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UAE: Flexible work, loan repayment extension for

senior citizen caregivers in new initiative

The UAE President launched the initiative at a reception held at the Qasr Al Bahr Council in Abu
Dhabi

Published: Tue 22 Apr 2025, 9:52 PM

• By

• WAM

The UAE's President Sheikh Mohamed launched a social care system for senior citizens on Tuesday.
The 'Barakatna' initiative is aimed at enhancing their quality of life, ensuring wellbeing and
supporting the values of family cohesion and societal solidarity.

The launch took place at a reception held at the Qasr Al Bahr Council in Abu Dhabi.

Among the key services offered by the initiative is support for family members of senior citizens to
access temporary home care for their parents in cases where they are unable to provide care due to
absence or other obligations.
It also includes support for caregivers to carry out home modifications and rehabilitation of
facilities used by senior citizens. Additionally, it extends housing loan repayment periods by five
years to ease the financial burdens on children or family members who support senior citizens.

The initiative offers various other services aimed at enhancing the quality of life for senior citizens,
including a flexible work arrangement service for those caring for their parents. This service is
provided according to specific standards and requirements to enable effective and efficient care.

The initiative, supervised by the Department of Community Development – Abu Dhabi, in
collaboration with the Family Development Foundation and several social sector entities and
institutions in the emirate, aims to enhance the efficiency of delivering essential home care to
senior citizens within suitable family environments that give them a stable and healthy life among
their children and family members.

'Our duty to care for them'

The leader highlighted the importance of the initiative and the authentic values it embodies. He
noted that senior citizens have played a vital role in serving the community and the nation’s
development across various sectors, and that their contributions continue. He therefore
emphasised that it is "our duty to care for them, support them, and enhance their quality of life, as
they are a fundamental and active part of society".

The 'Barakatna' initiative is a gesture of gratitude and a token of appreciation for their sacrifices for
the advancement and elevation of the nation, added the leader.

https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/new-social-care-initiative-for-senior-citizens