela Lowenstein Law and Ageing