Each one of these services
constitutes one sequence in the rehabilitation process of a Holocaust survivor
in Amcha.
First, after a brief intake-procedure, short- or long term
post-traumatic psychotherapy in an individual, group or family setting is
offered.
Second, the survivor and his or her spouse are invited to a
social network of peers within the social club.
Thirdly, for homebound
survivors who cannot join such a club, but still feel lonely, home visits by
volunteers is offered.
Fourth, homebound survivors are assisted by a
professional staff member in their homes.
Fifth, survivors are encouraged
to record their life stories on videotape.
Finally, inter-generational
activities are initiated in which the young can learn from the old and the old
from the young and both profit from interacting with one
another.
1.
Psychotherapy Professional mental health counseling is
provided to clients who are anxious, depressed or going through a personal
crisis. In order to better meet the needs of these unique populations, Amcha has
developed a number of special post-traumatic therapeutic approaches, including a
variety of creative and expressive approaches that are especially adapted to
this client population. Taking into account the various social, mental, physical
and financial needs of the survivor-client; such an integrative approach
frequently combines social, psychological and gerontological therapy with
documentation and processing of the personal history within the family of the
survivor, as well as psychiatric consultations if required.
Holocaust
survivors, however, do not want to be treated as psychiatric patients. Most
apply for help hesitantly and with significant doubts. When they do, however,
their need for symptom alleviation is often pressing and urgent. It is therefore
important to quickly establish a trusting relationship and to give some hope
that the efforts in overcoming their resistance to seeking help have been
worthwhile.
2. Social clubs Built on the principles of the
"thera-peutic community," Amcha's social support clubs are built to provide
safety, autonomy, control and attention to each client in line with the idea
that Amcha is a "second home for the survivor." An accepting social atmosphere
prevails between the staff, administration and club members.
In contrast
to other senior citizens clubs, these clubs are additions to the comprehensive
mental health rehabilitation of Amcha rather than only social and recreational.
The aim of the Amcha-club is to strengthen the resolve of survivors and
to actualize their lives to the best of their creative abilities. The club will
strive to create a place where elderly survivors can relax, enjoy a cup of
coffee and a warm reception by people who have time to listen; a place to feel a
sense of camaraderie based on their common destiny. Led by social workers,
rehabilitation activities are offered by occupational and expressive therapists,
as well as by teachers in various fields of art, movement and recreation. Thus,
survivors are encouraged to deal with their tragic past in an indirect manner.
3. Social Casework for homebound Holocaust survivors In order to ensure a continuity of services also
to survivors with problems of mobility, Amcha provides professional assistance
also to homebound survivors. The level of need varies tremendously, ranging from
those who are mobile and can live independently with minimal assistance, to
those who require a great deal of care. The very old clients who suffer from
complex social, medical and/or social problems are thus helped to maintain
independent living for as long as possible. This program is aimed to provide
home care services, which are complementary to those offered by community
agencies that are ill equipped to provide for this frail, disabled and
vulnerable population. Primary goals include: (1) to assist those survivors who
cannot come to Amcha's treatment centers, but have various needs for
psycho-social support; (2) to be a bridge between the survivor and other home
care agencies; and (3) to help survivors share their traumatic experiences
before it is too late. Except for visiting clients in their homes, staff also
offers multi-lingual assistance in old age homes, hospitals, nursing homes and
hospices.
4. Volunteer services Carefully selected, supervised,
trained and highly committed volunteers also provide companionship and support
in the homes of survivors. The use of volunteers from different sections of the
community include survivors who visit survivors, children and grandchildren of
survivors and many others who feel that they want to establish and keep contact
with this elderly population. Often, a mutual relation of give and take is
established within which both the "host" and the "guest" feel highly rewarded.
More than five hundred Amcha volunteers visit lonely survivors in
their homes on a regular basis.
Their ages, professions and cultural
backgrounds are as diverse as the Israeli society. The volunteers include men
and women who share a genuine willingness to break the isolation of lonely
survivors. When these have no family of their own, the volunteer from Amcha is
the only person who pro-vides the kind of social support that is so important
for survivors who lost everything in the Shoah. The increase of volunteer work
hours 1995-2004 is presented below.
5. Documentation Ever since its foundation has Amcha emphasized the importance of
documenting the individual tragedies of the Holocaust. Survivors are assisted in
recording their personal and family history spanning the years before, during
and after the Holocaust on videotape. These testimonies have a profound
therapeutic effect on the survivors. Not only do they create a legacy for future
generations. They are also invaluable tools for survivors who have a need to
tell and retell their traumatic life story as a way of
working-through.
Videotape testimonies in Amcha are more gentle and are
given more time than other such programs. Since this might be the first time
that the survivor has talked about painful memories to anyone, he or she is
offered extensive emotional support before and after the actual recording
sessions and some choose to embark on a longer process of psychotherapy later.
6. Intergenerational projects
As the Israeli society has become more open to the unique life experiences of
Holocaust survivors, children and youth in different ages have come to Amcha to
volunteer in various intergenerational activities.
During the last
years, Amcha has therefore initiated such activities in which the elderly can
interact with children and youth. Such activities benefit both the young and the
old. The young are enriched by knowledge of living Jewish history by
"first-hand" witnesses. The elderly Holocaust survivors enjoy the spontaneous
company and attention of the young which helps ease their sense of isolation.
Ever since its foundation has Amcha emphasized the importance of
documenting the individual tragedies of the Holocaust. Survivors are assisted in
recording their personal and family history spanning the years before, during
and after the Holocaust on videotape. These testimonies have a profound
therapeutic effect on the survivors. Not only do they create a legacy for future
generations. They are also invaluable tools for survivors who have a need to
tell and retell their traumatic life story as a way of
working-through.
As the Israeli society has become more open to the unique life experiences of
Holocaust survivors, children and youth in different ages have come to Amcha to
volunteer in various intergenerational activities.