Search

Most of the studies exploring social work education's impact on working with older adults (OA) examine intentions among students. This study goes beyond expressed intention and focuses upon the actual post-graduation career choices of 20 cohorts (1996-2016) of BSW graduates of an OA concentration at an Israeli school of social work. The 203 study participants comprise 60% of all the concentration's graduates. Findings showed that 47% of the graduates never worked with OA after graduation, 25% reported that they had but this was no longer the case, and 28% are currently working with OA. Graduates distanced themselves from the aging field primarily because they found it uninteresting or unappealing and viewed social work with OA negatively. However, most of those currently working with older adults associated this work with positive feelings toward OA and work with them, favorable workplace conditions, and a commitment to advancing the field of social work with OA. Social work educators now need to rethink how to better expose students to work with OA during the concentration in ways that increase their positive experience and attitudes toward working with this population and that can increase the likelihood of a career choice to work with them.

Aim: To assess the biofilm‐producing capacities of Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from hospitalized patients in Israel. Methods and Results: A total of 16 S. aureus (80 MRSA and 83 MSSA) from screening (nasal swab) and clinical samples (blood and wounds) were characterized. Biofilm‐producing capacities were determined using two different biofilm detection assays: Congo Red agar (CRA) and microtiter plate (MtP). In addition, a real‐time PCR analysis was performed to detect the presence of biofilm‐associated genes (icaA and icaD) and mecA gene. The two assays showed similar biofilm production pattern (28.2% agreement). MRSA strains tended to be greater biofilm‐producers than MSSA strains. The presence of mecA was associated with biofilm production (p = 0.030). Additionally, bacteria isolated from blood samples produced less biofilm compared to those from other sources. Finally, no association was found between icaA and icaD presence and biofilm production. Conclusion: This study supports earlier assumptions that biofilm formation depends strongly on environmental conditions. Significance and Impact of Study: This study significantly improved our knowledge on the biofilm production capacity of S. aureus strains in Israel. Moreover, it revealed an association between the mecA gene and biofilm production. Finally, this study underscores the importance of further research to evaluate risk factors for biofilm production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) and its concomitant social isolation have affected older citizens more than any other sector of the population. This article describes the theoretical and practical principles of a short-term tele-therapy intervention model developed and implemented as a pilot project during the Coronavirus pandemic to support older residents of the community, who faced a variety of needs stemming from the lockdowns and social isolation. The intervention was developed and directed in collaboration with faculty members from a university school of social work and social workers from the municipal social services in Israel, and was conducted by first year social work students as part of their first field experience. This intervention combined Perlman's model of problem solving, a telephone crisis intervention model and a strengths-based approach. Participants and students indicated that they benefitted from the programme and felt that the therapeutic relationships were meaningful. These outcomes and reports suggest that this type of intervention is successful and can be applied to older people during other crises or in other populations, communities and countries as part of the field experience of social work students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analyzes the history, ideology and worldviews of the organization Gush Emunim in Israel. Dedication of the organization to establishing Jewish territorial settlements in the West Bank areas; Political activities of the organization; Struggles of Gush Emunim to promote education on Israeli children.

A letter to the editor and a reply are presented which discuss the need for improvements in the workforce of the Israeli health care and recommends physician assistants as a type of provider use in the U.S.