The National Home Care Program for older persons is a joint program with the Ministries of Health and Social Development. The idea of the program is to provide all possible services to older persons in their residence so that health and social services, and social research procedures can be accessed at home.

Some programs we provide include:

• There is a Social Protection Fund for older persons where they receive around 115 Omani rails (300 US dollars) monthly, aiming to provide financial support.
• The local community of older persons association (Ihsan) holds regular home visits to older persons in their homes in collaboration with local health centers.
  • There are regular recreational trips for older persons to museums and famous attractions.
  • There is an available transport ambulance for older persons to use on visits, or discharge from the hospital, and additional activities catered to older populations.
  • We host a yearly Iftar celebration in Ramadhan for older persons.
  • The Oman Women’s Association in Nizwa holds regular talks, called My Grandma’s Stories,) delivered by older women to school children.
  • The Ihsan Association provides discounted and supported instruments and tools for older persons, including bed matrix nebulizers, CPAP machines, dressings and napkins.

We are awaiting the creation and implementation of a national law protecting older persons.

Legal protection for older persons with disabilities include:

• The Law of Care and Rehabilitation of the Disabled promulgated by Royal Decree No. 63/2008.
  • The International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities ratified by Royal Decree No. 121/2008.
  • The Regulation for the Establishment of Rehabilitation Centers for the Disabled issued by Ministerial Resolution No. 124/2008.
  •The Regulation Regulating the Issuance of a Disabled Card issued by Ministerial Resolution No. 94/2008
  • The National Committee for the Care of the Handicapped, issued by Ministerial Resolution No. 1/2009, chaired by the Minister and with the membership of a number of Their Excellencies the Undersecretaries of the relevant ministries, a representative of the private sector, a representative of rehabilitation centers for the disabled and a representative of persons with disabilities, and the Committee carries out its competencies stipulated in Article (14) of the Law on the Care and Rehabilitation of the Disabled.

Additionally, Nizwa has eight specialized sub-committees emanating from the National Committee for the Care of the Disabled Persons, formed by ministerial decisions. They are chaired by Their Excellencies the competent undersecretaries of the Ministry, except for the Health Services and Financial Affairs Committees