Aged Jewish patients in general hospitals in Israel--past, present and a look into the future.

Since the 1950s, the elderly population of Israel has been steadily increasing and is currently 10% of the total Jewish population. However, because of less immigration, the rate of increase is expected to slow down in the next 20 years, although the proportion of the elderly greater than or equal to 75 years will increase. Women comprise a high proportion of this population. This report analyzes the hospitalization patterns of the elderly population in general hospitals in Israel during the 1960s and 1970s, including discharge rates, length of stay, diagnoses, mortality, etc. The author provides a partial data base necessary for planning an optimal scheme for medical care for the elderly.