Multicultural Dialogue in Israel: Building Neighborhood Solutions Among Diverse Older Adults

Project Date: March 2014 - August 2014

Partners: 

  • JDC- Eshel, Israel

Participants: 

  • 135 older adults from high and low SES areas 
  • Mix of Jewish and Arab
  • 3 Northern Israeli Cities

Goals

  • Identify facilitators and barriers to physical activity
  • Develop environmental and community strategies to improve walkability in the targeted neighborhoods

Outcomes

Social/Community Level

  • Formed walking groups and a Tai Chi group
  • Presented a series of three well-attended lectures on health issues in senior centers
  • Increased citizen science and community engagement activities in primarily Arab, primarily Jewish, and mixed ethnicity neighborhoods

 

Built Environment Level

  • Created older adult-friendly walking routes and maps 
  • Launched the "Golden Path:" an event led by the city's mayor that included more than 300 senior citizens

Publications:

Moran MR, Werner P, Doron I, HaGani N, Benvenisti Y, King AC, Winter SJ, Sheats JL, Garber R, Motro H, Ergon S. Exploring the Objective and Perceived Environmental Attributes of Older Adults' Neighborhood Walking Routes: A Mixed Methods Analysis. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity, 2017.

 

Moran M, Werner P, Doron I, et al. Detecting inequalities in healthy and age- friendly environments: Examining the Stanford Healthy Neighborhood Discovery Tool in Israel. In: International Research Workshop on Inequalities in Health Promoting Environments: Physical Activity and Diet. Haifa (Israel): 2015.

Our Voice Impact

"This experience has changed my life.  I see inadequacies everywhere I go as it relates to pedestrian access and safety.  I even stop [at] construction sites to remind them to be considerate of the handicapped in our community.  Thank you all so much for this awareness and empowerment to require change."

~ Pam Jiner, GirlTrek Advocacy Leader, Denver CO