The Dubai dementia support group helping a UAE football legend and others preserve precious memories
UAE footballing great Rajab Abdulrahman has a lifetime's worth of remarkable achievements – from being part of the nation's first official match to lining up against European champions Liverpool during their 1970s glory days. Like many senior citizens, however, Abdulrahman is at risk of those cherished memories being stolen from him by dementia, a cruel and progressive brain disorder that is…
Dubai-based dementia support group, 4get-me-not, is helping a UAE football legend, Rajab Abdulrahman, and others preserve their cherished memories despite the progressive effects of dementia. Abdulrahman, a former Al Nasr midfielder, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2021, but he continues to enjoy football and attend meetings organized by the support group.
The volunteer-led organization, founded in 2013 by Desiree Vlekken, has grown in popularity due to the increasing number of over-65s retiring in Dubai. Vlekken, a political science graduate, established the group after witnessing the cognitive decline of her father-in-law and mother due to dementia. The group supports Abdulrahman and other seniors through low-intensity sports, art classes, singing, and walks in the park, providing a sense of camaraderie and companionship.
The UAE's rapidly aging population, with one of the fastest aging populations in the world, highlights the growing need for such community support networks.
Written by urgent.news from The National UAE's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
