Dubai, March 10: The need to treat elderly patients at home is rapidly increasing, say health officials, pointing out that home care can effectively reduce the burden on hospitals.
An almost three-fold increase in the number of the elderly from 4.2 to 10.6 % between 1995 and 2010 has also contributed to the urgent need for home care, said UAE Ministry of Health officials elaborating on the year-old Primary Health Care Elderly Home Care Programme.
A study conducted by the ministry in Ras Al Khaimah in 2007 found that 50 per cent of the elderly patients who are permanently admitted to hospitals can be discharged if home care is available, explained Dr Muna Al Kawari, Director of the Central Department of Primary Health Care at the ministry while talking about the success of the programme.
“The programme is continuous, comprehensive and cost effective,” she explained, adding that it delivers healthcare, depending on their needs.
The programme provides free health care services including medicine and equipment currently to UAE nationals only. Patients can either be referred by hospitals or families can register them in the PHCs following which each case will be assessed individually.
“By 2020, the elderly population is expected to be 20 per cent of the entire population,” said Dr Mohammed Amin, Director of PHC in Ras Al Khaimah.
“We urgently need home care because people now live longer as a result of improved living conditions and better healthcare,” he said. He also said there was an increased number of chronic diseases requiring better home care. This could prevent patients from falling sick due to hospital acquired infections. Hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, bed sores and also psychiatric illness are among the common diseases that nursing teams have to treat at home.
The programme has been expanded to Umm Al Quwain with 22 patients, and to Ajman and Fujairah. A second one was recently launched in Munaei, RAK with nine patients. The ministry also plans to launch four more centres this year and hopes to increase the number each year by 10 per cent, said Dr Muna.
–Agencies–