Sharjah 24: Sharjah Age Friendly City at Sharjah Social Services Department (SSSD) responded to the invitation of the Washington-based American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), participating in the periodic virtual meeting held by the 50 – 100 AARP members from around the world.

Sharjah was invited to the meeting, to present the successful experience in taking care of the elderly, especially as it is the only Arab member of the global network of age-friendly cities affiliated with the World Health Organization.

Asma Al Khodari, Director of the Sharjah Age Friendly City office, conveyed the experience of Sharjah since its beginnings, and reviewed the challenges that the office faced as a new programme.

Al Khodari said that this invitation is an international recognition of Sharjah, being a member of the global network of Age Friendly Cities, and their desire to learn and present the office experience to 100 global institutions especially since Sharjah is the only Arab city affiliated to AARP.

Al Khodari added that joining the network requires to continuously feed Sharjah Age Friendly City website with valuable contributions, events, initiatives or news, while constantly follow up on the continuation of the office membership in the network.

Al Khodari added that the meeting will review the 2017-2021 strategy and the services that have been achieved for the elderly.

Al Khodari stated that Sharjah has launched an initiative whereby elderly people over 60-year old, shall be exempted from transport fees, in addition to distinctive services provided to the bedridden, and other services such as home care, senior citizen-friendly public spaces, age-friendly housing initiatives, and sports programmes in cooperation with local clubs to integrate the elderly with the rest of the family.

Al Khodari concluded her speech by noting that global practices will be adopted in relation to the elderly, and will be applied to Sharjah.