Disabled IDF Veterans Battle Poor Conditions at Tel Aviv Rehabilitation Center

Anat Yahalom, an IDF veteran severely injured during the Yom Kippur War, has described deteriorating conditions at the Beit HaLocham (Fighter's House) rehabilitation center in Tel Aviv, which she has attended for over five decades. Yahalom, who sustained extensive injuries and underwent numerous surgeries, credits the center with aiding her recovery, enabling her to walk and swim again. However, she now claims that ongoing neglect and numerous malfunctions are negatively impacting her and other severely disabled veterans.

Yahalom specifically highlighted issues with the shower facilities designed for those with severe disabilities. She reported that one shower is unisex, another lacks a window, causing distress for those with PTSD, and a third dispenses only scalding hot water, which is unbearable for those with skin grafts. She also noted that the unisex shower room is often cluttered with mobility aids, making it difficult to access. Furthermore, she claims a critical lack of essential accessibility equipment, including shower chairs, emergency call buttons, and adjustable sink and toilet heights, along with poor hygiene standards.

These conditions, Yahalom asserts, lead many severely disabled veterans to avoid using the showers after treatments, forcing them to return home wet. She recounted instances of veterans unable to use the sinks due to their height and others who avoid the unisex showers altogether. She also pointed out that disabled parking spots have been blocked for months by old equipment left in the northern parking lot, and that smoking is prevalent in outdoor areas despite 'no smoking' signs, with a lack of enforcement.

Beyond the physical infrastructure, Yahalom criticized the organization's gender representation, citing the sign "Beit HaLocham and his family" instead of an inclusive "Fighters and Female Fighters and their families." She believes this perpetuates a view of women as secondary and demands a conceptual and gender-based correction within the organization.

The Beit HaLocham organization responded, stating they are committed to providing dignified and accessible services. They acknowledged recent repairs to the women's showers, confirmed sink heights meet standards, and stated that emergency call buttons will be installed soon. They also addressed the parking issue, claiming that limited operational areas during extensive renovation work do not obstruct disabled parking. Regarding smoking, they stated that signage and regulations are in place.