Dubai: The UAE population is changing. It's getting bigger, older and more diverse. UAE Nationals are living for longer and expatriate executives are staying for longer. But what do such demographic shifts mean for the UAE healthcare system and how will the aging population be cared for? Sublime Home Healthcare Centre, a Dubai Health Authority licensed care provider believes that enabling the elderly to remain in their homes during their winters years will play a significant part in the UAE's growing healthcare sector and has developed an Elderly Care service to meet the growth in demand.

"The home setting is an intimate and familiar place for everyone,” commented Dr. Yasmine Torkamani, owner of Sublime Home Healthcare Centre. "But for the elderly being able to remain in their home and retain their, practices, independence and cultural beliefs, especially in this region, is far more significant and can really make a difference in their lives both physically and emotionally. That’s why we have developed our Elderly Care service which is dedicated to providing all the non-medical support and home medical care that a person in their winter years of life may require." said Yasmine.

It is estimated that around 5% of Emiratis are currently aged 60 years or above and as the population changes take force this figure is predicted to increase to 11% by 2032. On top of this the UAE is also seeing the traditional family care structure change with many more women working outside of the home, and with relatively few elderly care facilities in the emirate, it's easy to see why the demand for professional, affordable and registered homecare for the elderly is increasing.

"We are seeing a strong demand for care services which support the elderly post their hospital treatment, such as diabetic care, cardiac care and stroke care in Dubai," commented Yasmine. "These patients are often aged between 55-65 and in need of medical care by an experienced and registered nurse [or two] who can support their hospital treatment 24/7 in their home. The average life expectancy of a UAE person is now 74 for a man and 80 years for a women, so by providing a care service which is individually tailored to a patients' needs, we are able to support people who would otherwise struggle to stay at home and enjoy their remaining years in familiar surroundings and with their families." said Yasmine.

Sublime Home Healthcare Centre provides medical and non-medical private nursing care for the elderly for as long as a patient may require the service. Be it an hour or two daily to assist with non-medical procedures, such as bathing, dressing, mobility support and companionship, or, to provide a more comprehensive medical care service alongside a patients on-going hospital treatment.

"In setting up our Elderly Care service, we wanted to go beyond medical assistance and really make a difference in the lives of people," said Yasmine Torkamani. "In the UAE it has been commonplace for the elderly to live with and be care for by their relatives, and as demographic shifts continue, we really want to ensure that this high level of cultural care remains accessible and affordable for families, be it Dubai residents or expatriates with elderly relatives visiting. That's why Sublime Home Healthcare provides person-centered care services in the home to ensure that people are not simply 'aging in place', but aging in the right place and with the right care and attention." said Yasmine.

For more information on caring for your elderly family members or an informal discussion on how we can help care for you, contact Sublime Home Healthcare Centre on +971 4 3470504, or visit http://www.sublimehomecare.com