Family Development Foundation Initiatives For Senior Citizens Highlighted By Sheikha Fatima In Abu Dhabi

H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak has reviewed programmes of the Family Development Foundation in Abu Dhabi that support senior citizens, promote family cohesion and improve social stability, during a visit that highlighted new initiatives for older people and younger generations under the national focus on the "Year of Family".

During the visit to the Family Development Foundation centre, H.H. Sheikha Fatima examined how current services help senior citizens remain active within families and communities, and how these efforts align with national policies that seek to protect the elderly, reinforce intergenerational ties and raise overall quality of life in the emirate.

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H.H. Sheikha Fatima praised the Family Development Foundation’s five-year strategy, which concentrates on better well-being for senior citizens, stronger family stability through guidance for parents, and improved institutional performance by developing human resources, digital systems and media tools that can deliver consistent, accessible and reliable social services.

She reviewed how this strategy reflects a law issued by President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, which expands the Family Development Foundation’s mandate to include guidance, awareness and support for families, along with social services dedicated to the elderly, with the aim of reinforcing family development and long-term stability in Abu Dhabi.

H.H. Sheikha Fatima commended the "Barakatna" initiative, launched by President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and implemented by the Department of Community Development – Abu Dhabi with the Family Development Foundation and other partners, which delivers programmes that assist home care for senior citizens across Abu Dhabi’s integrated community support system.

Barakatna seeks to improve daily living standards for senior citizens within a coordinated network of care providers and families, while strengthening values of family cohesion and wider social solidarity, ensuring that older people remain respected, protected and engaged inside their homes and neighbourhoods rather than becoming isolated.

Senior citizens safety, homes and intergenerational ties

H.H. Sheikha Fatima also welcomed the Home Safety Guide for Senior Citizens, which defines standards for adapting homes to the needs of older people, aiming to prevent accidents, enhance comfort and raise awareness among families about practical safety measures that offer stronger protection and improved well-being for elderly relatives in domestic settings.

Her Highness Sheikha Fatima launched a new initiative that focuses on intergenerational communication, highlighting the role of older people in passing on values, culture and experience to children and youth, so that present and future generations learn directly from senior citizens and understand their contribution to the UAE’s social development.

Year of Family initiatives supporting senior citizens

Marking the "Year of Family", H.H. Sheikha Fatima instructed the rollout of additional community programmes, including support for young people preparing for marriage through guidance offered by parents and grandparents, and an audio platform that addresses family stability, parenting skills and communication between generations, linking these themes to the real-life experiences of senior citizens.

H.H. Sheikha Fatima also launched a campaign encouraging respect and inclusion of senior citizens within Emirati families, alongside an interactive family game rooted in local heritage that is designed to stimulate conversation between generations, allowing children and youth to learn traditions while older participants share stories and memories in a structured, engaging way.

Healthcare, senior citizens awareness and leadership support

H.H. Sheikha Fatima stressed the importance of improving healthcare for senior citizens through stronger collaboration with government health authorities and by drawing on international best practices, while also underlining the role of the media in spreading health awareness and supporting social stability by presenting accurate information about ageing and family responsibilities.

Ali Salem Al Kaabi, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Family Development Foundation, said that Sheikha Fatima's visit underscored the leadership’s focus on families and senior citizens, adding that the foundation would continue expanding partnerships to deliver sustainable services for them.

Mariam Mohammed Al Rumaithi, Director-General of the Family Development Foundation, said, "Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak’s visit provided strong support to staff and reaffirmed the central role of families and senior citizens in the UAE’s social development." Al Rumaithi noted that the visit coincided with the foundation’s 20th anniversary and strengthened staff commitment.

Al Rumaithi said the visit coincided with the foundation’s 20th anniversary and renewed its commitment to implementing the "Year of Family" initiatives through practical programmes that support senior citizens and reinforce social cohesion.

With inputs from WAM