Homes for elderly gain acceptance

There are more than 62 retirement homes in Jeddah, according to statistics published by the Jeddah Health Department.
The very notion of sending elderly parents to such homes, common in Western countries, had previously been unheard of in Eastern communities, evoking the gasps of shame among many.
Yet the trend is slowly making its way into Arab countries because many youth simply don’t have the time and resources to look after their parents.
Saudi traditions see families get together once a week, but even this tradition is fading thanks to busy schedules. Elderly parents often end up at home alone with their housemaids.
Around 70 percent of old people cannot care for themselves and need assistance, according to statistics.
These local homes mostly house expats with no one to care for them, since Saudis usually have domestic help.
Sadiya Ahmed, an old Somali woman living in a retirement home in Jeddah, told Arab News that she has been living at the home for the past 12 years.
“I got divorced and my children have left, but the owner is extremely nice and generous donators always send us food and other necessities,” she said. “There are many women and orphans living here.”
Abu Abdurrahman, a Saudi businessman, does not think this trend is widespread.
“Young people are not sending their parents to these homes, but tend to leave them alone with domestic workers because they are busy at work,” he said.
“Indeed, reliance on maids is rampant because Saudis get pension funds from the government, giving them enough money to hire help,” said Abdurrahman. “The fact that these old people rely more on their housemaids than their kids, however, is not a good sign.”
One Saudi man, who requested anonymity, told Arab News that he lives alone even though he has three sons.
“I have to do things myself,” he said. “I don’t want to be a burden on my kids, which is why I chose to live alone. I want them to be successful, but they visit less frequently now than they used to since they have their own children to look after.”
“I am not complaining because this is a simple a fact of life, but the loneliness has become too much to bear and I am thinking of getting remarried,” he said.
The Human Rights Commission in Makkah recently celebrated parent’s day and organized a two-day forum encouraging kindness to parents with the help of research conducted by human rights experts.
The forum was held at the Intercontinental Hotel in Jeddah.
Mazan Batterjee, the commission’s supervisor, welcomed guests and Bandar Al-Obyan, the commission’s president, as well as officials from charity organizations and journalists.
“Several charities helped organize the event to encourage respect and dutifulness toward parents, an obligation imposed on us by our religion,” he said.
A presentation was also given on the occasion urging youth to keep their parents company as often as they can.
“Parents have rights just like children do, so it is our duty to ensure they are not alone whether or not they suffer from physical limitations,” said Al-Obyan.