Dubai's only centre for the elderly is all set to expand and upgrade its services to accommodate a growing demand, a senior official said.
Dr Ahmad Ebrahim Kalban, Acting Director of Primary Health Care, Dubai Health Authority (DHA), under which the Al Mamzar Community Centre for the Elderly (CCFE) at Deira falls, said: “We are planning a reorganisation at the centre, with a new extension being set up. The plan, which has been approved and budgeted for, will be implemented within a year.''
With the new extension, the centre's outpatient capacity is expected to reach 200. Currently, CCFE has around 120 registered outpatients and 34 inpatients. The total capacity of inpatients is 40.
The revamp will incorporate inputs from advanced geriatric research and upgrade rehabilitation services and reorganise staff, Dr Kalban said, adding that a new Osteoporosis Centre was set up eight months ago to deal with growing concerns about the bone-related disease.
He said a pharmacy will also be set up, while the interiors of the existing centre will be refurbished.
changing times
CCFE, which was set up as a day-care centre for senior citizens in 1993, began to take inpatients over the years in keeping with their medical requirements. The centre caters only to Emiratis who do not have any infectious diseases, are relatively stable and who are referred to by an authorised hospital or clinic.
“We do not replace the families in caring for the elderly,'' said Dr Amal Al Jaziri, Head of the Geriatric Care Unit at the centre, adding that patients coming in are generally those who have family here, but need assistance in medical and respite care (short-term temporary care provided to people with severe disabilities, chronic or terminal illnesses).
There are cases where children going abroad leave their parents at the centre temporarily, she said.
The most common cases are patients with Parkinson's disease, stroke, dementia and osteoporosis, Dr Amal said, adding that outpatients who are at the centre from 7am to 3pm attend physiotherapy, rehabilitation or other programmes. Specialists and social workers apart, the centre also has 65 nurses, she said.
Also on the agenda are social activities ranging from Grandparents' Day and Henna Day to art classes and planned visits outside the centre. Two years ago, CCFE took 46 patients to Makkah, Dr Kalban said.
