👵🏽 Introduction: Why AI matters for elderly care in Sharjah

The global population is aging rapidly, and the UAE—like many nations—is seeking ways to support its senior citizens with dignity and independence. Sharjah, already recognized for its age-friendly policies, has stepped up with cutting-edge AI technologies to improve accessibility, safety, and emotional well-being for its elderly community.

Artificial intelligence is no longer confined to futuristic experiments; it is now embedded in day-to-day services. From telemedicine to social support apps, elderly care in Sharjah demonstrates how technology can blend with tradition and community values. This integration ensures that while seniors benefit from innovation, they also receive the compassion and respect central to Emirati culture.

🏛️ 1) Sharjah as an Age-Friendly City

Sharjah was the first Arab city to join the World Health Organization’s Global Network for Age-Friendly Cities. This recognition didn’t come lightly—it required the emirate to adopt policies that prioritize senior inclusion, accessibility, and active participation in society.

Today, more than 90% of global age-friendly criteria have been achieved in Sharjah, including accessible infrastructure, healthcare improvements, and cultural participation. These milestones have provided a strong foundation for AI adoption. By embedding artificial intelligence into its senior care strategy, the emirate has ensured that elderly care in Sharjah continues evolving in line with global best practices.

🤖 2) AI-powered Services: From Advisors to Companions

One of the standout developments in 2025 is the suite of AI-driven services being rolled out across the emirate. These include:

Virtual Social Advisor: A smart advisory platform that links seniors directly with healthcare and social services.
Virtual Companion: A home-based smart screen system that reduces isolation and promotes daily check-ins.
LIMB Telerehabilitation App: A digital rehabilitation tool with AI-guided exercises and remote specialist monitoring.

These tools have turned elderly care in Sharjah into a technology-assisted ecosystem where seniors can remain healthier, safer, and more connected without leaving their homes.

🗣️ 3) Virtual Social Advisor: Fast, Direct Access

The Virtual Social Advisor is a game-changer. Previously, seniors often needed to travel to government offices or clinics for simple queries. Now, this platform allows them to connect with the right service via one-touch digital access.

The system uses AI-powered categorization to filter requests—whether medical, psychological, or logistical—and then forwards them to the relevant department. This ensures no case is overlooked. For seniors and their families, the tool has significantly reduced stress and waiting times, making elderly care in Sharjah more efficient and responsive.

🏠 4) Virtual Companion Smart Screens

Isolation is one of the greatest challenges faced by elderly people. To address this, Sharjah introduced the Virtual Companion: a smart screen device installed directly in seniors’ homes.

The Virtual Companion provides:

Daily reminders for medications, hydration, and physical activity.
Video check-ins with nurses, psychologists, or social workers.
Instant connection to family members or caregivers.

This initiative ensures seniors remain engaged, supported, and emotionally connected. Families also benefit, as they know their loved ones are being regularly monitored, making elderly care in Sharjah both safer and more personal.

🦿 5) LIMB Telerehabilitation for Seniors

Rehabilitation after surgery or illness can be physically demanding and logistically challenging. The LIMB app offers guided physical therapy exercises seniors can perform at home. What makes it unique is its AI-driven posture correction and progress tracking features.

Specialists remotely monitor each patient, adjusting exercises as needed. This digital shift saves travel time, reduces missed appointments, and increases treatment adherence. In effect, LIMB has become a cornerstone in elderly care in Sharjah, where technology supports independence without compromising quality of care.

🌐 6) Data Integration with Riayati

AI is only as effective as the data it uses. That’s why Sharjah leverages Riayati, the UAE’s National Unified Medical Record. This system integrates thousands of healthcare providers into one network, allowing doctors and caregivers to access a senior’s complete health history.

For elderly care in Sharjah, this is a vital step forward. Whether a senior is consulting a private clinic, a public hospital, or using AI home services, their health data flows into a single system. This reduces duplication, enhances safety, and ensures continuity of care.

🔐 7) Privacy and Data Protection (PDPL)

While AI brings efficiency, it also raises questions about privacy. Sharjah addresses this by implementing the UAE’s Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL). This law ensures that seniors’ medical and personal data is stored, processed, and shared responsibly.

In practice, providers must obtain consent, limit data collection to essential information, and apply strict cybersecurity measures. Seniors and families are assured that elderly care in Sharjah is not only innovative but also compliant with global standards of confidentiality and trust.

🧪 8) Senior Citizens Forum: AI in Service of the Elderly

Community engagement remains central. Sharjah’s Senior Citizens Forum, themed “Artificial Intelligence in the Service of the Elderly”, brought together policymakers, caregivers, and seniors themselves to shape the AI agenda.

Outcomes included the recommendation to expand the Virtual Social Advisor and create a roadmap for inclusive AI literacy programs. By involving seniors in these conversations, Sharjah ensures that elderly care in Sharjah grows in a way that directly addresses real needs rather than imposing top-down solutions.

🏠 9) Benefits for Families and Professionals

AI-based initiatives are reshaping elderly care in Sharjah at multiple levels:

For Families: Daily check-ins bring peace of mind, fewer unnecessary hospital trips, and more independence for seniors.
For Seniors: More engagement, quicker responses, and better rehabilitation outcomes.
For Professionals: Automated triage reduces administrative workload, allowing staff to focus on critical cases.

The result is a more balanced system where both human care and digital solutions complement each other.

🧑‍🎓 10) Ensuring Inclusion and Accessibility

Adopting AI is not without challenges. Seniors often face barriers such as low digital literacy, poor eyesight, or hearing difficulties. To tackle this, Sharjah designs tools with large fonts, intuitive interfaces, and multilingual support.

Training programs for families and caregivers also play an essential role. By making technology approachable, Sharjah ensures that elderly care in Sharjah remains inclusive and equitable across different socio-economic groups.

✅ Conclusion: The Future of Elderly Care in Sharjah

Sharjah is setting a regional benchmark for age-friendly smart cities. Its combination of AI innovation, inclusive policies, and human oversight proves that technology can enhance—not replace—compassionate care.

With Virtual Social Advisor, Virtual Companion, LIMB rehabilitation, and integrated health data systems, elderly care in Sharjah is well-equipped for the future. Looking ahead, the emirate will likely expand AI tools to cover predictive health monitoring, wearable integration, and more personalized senior wellness programs.

Sharjah demonstrates that caring for the elderly in the digital age is not only possible but transformative—ensuring dignity, safety, and well-being for one of the most valued groups in society.

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