Page 175 - FDF PR REPORT - JUNE 2025 (ENGLISH)_Neat

6/9/25, 11:10 AM FDF organises dialogue sessions to enhance quality of life for senior citizens in Abu Dhabi
Last year, FDF organised nine dialogue forums, which had the active participation of 273 members from
different community categories. In 2025, seven out of planned 16 forums has already been conducted,
engaging 154 senior citizens, their companions and partners. This initiative underscores the pivotal role
of elderly people in designing social services to serve them.

These forums seek to improve community participation in future planning processes, understand the
needs of senior citizens for programs and services and create supporting policies for elderly community
in collaboration with strategic partners. Furthermore, it evaluates the preparedness of families to meet
the psychological, health and social needs of senior citizens while contributing to creating

comprehensive, high-quality services in line with FDF’s dedication to support this significant category of
society.

His Excellency Abdulrahman Al Baloushi, Director of the Strategic Planning and Institutional
Development Department at FDF, emphasised that the series of interactive discussion forums’ focus on
this vital community group aligns with the Foundation’s recently updated mandates and its continuous

efforts to improve social services for senior citizens.

In addition, H.E. Al Baloushi pointed out that these forums seek to reinforce community engagement in
future planning, identify the service and program needs of seniors and ensure that comprehensive, high-
quality services are offered. This move comes in alignment with the vision and directives of H.H. Sheikha

Fatima bint Mubarak, ‘Mother of the Nation,’ Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union (GWU),
President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the
Family Development Foundation (FDF), who constantly supported the provision of a supportive
environment for elderly community which boost their societal role, safeguard their dignity and ensure

continued contributions.

H.E. Al Baloushi also reaffirmed that those forums stand as a vital platform for direct communication with
special community groups, ensuring a deeper understanding of their challenges and aspirations. They
offer an ideal stage for the exchange of ideas and proposals, supporting evidence-based decision

making. Such a participatory approach contributes to the development of social policies and programs
that shows the actual needs of the local community and highlights FDF’s unwavering commitment to
ensure innovation and integration in offering its services.

In addition, H.E. Al Baloushi highlighted that FDF has employed the focus group method as a structured
tool for collecting qualitative data from participants. He explained that each session included an

introduction to the forum’s goals and pillars and division into smaller groups led by specialised staff
members to discuss specific questions leveraging a precise scientific approach. The responses were
recorded and assessed using the Mentimeter system, which helped to exhibit results while also allowing
a direct and transparent communication with attendees and enhancing the forum’s overall result.

https://www.zawya.com/en/press-release/events-and-conferences/fdf-organises-dialogue-sessions-to-enhance-quality-of-life-for-senior-citizens-in-abu-… 2/4