Sharjah: A Global Model for Elderly-Friendly Cities

In the context of the leadership of H. H. Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammed Al Qasimi, a Member of the Supreme Council and the Ruler of Sharjah, the Emirate has found itself in a leadership position in terms of actions addressing individuals of different age status with special regard to the elders and seeking to provide necessary conditions for their comfortable and worth living life to the last day.

Sharjah has recently embraced the elderly further as on the 13th of September, 2016, it became the first Arab city to be admitted into the World Health Organisation’s Global Network of Age-Friendly Cities. It simply shows that Sharjah is committed to providing sustainable care in this generation and even the upcoming ones.

Infrastructure and Initiatives

Sharjah wants to turn into a worth living city for the elderly and to achieve this goal, the authorities of Sharjah are improving the infrastructure. These are accessible public transport, walkways as well as sidewalks. The emirate is also extending the usage of ICT to enhance the quality of their life by training senior citizens to use smart devices and browsing Internet.

The measures include; improving the architectural features of outdoor environs’ and buildings; integrating the role of appropriate transport; constructing housing estates; respecting the elderly and integrating them into societies. Their vision and the goals imply that Sharjah will engage them more in the functionality of the civil society and employment, as well as enhance their interaction and access to communication and information.

Global Role Model

These measures put the emirate of Sharjah as an exemplary model at the international level in providing care for the elderly and the creation of all the conditions necessary for increasing their quality of life. It goes beyond the enhancement of quality of human life to enriching society with activity, energy and centrality through enhanced health facilities and safer structures. The emirate also focuses on psychological and social aspects; it encompasses the obligatory cooperation with community care centers and engaging seniors in cultural activities.

Care Beyond Borders

Health care facilities in Sharjah are embodied in a holistic approach; embracing state-of-art equipments, mobile clinics for early screening, home nursing services, etc. People over the age of sixty get privileges and concessions in such collaborations with private entities.

Intergenerational Communication

Thus, Sharjah fosters such aspects of social cohesion and positive elderly emotions as respect, intergenerational communication, and respect for elderly people. The entertainment shows and other mass media campaigns sensitize and improve the perception of the society towards the elderly.

Sharjah Integrated Initiatives Builds on the Path to receiving a perfect model city for elderly people, which raise the respect and service they need in society.