Status of long term care in Saudi Arabia
Mufti, M.H.
Saudi Medical Journal 19(4): 367-369
1998
ISSN/ISBN: 0379-5284 PMID: 27704099 Document Number: 492156
Due to socio-cultural reasons, Saudis care for their elderly at home longer than those in western societies until it becomes very difficult or impossible to care for them. As a result, there are no long-term care facilities in Saudi Arabia. An estimated 9,041 of the elderly in the capital city of Riyadh, with a population of over 2 million, are dependent on others, mainly family and acute care hospitals for activities of daily living. Current population data suggest that the proportion of those 65 years and over needing institutionalization is 2.5%. Therefore, long term care or assisted living facilities to care for 1,891 elderly people in Riyadh are urgently needed. This paper examined the results of a market analysis and attitude survey of relatives of elderly, long-stay patients in acute-care hospitals in Riyadh to determine the feasibility of establishing long term care centers.