Dubai: The Ministry of Community Development has collaborated with Ajman University to launch a “Senior Citizens Psychological First Aid” training program.
The Program will focus on 40 participants representing the Ministry and its partners with the aim of providing them with needed information, skills on psychological care services thereby enhancing senior citizens wellbeing.
The 6-month training program will have 1 workshop each week. At the end of the program, the trainee receives an authenticated diploma certificate from Ajman University.
The program is expected to rehabilitate the employees at senior citizens’ welfare care centers and those willing to work in the field of psychological counselling for senior citizens, by providing them with scientific foundations, practical skills and specialized aspects, which enable them to achieve the necessary qualifications, knowledge and success and giving them the ability to deal with senior citizens adequately.
The initiative comes in the context of the package of initiatives launched by the Ministry in Ajman, based on the objectives of the national policy of senior citizens, aimed at improving their wellbeing, ensuring their active and continuous participation within the community and in line with the core pillars of the policy, particularly in the pillars of “healthcare”, “community engagement and active life”, and “quality of future life.
Mr. Rashid Al Ghemlasi, Director of Senior Citizens Happiness Centre in Ajman supervised by the Ministry of Community Development, observed about the program.
The Senior Citizens Happiness Centre Director highlighted that the Ministry aims to support senior citizens’ focus on providing many development initiatives in the field of community service, leading to raising the wellbeing of individuals.
The training program along with other initiatives implemented by the Ministry in cooperation with competent authorities and partners includes the distribution of auxiliary devices to increase the wellbeing of senior citizens and circulation of the basic household items such as electronic appliances and other supplies and the maintenance of a number of homes for senior citizens.
Meanwhile, Dr. Rasha Abdel Rahman, Head of the Psychology Department at Ajman University, observed that the training program is a result of fruitful cooperation between Ajman University and the Ministry of Community Development.
It includes a series of workshops that aim to provide participants with the basic information and skills about psychological care of senior citizens, she said, adding that the program is also a good opportunity to train and prepare specialized and distinguished cadres with scientific knowledge and full awareness on how to provide care to senior citizens at all psychological and social levels.