Mariam Al Hammadi, Director of the Senior Citizens Department at Dubai's Community Development Authority, told "Emirates Today" that some senior citizens experienced panic at the beginning of the pandemic, fearing infection with COVID-19 and potential death. She noted that the psychological conditions of some cases deteriorated to a point that made it difficult for their children and family members to manage them, prompting the need to enlist 14 specialized psychiatrists who monitored their cases virtually and provided moral support through the "We Communicate and Protect" campaign, launched in collaboration with Dubai Police to assist them.
Al Hammadi confirmed that senior citizens registered in the authority's system overcame the difficulties they faced at the start of the COVID-19 crisis, stabilizing their mental health, especially after a gradual return to normal life that allowed them to interact, leave their homes, and participate in activities. She pointed out the health and psychological problems seniors faced at the start of the crisis due to staying indoors, emphasizing that these issues were addressed through the implementation of quick measures in coordination with relevant authorities, alongside awareness and close monitoring for them, in addition to training those around them and their caregivers on appropriate infection prevention methods and how to handle their health and psychological status.
Al Hammadi revealed that the number of senior citizens (aged 60 and older) benefiting from the authority's services reached 8,324 this year. She confirmed a 50% decrease in the number of seniors registered in the "Waleef" home care program from 80 seniors in 2018 to 40 seniors currently. This year, 393 new cases of senior citizens were registered. The authority launched the program in 2013, targeting seniors living alone at home due to the absence of immediate family members.
The services offered to them range from social, cognitive, rehabilitative, self-care, and recreational support, in addition to monitoring the needs that are provided to registered seniors under an approved rehabilitation and training plan. The decrease in the current number of registered seniors in the "Waleef" program is attributed to three main factors: first, the integration of some cases with their families and their move to live with them; second, the deaths of some cases suffering from chronic illnesses for years; and third, the implementation of an empowerment policy by the authority for several senior citizens, which enabled them to rehabilitate and live their lives outside the home normally.
**200 Members in "Dhakhr" Club**
Statistical data from the Dubai Community Development Authority indicate that the number of registered members in the Dhakhr Social Club currently stands at 200 senior citizens, both male and female. The club was opened on October 28, 2014, to provide a range of activities, events, and daily programs focused on the cultural, social, recreational, and health aspects of senior citizens' lives, enhancing their integration into public life, benefiting from their experiences, and spending their leisure time optimally to lead positive and healthy lives. The club was closed as part of precautionary measures to curb the spread of COVID-19, which necessitated protecting senior citizens from all forms of gatherings.
