Health Systems for the Elderly in the Arabian Gulf Region

Abstract

Aging is a universal phenomenon affecting every individual, society, and country. It leads to functional deterioration and dependency requiring special attention and provision by healthcare services. Generally speaking, geriatric services worldwide enroll patients 65 years old and above; however, this is not a strict rule, and there is considerable flexibility around age limit. In the Arabian Gulf Region, people aged 60 and above are considered as elderly. The Arabian Gulf Region is itself a vast area of seven Arab-speaking countries ruled independently but working collaboratively. The influx of oil revenues during the past century has allowed for unprecedented development in the region. This leads to increased life expectancy – the highest life expectancy is in the UAE (http://apps.who.int/medicinedocs/documents/s17313e/s17313e.pdf) with an average of 72 years – and a desire to improve care for the elderly. Cultural norms and religious doctrines play important roles in shaping the healthcare services for the elderly. Added to this is the will to spend financial resources to improve the quality of healthcare.