Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad bin Sultan Al Qassimi Crown Prince of Sharjah and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and in the presence of Afaf Ibrahim Al Marri, Head of the Department of Social Services in Sharjah the Department organized the tenth elderly forum under the slogan “Digital Society for the Elderly”. Sharjah has become an honorable model for caring for the elderly and this matter was embodied in its well-deserved title of a city that takes care of the elderly and after applying international standards in this matter of elderly. The Emirate of Sharjah embraces the elderly and even respects them and appreciates their valuable contribution to crystallizing and shaping the history of the Emirates. The forum has focused on numerous subjects which are materially, morally and psychologically to support them and constantly strive towards meeting their needs and providing a decent life and to provide a positive and supportive environment that considers the satisfaction and honor of the elderly and make the stage old age is the best stage in their lives by giving them all the appreciation care and attention.  The forum has become a milestone in the agenda of the Emirate of Sharjah which coincides with elderly International Day.

An important tributary in the field of development in the areas of care and protection and for sustainable development for everyone including the elderly to enjoy healthy lifestyles. Hence, it was necessary to discuss the future of digitization of services and opportunities for upgrading them and achieving a qualitative leap in various areas of care and protection for the elderly. In order to create a better future for services the elderly which are provided by social institutions especially the Sharjah Social Services Department. The reality of the elderly’s need for digital services and its negative impact on them. Since the average age in 2050 will increase for the elderly and will exceed 20% and Asia will be the largest incubator for them. The forum pointed to 3 points that contributed to improving their conditions namely digital care and monitoring their behavior in terms of health and the use of intelligence, and digital social communication, which became part of their diaries, which achieved mental health for them and contributed to achieving equal services for the largest number of them in the world.

There is harm in the elderly’s use of digital services because it will distance him from his surroundings and this is optional isolation and will cause him physical pain due to the psychological state and be cut off from others. The elderly do not have to deal with digital services and therefore it is preferable that this service be available at the facilities of the elderly and who will benefit one of its innovations is to benefit the elderly and especially those who suffer from health problems such as Alzheimer’s. As for the obstacles to using technology they are due to the lack of self-confidence. Some of the elderly participants faced low confidence as they considered themselves beginners and not technologically minded and some lacked patience with technology. Also, fear where some were afraid to break devices or do something wrong they could not modify or were concerned about certain problems, physical performance, as some experienced physical barriers.