|
Call to Involve Elderly in Various Community Activities
The Peninsula
Qatar
May 25, 2007
Give the elderly their rights and involve them in community activities, say a number of Qatari nationals expressing surprise that while so much attention is being paid to the youth, women and children, the aged are being ignored.
These citizens have called on social and state-sponsored institutions which are concerned with social welfare and protection of the rights of women and children to include the elderly as well in their benevolent schemes.
"We need to take care of the elderly. How can we simply ignore them," asks a concerned Khalifa Al Muslemani, a businessman.
There is concern in society that with the rise of materialism and families turning nuclear due to mounting financial pressures, the social protection provided to the elderly in the joint family environment is vanishing.
"Actually, we will not be doing any favours to the elderly if we care for them. It is their right," emphasises Muslemani.
Some people tend to forget when they grow up that it is their elderly parents who brought them up and made them capable.
"We have foundations to take care of neglected and harassed women and children, so why can't we have a foundation for the elderly as well," wonders Muslemani. If nothing, we can at least have a club and the best location for such a facility could be close to a beach or in a suburb with pleasant surroundings.
"If we can have a club for the youth, why not for the elderly as well," he argues.
In sociologist Tawfik Al Yehari's view, Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), which has a special care unit for the elderly, should start a summer programme for them as some social institutions and clubs hold such programmes for women, youth and children.
Ahmed Al Sheibi said that a lesson should be learnt from Al Jisra Club which has recently set up a division for the elderly. "Social institutions must take care of the elderly," he said.
More
Information on World Elder Rights Issues
Copyright © Global Action on Aging
Terms of Use |
Privacy Policy | Contact
Us
|
