Sharjah Forum for "elderly": 14,000 beneficiaries of the services of senior citizens in the country

The Director of the Center for Continuing Education and Professional Development at the University of Sharjah, Dr. Radi Al-Zubaidi, revealed that the UAE, represented by local authorities in Sharjah, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, has provided many services to support the elderly, noting that 14,000 elderly people in the UAE enjoy a high social status, as They are an important part of the authentic social, cultural and religious environment, and they benefit from the services provided to them by all institutions, whether federal or local.

Today, during the Eleventh Forum for the Elderly, Al-Zubaidi reviewed the global interest in the problems of aging, which has drawn the world’s attention since 1978, being one of the serious problems of an increasing segment of the world’s population. health and nutrition;

Protection of elderly consumers, housing, environment, family, social care, income security, employment, education and training.

The Director of the Department of Social Services in Sharjah, Ahmed Al-Mail, praised the efforts made by the Emirate of Sharjah to provide a positive and sustainable environment for senior citizens, and work to integrate them into social life through their participation in most of the events organized by the Emirate, which enabled it to be an active member in the global network of age-friendly cities, of which Sharjah is a member. In it, to be in line with the global standards of the network applied by institutions, departments and government, local and private departments.

Al-Mail said that the forum represents a celebration of appreciation and gratitude for the hands of the daughters of societies, which led us to what we are in progress and prosperity, and an embodiment of the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, which is represented in his saying, "The human being is the real wealth and the optimal investment for societies." In accordance with His Highness' directives to ensure the development of social services through the latest scientific practices and theories in social service at the level of all members of society.

The forum witnessed the honoring of 5 winners of the "Green Heart" award launched by the age-sensitive Sharjah office in the Department of Social Services in Sharjah, in its first session, and is the first of its kind dedicated to senior citizens, at the local and regional levels.

The 14 institutions that met the conditions and criteria required to obtain the title of age-sensitive institutions for this year were also honored. The authorities were granted this title in accordance with standards and engineering requirements and standards for accessible services and community empowerment for the elderly, and those that passed 80% of the standards were granted the accreditation of their buildings as sensitive institutions. for age.

For his part, the head of the Home Care Department at the Community Development Authority, Omair Obaid Al Rumaithi, reviewed the creative initiatives implemented by the authority for senior citizens, such as paid cards, the “Waleed” service for senior citizens who live alone, and the hotline. The authority also provided the SOS service available on smartphones as an emergency system, In the coming days, the "Temporary Rest" initiative will be launched, the details of which will be announced in due course.

In turn, Major Muhammad Suleiman Al Shehhi of the Family Care Authority in Abu Dhabi said that serving the elderly is a duty for everyone because they are our foundation and our identity, so we seek in the authority to provide all services to the quality of the family from a holistic perspective through its knowledge and detail and the work of studies and research, including studying the changing social needs of families, which It works on family support.

Al-Shehhi stressed that awareness of the reality of the elderly and his needs to accompany and participate in all activities from the community is half the journey, in addition to placing him in the right place and in his true surroundings.

Kholoud Al Ali, Director of the Elderly Services Center in the Department of Social Services in Sharjah, said that the department launched some new creative projects, such as the "virtual babysitter" program, which keeps in contact with the elderly resident alone, so that an employee from the center communicates with him during and after official working hours. To follow up on his affairs, monitor his use of medicines at the time, ask him about his needs and provide them immediately, through a virtual screen after obtaining his consent, and the “living laboratory” program, which is a smart room implemented with senior citizens inside the care center or at home to enable them to adapt to the circumstances, in addition to a service "Meshwar", which provides transportation for senior citizens to the place they want by providing transportation to transport them after registering their request.

Follow our latest local and sports news and the latest political and economic developments via Google news