Empowerment of elderly rather than isolation

In every Omani home, a story often begins with a wrinkled face and eyes shaped by time. The elderly are not simply aging parents or grandparents, they are the living memory of the nation, carrying values, traditions, and lessons that have quietly shaped generations.
In the Sultanate of Oman, aging is not viewed as a period of decline, but as a stage deserving dignity, respect, and care. This deeply rooted belief has guided the Ministry of Social Development in making elderly care a national priority, designing programs that preserve family warmth while ensuring professional support for those most in need.
One of the most significant initiatives reflecting this commitment is the Social Welfare Home in the Wilayat of Rustaq. It is the only facility in Oman dedicated to housing elderly individuals who have no family or anyone able to care for them. Established in 2015 through a partnership with the Suhail Bahwan Group for Charitable Works, the home has provided care to 35 residents up to mid-2025.

“This home was created to offer more than shelter,” said Radhiya al Fahdi, Director of the Elderly Affairs Department at the Ministry of Social Development. “It provides an environment that reflects family warmth and psychological comfort.” Care at the Rustaq home goes far beyond accommodation. The facility includes 11 fully equipped residential units designed to meet all basic needs. Residents receive continuous medical care through regular checkups and round-the-clock supervision, alongside psychological and social support through individual and group sessions aimed at easing anxiety, combating depression, and encouraging emotional stability. Meals are carefully planned to match each resident’s medical condition, ensuring balanced and appropriate nutrition.
Equally important is keeping residents connected to life beyond the walls of the home. Cultural, religious, and recreational activities form a central part of daily life, including light sports programs, cultural evenings, religious sessions, and craft workshops such as sewing, pottery, agriculture, and fishing net-making. In this space, the elderly are not treated as dependents, but as individuals whose long lives and contributions are deeply respected.

According to the National Center for Statistics and Information, Oman’s elderly population stood at approximately 181,241 in 2024, a figure expected to rise to around 385,395 by 2040. These projections underline the urgency of expanding and diversifying elderly care services.
Despite the importance of care homes, the Ministry stresses that they are not meant to replace families. “Our teams continuously assess residents’ situations to reintegrate them into their families or suitable alternative families whenever possible,” Alfahdi explained.
One of the ministry’s most distinctive initiatives is the Alternative Family Care Program, which allows elderly individuals to live with volunteer families who are able to provide care without financial compensation. During the first half of 2025, 36 elderly Omanis benefited from this program. Alternative families may include distant relatives, neighbors, or families caring for elderly individuals with no relatives at all, provided they can offer independent accommodation and stable living conditions.

When remaining at home is possible, the Ministry prioritizes that option. In collaboration with the Ministry of Health, it launched the Home Care Program for the Elderly, which delivers medical and social services directly to elderly individuals in their own homes. During the first half of 2025, the program served 1,327 beneficiaries and provided 1,217 prosthetic devices and medical aids. Services also include home modifications, family training, psychological guidance, social engagement activities, and the provision of domestic workers when necessary.
Financial and in-kind assistance is also offered to elderly individuals facing difficult health or economic circumstances, ensuring stability while preserving dignity.
Expanding care options further, the Ministry issued regulations last year for the establishment of Day Care Centers for the Elderly. These centers, encouraged through private sector and civil society participation, provide daytime social, psychological, cultural, and recreational services while keeping the family as the cornerstone of care.
At the heart of all these initiatives is a clear vision: empowerment rather than isolation. Active community participation remains central, whether through involving the elderly in social work, valuing their experience in sustainable development, or supporting their economic independence through suitable productive activities and social assistance programs.