Dubai has taken a big leap in providing comprehensive mental healthcare to elderly citizens and residents. The city just opened the UAE’s first specialised in-patient facility for mental health treatment. The Dubai mental health facility for the elderly will cater to both Emiratis and expats.

Emirates Health Services (EHS) will help manage the 272-bed Al Amal Psychiatric Hospital in Al Aweer. EHS has signed up with Maudsley Health, the world’s oldest institution for psychological treatment.

The facility will serve elderly people suffering from psychological disorders along with those needing hospitalisation for evaluation and treatment. A highly qualified multidisciplinary team of psychological and social specialists will manage it.

The new facility will help take timely and comprehensive care of the elderly, especially those vulnerable to severe medical conditions and psychological disorders.

The UAE’s Growing Elderly Population

In 2017, Dubai Health Authority estimated the country’s elderly population – people aged 65 and above – would surge from 6 to 29 per cent by 2050. The launch of the Golden Visa residency scheme will see the percentage of seniors in Dubai swell further. The Retirement Visa not only opens the doors for expatriates to stay in the UAE beyond their retirement age but also invites retirees from across the world to come to settle here.

Following the launch of the Dubai Retirement Visa last year, the city has been taking steps to address every aspect of the ecosystem that will take care of the elderly. In August, the city announced the region’s first specialised and integrated elderly care complex. Vita Elderly Care Complex, a state-of-the-the-art healthcare facility, will offer comprehensive healthcare services for elderly Emirati and expats over the age of 65.

According to officials, the most prevalent mental illnesses among the elderly in the country include depression, anxiety and Alzheimer’s. EHS has been working to make the most of appropriate behavioural and pharmacological treatments to provide a supportive environment that makes the elderly feel confident, reassured and safe.

Its Director-General Dr Youssef Mohammed Al Serkal says EHS is keen to provide healthcare to senior citizens, to improve their quality of life, and to enhance public awareness of their health and psychological needs. Al Amal Hospital provides senior citizens with access to mental healthcare services.

EHS has launched an innovative initiative to develop distinguished community mental health services by creating a network of community mental health clinics for Al Amal Psychiatric Hospital.

Addressing The Age-Old Problem

According to a report, a growing population of elderly people in the UAE are at risk of isolation and depression. The UAE considers individuals over 60 years of age as seniors. The National Policy for Senior Emiratis recognises them for their experience, dedication and sincerity to the country. A Federal Law recognises their rights. These rights include the rights to:

• Independence and privacy,
• Protection from violence and abuse,
• Provision of elderly community centres and social clubs,
• Medical care including preventive health services,
• Medical insurance, and
• Mobile nursing units and supportive medical devices.

About 4 to 5 per cent of UAE residents suffer from some form of mental or psychological disorder. These include depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. The UAE has two federal laws that are specific to people with mental illnesses and disabilities.

Mental disorders constitute about 3 per cent of the global health budget and contribute to 13 per cent of the global burden of disease. In the UAE, neuropsychiatric disorders constitute 19.9 per cent of the burden of disease.

Dubai’s Geriatric Care Facilities

A specialist unit at Rashid Hospital in Dubai provides mental healthcare for elderly patients of all nationalities. The DHA operates a Seniors Happiness Centre (previously known as Community Centre for Elderly). It is the only governmental healthcare facility in Dubai that provides comprehensive 24-hour services of medical and nursing care to elderly Emiratis. It is equipped to cater for the medical, social, rehabilitation, nutritional, cultural and recreational needs of the elderly population.

Since it opened its doors in April 1983 on Al Wasl Road, Al Amal has treated thousands of patients for mental illness. It remains Dubai’s only government hospital dedicated to psychiatric health.

Al Wasl relocated to Al Aweer in November 2016 with a dedicated facility costing Dh600 million. The Dubai facility treats about 13,500 patients annually.

The new unit will improve mental health services and help in dealing with physiological and psychological changes. It will do so by evaluating the patient’s behaviour and awareness, remedial procedures, effective care methods, behavioural and psychological support.

A Global Health Issue

Across the world, about 20 per cent of people aged 55 years or older experience debilitating mental health conditions. Anxiety, severe cognitive impairment, sleep and behavioural disorders, psychosis, mood disorders, depression, bipolar disorder and dementia are the most common conditions.

Two-thirds of seniors with mental health problems do not get the treatment they need. Mental health services for the elderly are extremely limited in several countries. Older adults also get into other serious health conditions like diabetes, hearing loss and osteoarthritis. Experts say the number of seniors with mental disorders will double by 2030 as the population gets older.

By 2050, the proportion of the world’s population over 60 years will nearly double to 22 per cent. This, in absolute terms, is an expected increase to two billion people over the age of 60. The World Health Assembly (WHO) has called upon countries to take specific actions to promote mental wellbeing, prevent mental disorders, provide care, enhance recovery, promote human rights and reduce the mortality, morbidity and disability for persons with mental disorders.

Depression, psychoses, suicide, epilepsy, dementia and substance use disorders are included in the WHO Mental Health Gap Action Programme.