Qatar National Library recently collaborated with the Center for Empowerment and Care of the Elderly (Ehsan) to celebrate International Day for Older Persons. In light of the special day, the Library hosted a workshop for its employees to discuss ways to help the elderly.
Ehsan representatives educated Library staff on some of the most critical soft skills needed to deal with older patrons and members. They also outlined key approaches that could be adopted by the Library for its elderly patrons and visitors. The workshop reflects the Library’s commitment towards local communities, with a focus on the additional care, respect and support the institution provides to the older generation.
On the occasion, Abeer Saad Al Kuwari, Director of Research and Learning Services, Qatar National Library, said, “The Library is committed to empowering communities while forging institutional partnerships that support its mission of preserving the heritage of Qatar and the region. We believe the elderly are an integral part of our society and our connection to the past. It is important we ensure that their visit to the Library is comfortable and easy; hence, this workshop was planned to brief our teams on methods and skills needed to accommodate elderly patrons and visitors.”
Jaber Al Marri, Director of Communications at Ehsan, stressed the importance of organizing such workshops to raise awareness about the rights of the elderly. He outlined the need for combined community efforts to highlight the situation of older people in Qatari society and improve their social well-being.
He said, “During the pandemic, we implemented awareness activities that saw various stakeholders as participants. In addition, and as part of our ongoing efforts to celebrate International Day of Older Persons, we are pleased to collaborate with Qatar National Library to raise awareness and improve the services provided to the elderly in the country. We want to support the older community members through psychological counseling and constructive conversations that can help them live better.”
During the session, Salem Al-Enezi, Head of the Psychological Unit at Ehsan, discussed the center’s role and objectives that support the elderly in Qatar. The center focuses on raising awareness around the rights of older people, offering care programs, promoting solidarity and clear communication to narrow the gap between generations, and encouraging older people to participate in social activities and integrating them into society. The session also highlighted Ehsan’s “Shawerni” service, which aims to promote mental health among older persons through visual and voice communication and text messages, reiterating their commitment to providing holistic support and upliftment in elderly care.
The Library is committed to helping the advancement of the Qatar National Vision 2030’s human development pillar and is ensuring its staff has the necessary skills to cater to and support patrons and visitors across all age groups.
The Library continues to host a wide variety of workshops and sessions for all age groups every month. For a complete list of events, please visit the Events page on the Library’s website (www.qnl.qa/en/events).
