QATAR: Forum to tackle senior citizens’ problems

. DOHA / The Peninsula / April 3, 2009 Senior citizens are the worst hit by the current economic crisis, being the first casualties of lay-offs by companies and corporations, according to Dr Sheikh Khalid bin Jabor Al Thani, chairman of the Committee for the Elderly at the Supreme Council for Family Affairs. Addressing a press conference held to announce a two-day GCC forum in Doha on ‘The Elderly Population and Future Challenges,’ on Wednesday, Khalid bin Jabor said a major challenge facing senior citizens was the psychological impact of job loss on the back of the global crisis. He said the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs had warned companies not to exploit the crisis to sack their senior employees. He criticised the Qatar Statistical Authority for not updating information about the elderly population in Qatar and their health, social and economic conditions. The Doha forum, which will take place on April 5 and 6, will address three major issues -- the challenges facing the elderly and how to help them cope with the changing times; the role of civil society in this regard; and the image of the elderly in the media. About a dozen papers will be presented at the seminar, focussing on the problems facing the elderly population in the Gulf and suggesting solutions. According to statistics released by the UN, the population of senior citizens in the region is expected to see a major growth in the years to come. Sheikh Khalid bin Jabor said Qatar was one of the few countries in the world that had adopted a national strategy to deal with its elderly population. Qatar has also set up the Qatar Foundation for Elderly Care. Negligence by relatives is a major problem facing the elderly in many parts of the world but this is not a major issue in Qatar, he added. He called for exclusive facilities for the elderly in the country where they can spend their time during the day. © 2001 The Peninsula