Health Care for the Elderly (1993)

WHEREAS, Jewish tradition understands respect and care for the elderly to be a sacred duty ("You shall rise before the aged and show deference to the elderly" - Lev. 19:32; "You shall honor your mother and father" -Lev. 19:3), and neglect of the needs of the elderly is a sign of social brutality ("...a ruthless nation, that will show no regard to the old" -Deut. 28:50); and

WHEREAS, the elderly population of North America is increasing rapidly, with the U.S. Census Bureau predicting that the number of Americans 65 years of age or older will more than double by the year 2050 and that the population of those over 85 will grow from 3 million in 1990 to 15 million by that time; and

WHEREAS, the North American Jewish community contains proportionately more elderly members than most other national demographic groups, which approximately one-third more elderly persons than the general population; and

WHEREAS, the high cost of long-term care for the elderly often results in the impoverishment of elderly people and their families, causing a loss of security and human dignity, and leading many to cry out, "Do not cast me off in my old age; when my strength fails do no forsake me" (Psalms 71:9).

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that THE UNITED SYNAGOGUE OF CONSERVATIVE JUDAISM, in the spirit of its prior resolutions on Universal Health Care (1991), Jewish Hospices (1991), and Senior Citizens (1975), recommends the formation of a working group on Judaism and Aging to formulate and implement congregational responses to the many quality-of-life concerns confronting elderly Jews, their families and communities; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that THE UNITED SYNAGOGUE OF CONSERVATIVE JUDAISM urges the inclusion of coverage for long-term care and prescription drug among the basic benefits available under a comprehensive national health plan, and reaffirms its support for the rapid enactment of such a plan by the United States government and that public and/or private insurance coverage for long-term care be expanded to include in-home or hospice personal care without requiring concurrent use of nursing care or other skilled medical services; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that THE UNITED SYNAGOGUE OF CONSERVATIVE JUDAISM recognizes the wisdom, talents, and contribution of our elders as an enduring source of vitality for the entire Jewish People and calls upon its affiliated congregations to tend to the spiritual and social needs of the elderly in addition to their health concerns.