Dubai, United Arab Emirates, October 1, 2016: Dubai Health Authority (DHA) and Noor Dubai Foundation marked International Day of Older Persons 2016 by conducting a screening campaign for the elderly at a Sharjah Elderly Centre known as Old Person’s Home.
Geriatricians from the DHA and health professionals from Noor Dubai conducted a comprehensive screening program for 50 elderly patients at the centre.
The screening program included eye check-ups that were conducted through Noor Dubai’s mobile eye camps, dental screening, geriatric consultations, osteoporosis screening and physiotherapist consultation.
Dr Manal Taryam, CEO of Primary Healthcare Sector at the DHA and CEO of Noor Dubai Foundation, said: “Healthy ageing and proactive geriatric care for the elderly is vital to minimize health complications and to reduce their dependence on caregivers so that they can live an independent life to the best extent possible. Proactive ageing should begin when a patient is in their mid-40s or early-50s. This allows healthcare practitioners to develop curative and preventive treatment plans for them so that they can reduce or even reversing some of the effects of ageing.”
She added that early intervention allows geriatricians to tailor-make programs to slow the ageing process and maximize bodily and mental functional capabilities of the individual. This is achieved through physiotherapy, memory training, cognitive therapy and medication to treat co-morbidities that are detected during assessment.
DHA primary healthcare centres have several specialised clinics for the elderly including geriatric clinics, memory and dementia clinic, osteoporosis clinic, rehabilitation and fall clinic to help elderly patients get specialised care.
The geriatric clinics provide comprehensive geriatric assessment and encourage the elderly who do not require inpatient services to get themselves checked regularly so that they can reduce or even prevent the complications associated with ageing.
DHA also has a robust home care program in place for patients who cannot visit healthcare centres due to mobility or other health issues. In in 2014, the unit visited 619 patients at their homes and carried out 3822 home visits.
Tips for people above 60 years
- Be active but consult your physician first before chalking out a regular exercise program
- Check your vaccination schedule.
- Undergo yearly health screening (including visual and hearing screening if you experience any symptoms.)
- Socialize
- Fall prevention – be very aware of your surroundings. Make necessary changes to your environment to protect yourself from falls.
- Check your Vitamin D level
- Take memory complaints seriously- visit your healthcare professional
- Eat healthy, patients with no renal/cardiac problems, should drink 8 glasses of water per day.
- If you face recurrent mood swings- visit your healthcare professional
- Elderly diabetics should take extra precaution for their feet, wear diabetic shoes.
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