The Emirate of Sharjah continues its pioneering efforts to reinforce its position as an age-friendly city by adopting artificial intelligence tools and smart care technologies to serve senior citisens within an integrated system based on a humanitarian vision led by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah. These initiatives reflect the Emirate’s commitment to enhancing the quality of life for all segments of society, especially senior citisens. The goal is to create an environment that respects their needs and honours their experiences.
Senior Citisens Services Forum 2024: Strategic Recommendations
In line with this approach, the Senior Citisens Services Forum, under the theme “Artificial Intelligence in the Service of the Elderly,” held in 2024, formed an important milestone in shaping the future technological landscape in the field of elderly care.
Organised by the Sharjah Social Services Department, the forum concluded with a set of strategic recommendations to increase the application of smart technologies in elderly care. The most notable recommendations included building effective partnerships with the private sector to launch specialised technical and training programmes targeting this group, and involving the elderly in decision-making by forming advisory committees that represent their voice and express their actual needs.
Other recommendations also covered expanding the use of assistive tools in providing healthcare services and daily follow-up. They proposed developing integrated digital platforms linking healthcare and social service providers. This would facilitate safer and easier access to medical and psychological support, as well as remote consultations.
Smart Platforms Facilitating Access to Services
As a continuation of this approach, the Emirate of Sharjah has developed several digital platforms that make services more accessible and support the independence of the senior citisens within a fully integrated smart environment.
Within this framework, the Sharjah Social Services Department launched the “Virtual Social Advisor” platform, a smart tool supported by artificial intelligence that allows the elderly to communicate with social and healthcare service providers from their homes, via interactive audio and video channels.
In addition, the “Virtual Companion” service was launched, relying on smart screens inside the homes of the elderly, enabling them to have daily communication with nursing, psychological, and social support teams to reduce isolation and enhance mental health.
Innovative and Supportive Smart Tools
Alongside interactive platforms, a set of innovative smart tools have been employed to support the daily lifestyles of the elderly and achieve the highest levels of safety and comfort at home.
The “Limb” application was also presented, an interactive digital rehabilitation exercise tool that allows specialists to design digital treatment programmes and monitor performance remotely, improving the effectiveness of home care and reducing the need for travel.
Comprehensive Field Services
Other than digital solutions, Sharjah places great importance on field services that reach the homes of senior citisens, within a mobile and integrated care system.
These digital initiatives have been integrated with different field services such as mobile medical clinics, which visit the homes of the elderly to provide periodic examinations and diagnostic services, alongside home nursing that provides healthcare and delivers medicines for chronic cases.
The “Mishwar” service contributes to transporting the elderly and people with disabilities to health centres, while the “Ijaba” service, since its launch in 2022, has enabled the completion of official transactions for home care centre beneficiaries, such as renewing official documents without the need to leave home.
Active Aging and Community Participation
The Emirate’s efforts are not limited to healthcare alone but extend to aspects of social and cultural interaction, within an integrated vision to promote the concept of active aging and community participation.
Sharjah’s social policies work to enhance this concept by engaging the elderly in cultural, social, and sports activities. These are supported by artificial intelligence technologies specifically designed to suit their abilities. The Emirate also provides digital training programmes to improve their technical skills, empowering them and increasing their interaction with electronic services.
Towards a Smart and Safe Environment for the Elderly
These initiatives create a sustainable system that embodies Sharjah’s commitment to building a smart and safe environment that preserves the dignity of senior citisens and ensures them a high quality of life at every stage.
Sharjah’s initiatives represent an integrated commitment to building a smart and safe environment for senior citisens, combining technology and care, granting this group a sense of independence and appreciation. Between the implemented digital solutions and future initiatives under study, the Emirate presents an advanced model of social and humanitarian care in the digital age.
