Okaz/Saudi Gazette

RIYADH — The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD) is working out an exemplary uniform model mechanism for extending the best ever services and facilities for the elderly people in the Kingdom.

The new model will be implemented by four sectors — Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development; Ministry of Health; Ministry of Education; and private and non-profit sectors.

Under the new initiatives, the elderly people who are bedridden in elderly care homes will be transferred to long-term health care centers so as to enable them receive the necessary healthcare services without interruption.

As for the elderly people who have families, they will be sent back to their families in a way achieving their integration with the outside community.

Health files will be opened for them in nearby primary health care centers in order to ensure provision of healthcare services for them. The ministry said that these reforms are being worked out as part of realizing the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.

Speaking to Okaz/Saudi Gazette, sources at the information department in the MHRSD said that the ministry would implement a number of initiatives, in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education to ensure provision of the best model of services and facilities for the elderly people.

Under the uniform model, the provision of services of these centers will be handed over to the private and non-profit sectors as part of further improving the efficiency and quality of services provided to them. The sources said that the initiative is ready to be launched soon.

Under the initiatives, there will be a law to guarantee the rights of the elderly people and taking care of them. The rights of the elderly and the benefits offered to them at the care homes will be outlined in the regulations.

There will be an initiative titled “Our elders — the blessing of home,” that aimed to enhance awareness about the situation of the elderly and their issues, through ensuring social participation and awareness campaigns.

There will also be unification and coordination of the existing and future efforts for serving the elderly, with the aim of building partnerships with the private and non-profit sectors, in order to provide comprehensive social services for the elderly in the care homes as well as in the society, the sources added.