1 October is the “International Day of Older Persons”, while the year 2020 marks the 30th anniversary of the international day of older persons, it has also seen the emergence of COVID 19 pandemic. The United Nations that celebrates "older persons" under the theme “Pandemics: Do they change how we address age and ageing?”  supports the protection of elderly people globally and ensures a healthy life and well-being for all at all ages", the third goal of the UN Sustainable Development Goals 2030.

This day which emphasizes the priority of caring and protecting older persons globally, either during pandemics and beyond, emphasizes a set of objectives, including raising awareness of the special health needs of older persons and their contributions to their health and in the communities they live in, raising awareness and appreciation of the role of the healthcare in maintaining and improving the health of older persons, with special attention to the nursing profession, and increasing the understanding of the impact of the COVID 19 pandemic on older people and on health care policies and planning.

Elderly people are known as “Senior Emiratis” in the UAE, who live in an exquisite role model government that follows the teachings of Islam, and adopts deep-rooted authentic values, traditions and customs that are inherited by generations. Looking a little bit back to the pre-pandemic, until October 2018, when the UAE government launched the "National Policy of Senior Emiratis" to improve their wellbeing and ensure their active and continuous participation within the UAE community,

 In conjunction with the directive of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, UAE Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, to change the title of “elderly persons” into “senior Emiratis”.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum reflected the UAE approach, the vision of a wise government, and the culture of a society, when he said: "Senior Emiratis are seniors in experience and seniors in giving, family cohesion and community coherence cannot be achieved without ensuring a wellbeing life for them, our seniors carry the spirit of the youth with unlimited giving,, I strongly urge UAE people to learn from their expertise and experiences and embrace the culture of giving, dedication and loyalty. We cannot forget that you have given a lot to the UAE, and yet still giving, you are our pride and role models, your comfort, your health, your stability, and your wellbeing is a humanitarian and a national duty. The UAE government always gives back to whoever contributes to its progress and development".

A country that has been established on the concepts of cohesion and coherence reflects the successful principles, policies and accomplishments of the national policy for senior emiratis based on (4) strategic objectives, (7) main themes, (26) initiatives and a sustainable project that the Ministry of Community Development shares with various government and private  entities to ensure that the goals are achieved on ground as a way of living, provide the requirements of wellbeing for senior Emiratis and all the members of the community and reach the goals of the UAE Centennial 2071, and the vision of "the happiest people of the world".

Healthcare, family care and active aging, elderly investment and community participation, housing and infrastructure, financial security, safety and security, future quality of life, these (7) pillars of the policy have been designed to improve the social services for senior Emiratis beyond 60 years old. In less than two years since the policy was launched, about (14400) senior Emiratis have benefited from its initiatives.

The federal Law No. 9 of 2019 on the rights of senior Emiratis, which came a year after the policy was launched, was designed to ensure that senior Emiratis enjoyed their fundamental rights and freedom guaranteed by the constitution, information and services related to their rights, and provided them with psychological, social and health care and stability. These (7) rights include: right to independence and privacy, the right to protection, the right to a qualified environment, housing, education, employment and benefiting from their capacities, the right to access social services, the right to health care, the right to maintain the confidentiality of their information and data, and finally the right to preferential treatment by making the interests of senior Emiratis  a priority, whatever the interests of other parties are and in all matters related to housing applications, the completion of government transactions, access to assistance, health services and others.

This preferential treatment, adopted by the Ministry of Community Development, has led to diversified initiatives affecting the lives of senior emiratis, family members and society at large, a range of services and privileges to be announced later, and day clubs in the form of integrated family institutions within the Ministry's social development centres, including various programs in the health, recreational, educational, social and sports areas in addition to other various facilities serving the category of senior Emiratis in particular.

"We Are Your Family" initiative was launched months after the policy was launched, and began with field visits from the ministry's staff senior to Emiratis in their homes or WellCare homes all over the UAE. During the coronavirus COVID 19 pandemic, “We are your family” remote services has been activated as a volunteering social initiative, as part of the "UAE Volunteers" campaign; all volunteers who registered in the national volunteering platform have communicated with senior Emiratis by phone, under specific conditions to satisfy their needs and requirements. More than (60) volunteers participated in the initiative along with ministry staff who conducted more than (12000) phone calls and reports that were included in the initiative's database system.

 Nearly 50% of the support provided by the Ministry of Community Development to members of the society is addressed to senior Emiratis, whether through monthly social assistance or in projects and initiatives that are implemented and delivered to the homes of senior Emiratis.

Senior Emiratis who occupy (10.4%) of the total number of productive families are affiliated with the Ministry of Community Development through ‘Al Sanaa’ program, they run their own private commercial and investment projects in various fields such as food products, handicrafts, furniture and furnishings. Through their participation in these seasonal exhibitions, the income of senior Emiratis is estimated at AED quarter million, in addition to other profit returns through the individual efforts of senior Emiratis through various outlets.

More than (2056) senior Emiratis have been registered in the National Volunteering platform "UAE Volunteers” known as senior volunteers. lately, about (3725) senior Emiratis benefiting from the social security have been contacted by the volunteers to check on them in line with the precautionary measures during coronavirus-COVID 19. The “we connect with you” initiative is a sustainable development initiative that provides healthcare services to senior Emiratis and helps in updating their annual data.

In Ajman, the senior Emiratis’ Happiness Center provides a range of integrated services tailored to the needs of senior Emiratis’ residents and visitors, such as medical examinations, physiotherapy and rehabilitation, in cooperation with hospitals, government and private clinics and universities with medical specialties, in addition to recreational and educational services in line with local and international events, which benefited more than 500 senior Emiratis this year.

The capacity-building program for senior Emiratis has so far targeted (42170) people as part of training them on how to use modern technology in their daily lives, through smart applications or electronic devices in collaboration with the Digital Wellbeing Council as a key partner in addition to various partnerships from the relevant entities.

The Ministry of Community Development has also licensed (4) public non-benefit profit associations for senior Emiratis, retirees and parents. "Masaei Al Khair” and “Sowaed Zayed” are two additional initiatives shared by the Ministry with others to support senior Emiratis. "You are the Joy of our Eid" is another initiative that supports senior Emiratis to convey eid greetings in their various residence areas.

In cooperation with the Federal Youth Foundation, the Ministry launched the "Guide to WellCare of Senior Emiratis during Pandemics” with the aim of raising awareness of the role of young people and how to take care of elderly people, the guide provides an integrated set of guidelines that enhance the opportunities for young people to participate in the daily lives of senior Emiratis, thereby strengthening family relationships and ties and raising awareness of their responsibility towards senior Emirtis in order to create a supportive and cohesive environment reflecting different generations.

These are some bright facts that reveal the interest of the UAE wise leadership, the support of the government and the community's appreciation of senior Emiratis. Our seniors are of utmost community importance where they receive priority in proactive services. Indeed, senior Emiratis in the UAE are an exceptional case in the International Day of Older Persons.

Her Excellency Hessa bint Essa Buhumaid- Minister of Community Development