The Quality and Age-friendly Healthcare Services Office, part of the department, is carrying out the field assessments as part of the award's evaluation process. The initiative aims to enhance the quality of services provided to senior citizens while encouraging organisations to develop inclusive, sustainable environments that meet their needs.

A total of 31 organisations are participating in the current edition of the award. The evaluation committee is conducting on-site visits to assess each organisation's level of preparedness, compliance with the approved standards, and the initiatives and services implemented to improve the quality of life and overall experience of older people.

The visits form part of the award's approved evaluation methodology, which focuses on measuring institutions' ability to adopt age-friendly care principles and create more inclusive, responsive environments that support the independence and wellbeing of senior citizens. The initiative also supports Sharjah's vision of building an age-friendly community.

The committee stressed that participation in the award provides organisations with an opportunity to exchange expertise and adopt best practices that address the health, social and humanitarian needs of older people, ultimately raising the standard of services available to them.

Asma Al Khudari, Director of Quality and Age-friendly Healthcare Services, said the evaluation visits represent a key stage of the award process, enabling the committee to assess participating organisations' compliance with the established standards while identifying initiatives and practices that support older people and improve service quality.

She added that the award reflects Sharjah's vision of enhancing the quality of life for senior citizens by encouraging organisations to develop supportive services and environments that promote active participation, independence and social inclusion.

The evaluation visits will continue in the coming weeks before the assessment process is completed, final results are approved, and the organisations demonstrating the highest standards in supporting and caring for older people are honoured.