The Islamic teachings have set the bases and way of dealing with elderly people, especially parents. Hence, we find that respect, venerating, honour and at least good talk to parents are entirely related to worshiping Almighty Allah. Such instructions of showing kind treatment are considered obligatory for every Muslim towards his parents in particular, and elderly people in general. In this respect, the Ministry of Labour and Social Development, through its different branches, provides various types of care for the elderly, of both sexes, who do not have anyone to support them.

Definition of the elderly:

A person who is (60) years old and over.

The Ministry of Social Development pays great importance to our elderly fathers and mothers through providing different care and necessary protection for them; , enhancing the relationship between them and their families, their engagement at the  surrounding environment. The Ministry offers its services through a number of specialized housing and day care institutes, which aim to provide social, health, psychological, living and recreational care for the elderly. Moreover, it strives to develop appropriate rehabilitation programs for them, and offers various types of accommodation for the elderly, whether permanent or temporary housing.

• Inquiry about Elderly Services ID Card Service
• Inquiry about Equipment Request Service
• Inquiry about Elderly Housing Care Service
• Inquiry about Day Care for Parents Service

Elderly Housing Care Institutes

Providing social, health, psychological, legal and living and recreational services, as well as, providing care, rehabilitation and treatment for the elderly of both sexes who are without supporters.

• National Bank of Bahrain Institute for the Elderly (Reconstruction Phase)
• Muharraq Social Welfare Institute

Objectives:

1. Providing social, health, psychological and living, recreational and legal care to the inmates of the institute according to the requirements and needs of each inmate.
2. Develop suitable rehabilitation programs for the elderly and take advantage of their abilities and potential.
3. Integrating the elderly with the external environment and strengthen the link between them and their families.
4. Personnel Training and qualification to raise their efficiency and develop their abilities in the field of care for the elderly.

Types of Care:

• Permanent care: This care is provided to the elderly group who do not have anyone or their family circumstances do not allow caring for them, and they reside in the home or the institute permanently until the end of their lives. When providing this type of care, the approval of themselves and their families must be obtained when the elderly is not in his/her mental status.
• Temporary care: The different services, within a specified period, are provided to the elderly that may extend for a month or more as a result of unforeseen circumstances in the family, and at the end of this period the elderly will back to his family again.

Elderly Services Office

Whereas, the Ministry of Social Development is keen on upgrading the services and programs provided to the elderly and facilitating their access to all services at a one-stop shop, the Resolution No. 9 of 2013 was issued regarding the establishment of an office for the elderly services, and accordingly the Elderly Services Office, of the Social Welfare Directorate in the Ministry, was opened in 2014.

Goals:

1. Provide a discount card for the elderly.
2. Facilitating requests to benefit from parental care institutes, permanent care, and requests for equipment for the elderly.
3. Implementing a package of programs and services that support enhancing the quality of life for the elderly in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
4. Implementing supportive programs to raise the quality of life of the elderly, emanating from the national strategy for the elderly.
5. Providing family and social counseling for the elderly and their families.

6. Carry out surveys for the elderly.

   • List of government agencies and the private sector that support the elderly service card

Elderly Day Care Institutes

The Ministry of Social Development is currently supervising, within the framework of the community partnership, the operation of a number of elderly day care institutes for hosting elderly, take care of and rehabilitate the elderly people during the day-time amid residential districts in different governesses. These elderly day care centers offer different social, health, psychological and recreational care services as well as developing appropriate rehabilitation programs and services, benefit from their expertise and abilities, and work to integrate them into society and not to isolate them in elderly institutes. These institutes are managed within the community partnership project which aims to link the interests of groups and synergism scattered development efforts by leveraging the real partnership between civil society organizations, the private sector and the government through the adoption of initiatives and programs in the care provision areas and turn them into projects that contribute to sustainable social development.

In order to render such efforts successful and to provide excellent services for the elderly in the Kingdom, annual financial subsidy and support have been allocated for elderly day care institutes. This is along with paying, a number of field visits to the institutes to follow-up work. In addition, training workshops were organized by the Elderly Care Section for the workers in these institutes.

Goals:

1. Providing different aspects of care for the elderly.
2. Reintegration of the elderly and enhance their communication with members of society.
3. Providing privacy for the elderly and not isolating them in private institutes.
4. Benefit from their experiences.

• Parents Homes & Day Care Institutes Information

National Committee for Elderly

The Kingdom of Bahrain is one of the first Arab countries which formed a national committee for elderly as the Resolution No. (1) 1984 was issued to form the National Committee for elderly.

The committee was re-informed in the years 1992 -2000 -2003 -2008 - and finally in 2018, depending on the business requirements and the development of services. The committee includes members representing the government and the private sector and private entities considered responsible for the elderly in the Kingdom.

• Resolution No. (11) of 2023 to re-form the National Committee for the Elderly

The terms of reference of the National Commission for elderly include:

1. Implementation of public policy for the elderly care in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
2. Preparation of programs and projects for the care of the elderly.
3. Cooperation with stakeholders to develop the services provided for the elderly.
4. Finding sources to fund programs and activities of the Commission.
5. Raise public awareness of the issues of the elderly.
6. Organizing of conferences and workshops.