The development of a model for a sociomedical facility for elderly people in Saudi Arabia

The purpose of this study was to develop a model for a sociomedical facility in Saudi Arabia to respond to the needs of the elderly who have been affected adversely by the sociopolitical and socioeconomic transformations taking place. The researcher visited twenty-seven centers in eight countries (Denmark and Sweden in Europe; Hong Kong, Japan, and Taiwan in the Far East; Egypt and Kuwait in the Middle East; and California and Florida in the United States) in order to determine the range of services available to the elderly. Included in this study are tables describing the services provided by each of the twenty-seven centers, and a general plan for review by the appropriate agency interested in implementing the plan. Upon the analysis of the data gathered from these twenty-seven centers, the researcher formulated comprehensive questionnaires and distributed them to 692 elderly individuals who reside in Saudi Arabia in order to assess the need for and potential use of such a center. Based upon the results of the questionnaire the researcher recommends the implementation of the sociomedical model. In order to meet the needs of the elderly in different communities in Saudi Arabia, the proposed model should be further developed to reflect specific programs that could provide opportunities for individuals to socialize with their peers in order to share feelings within an atmosphere of companionship that enhances self-esteem and brings new meaning to life. The researcher further recommends that the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs in Saudi Arabia be the supervising agency.