The Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA) has given great priority to senior citizens in its efforts and initiatives across the emirate. SEHA is keen on ensuring the best quality health care services to elderly citizens in accordance with the highest international standards.

In a recent statement to the Emirates News Agency (WAM), Dr. Marwan Al Kaabi, Group Chief Operations Officer at SEHA, said that the company is continuously working in line with the directives of the UAE's wise leadership to ensure every possible effort to provide the necessary attention to senior citizens in the emirate.

In coordination with the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH) and the Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre (ADPHC), SEHA has provided a vast number of healthcare services to senior citizens during the COVID-19 pandemic with the aim of ensuring their safety and wellbeing amid the challenging circumstances. One of the most important services launched by SEHA is the mobile clinics that provide relevant medical care, diagnostic and treatment services to senior citizens and people with chronic diseases. SEHA also set up specialised psychiatric clinics to help those in need during the pandemic.

Dr. Al Kaabi explained that various measures have been put in place to regularly monitor the health status of senior citizens and to identify any risks they may be exposed to by regularly contacting them and their families. A doctor is always present during such telephonic interactions to provide necessary treatment in case of an emergency.

SEHA has been providing a wide range of integrated services in terms of home care to senior citizens who are not able to or willing to visit health centres and hospitals.

For his part, Dr. Medhat Al Sabahi, Consultant Psychiatrist and Head of the Psychiatric Rehabilitation Unit at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, underlined that the COVID-19 virus does not differentiate between age, gender or class. Speaking to WAM, he added that any person is exposed to the infection at various levels. However, senior citizens are at the highest risk from COVID-19, noting that they are more likely to suffer serious complications from the disease.

Dr. Al Sabahi also noted that elderly people are more at risk of having mental disorders. According to the World Health Organisation data, senior citizens are about 20 percent more likely to have mental disorders than the rest of the age groups. Dr. Al Sabahi highlighted the most prevalent disorders among the elderly include depression, anxiety, and weak cognitive abilities (Alzheimer), adding that the percentage is likely to increase during crises and epidemics. 

WAM