Andrew lived an ocean away from his sister in Israel when he got the call that Stacy* had fallen. Living alone with a mental health condition, Stacy had managed relatively well — until now. But mental health struggles intertwined with a bad fall left her in desperate need of immediate care.

Overnight Andrew found himself thrust into a caregiving role, navigating several complex issues from afar. A health care proxy that needed to be adjusted. An apartment to sort out. Even Stacy’s dog needed to be dealt with.

And that’s when he got a recommendation for B’lev Shalem.

“My immediate relationship from a distance was over the phone and WhatsApp, trying to keep a sense of what was going on with my sister, what needed to be done next, and to put a plan in place., Throughout that entire process, I received guidance, advice, and perspective from B’lev Shalem, start to finish.”

Andrew booked a flight to Israel, while Kaila, Stacy’s care manager worked closely with him to develop a comprehensive care plan tailored to Stacy’s unique needs.

“I immediately knew I had to get Stacy out of the hospital and into a top-notch facility. Kaila was with me every step of the way, helping us find, choose, and secure every detail of the rehab. During my sister's stay at the rehab facility, she came in regularly to meet with me there and was constantly checking in, often daily. When legal issues cropped up, Kaila helped me find a lawyer and attended the meetings. She went toe to toe with the facility admin—in every aspect. The dietary end of it, the exercise end of it, the medication end of it—she made sure Stacy got the best possible care, always.”

With the crisis over, needs shifted and plans evolved. B'lev Shalem's team coordinated with medical professionals, facilitated transitions between care facilities, untangled the bureaucratic knots of healthcare proxies in Israel, and provided emotional support to Andrew and his sister.

“When Stacy’s care moved up North, Kaila ensured continuity of care with a Northern care manager and stayed in touch throughout the entire process.

B’lev Shalem helped us secure a wonderful metapelet who lived with her, and Stacy was getting the medical care she needed, the stimulation she needed, and the support to fully recover. She came into the facility in a wheelchair and left walking on her own.”

Finally, Stacy was ready to live on her own again.

B’lev Shalem leveraged their contacts and extensive expertise to ensure Bituach Leumi provided benefits and a full-time aide. Today Stacy is living in Tel Aviv while B’lev Shalem continues to provide support and care management for appointments, medications, and continuing care maintenance.

Andrew shares:

“I've found B’lev Shalem's mission and program to be truly instrumental and indispensable in helping me, allowing me to navigate that system as my sister's caregiver and decision-maker from afar.

I could not have done any of this alone. It would not have been possible, and the outcome could not have been what it is. B’lev Shalem is your family in Israel. I trust them like I trust my family.”

CLIENT STORIES

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Andrew’s Story

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