LEBANON: $2 Million Spent on Upgrades for Old Age Home

BEIRUT (The Daily Star), October 28, 2005: To mark its 50-year Golden jubilee, Dar al-Ajaza al-Islamiyya Hospital (DAIH) has spent more than $ 2 million on an extensive renovation and modernization process to improve its services and furnish the compound with more sophisticated medical equipment and facilities. "We felt the DAIH deserves to treat itself after spending 50 years serving the community, so we decided to introduce up-to-date modernization," Hospital director Azzam Houri told The Daily Star. "The changes are far from cosmetic. For example, we changed all clinical units adding one fully-equipped emergency room on each floor," he added. DAIH is a nonprofit charity that specializes in offering medical and social care for mentally or physically disabled senior citizens. "Unlike other senior homes, the DAIH is a highly specialized institution providing Psychiatric treatment for the elderly," Houri said. "It is the first of its kind in Lebanon." In addition to concentrating its efforts on upgrading the level of treatment and the use of new methods and techniques, the DAIH management paid more attention to the special needs of the disabled seniors. "We removed all doorsteps in all leveled areas that might obstruct the disabled movement in any way," Houri said. "Moreover, we fixed movable wash basins that can be adjusted to suit the height of the user." Such facilities were fitted throughout the hospital. "Even in the restrooms, we changed all toilet seats to suit the different needs of the disabled, with doors that open both ways from inside and outside in case of emergency," Houri said. He added: "After completing the renovation work, we ended up with a brand new compound; it was the first major work since the Israeli air raids damaged the main building of the hospital. For the first time, the hospital has hot water for bathing, laundry and heating around the clock; special industrial-type filters provide drinking water at all times, and a new reserve power-generator with a capacity to provide electricity to the whole compound in times of power outage. The DAIH, which does not usually organize fund-raising iftars, made an exception this year. "This Ramadan we held an iftar to celebrate the 50th anniversary to honor our community's goodwill and socialize with our patients," Houri said. He noticed that many elderly did not receive visitors frequently; while others didn't receive any visitors at all. "We encourage and urge relatives and families to come and socialize with their patients more frequently; this Ramadan, we organized iftars precisely for this purpose," Houri said. New plans are under way to establish new branches in other areas in Lebanon or to set up new specialized facilities in a number of different psychiatric and medical fields. Houri urged all people of good will to come forth and contribute to the hospital's charity work, as it concerns all of society. "Each and every one of us is an elderly senior in the making," he said. The DAIH has chosen to adopt this motto because it expresses very clearly and precisely the goal of the institution: to encourage people to remember and feel humanely with others. "You must earnestly appreciate the grace that God Almighty has bestowed upon you" from good health to wisdom and wealth (from the Koran). By Adnan El-Ghoul Daily Star staff