In collaboration with the Qatar Foundation for Elderly People Care, the National Human Rights Committee celebrated the International Day for elders on September 30, 2014, by organising a seminar on rights of the elderly.
Numerous experts, psychologist and whoever is related to issues of elderly people of all government authorities and state foundations took part in the seminar.
The seminar shed the light on the latest law updates regarding the preservation of rights of elderly people, led by the adjustment of salaries of all beneficiaries of the Social Security system, including the senior citizens.
The adjustment distinguished Qatar among all Arab and Gulf countries. It aimed at providing a decent living for senior citizens as a way to show appreciation for what they gave to the country when they were young and their contribution in the elevation of the state during a series of changes that Qatar went through. Senior citizens then played a significant role.
Moreover, all social, economic and psychological challenges were reviewed during the seminar as well. Dialogue and discussion enriched the atmosphere of the seminar through presenting real experiments of people with connection to the elderly, whether they were specialists, their families or guardians.
Maybe the most highlighted result of this intellectual seminar is a series of recommendations that aim at preserving their legal and social rights in the years to come.
What we hope to reach through the vision of the country and what legal, social, financial and individual efforts seek is for us to bear in mind changing the media and social perceptions of senior citizens, which revolve around compassion and charity, and instead trying to take advantage of their multiple experiences in
various fields.
We should also connect these experiences with filling the gaps between senior citizens and new generations, especially that in the coming years, senior citizens will be the cultured class that won’t accept this tragic perception based on their cultural awareness.
Furthermore, we are in a dire need for more field research in reality about focusing on the most important needs of senior citizens in the coming years in light of the cultural and economic changes that Qatar is experiencing. We also need to look into how to apply the results and recommendations that were reached in cooperation with the concerned authorities instead of relying mainly on theoretical research, quotes of specialists and researchers, seminars and lectures.
Why wouldn’t there be authorities assigned basically to execute and follow-up field research drastically instead of wasting money on them and media statements. We also need to shed the light on the latest psychological services provided to older people in light of the current changes, as it differs from their time, instead of counting on sedatives. Current generations need to know how to deal psychologically and how to plan economically and socially for the aging process, as maybe many people lack this culture and only care about the outer look by resorting to cosmetic surgeries.
As an addition, we need urgent laws regarding the psychological and social abuses that senior citizens get exposed to in their homes with their families despite the existence of all amenities but without the existence of physical or substantial evidence.
Media outlets should also focus on changing their view on organisations that provide shelters and social, medical and humanitarian services to senior citizens instead of seeing them as mere shelters.
We hope to see a link between foreign experiences in their culture regarding ageing; how do they plan for it since their younger days and how do they enjoy it instead of thinking of it as the final stage of life. In these countries, senior citizens have intellectual, vital, health and psychological maturity, and we hope to see that in our societies.
We also hope to see legislation that comfort the pensioners regardless of their source of income. We have high confidence in every official in our beloved Qatar.
