For 90-year-old Kuldeep Singh, some of the most pleasant moments of the month happen every second Saturday morning when he enters a room full of friends. Over the next two hours, he and other elderly citizens feel like college students again.
Singh, who arrived in the UAE three years ago to live with his daughter, became one of the first participants in the Smartlife senior club. Last Saturday, he joined dozens of other members to celebrate the group's second anniversary with a retro-themed morning event featuring music, dancing, and skits. Participants were dressed in their best vintage attire, and the room was filled with laughter, mischief, and memories.
For expat Mina Choitram from the UK, this group has been a lifeline. After 45 years living in the UK, she retired and moved to the UAE to be closer to her children. She shared: 'It was hard to leave behind a 45-year life and move to a new place.' 'When I arrived here, my daughter-in-law introduced me to her friend's mother. We became good friends.'
She tried other activities for seniors, but they were geared towards those needing mobility assistance. 'But we were physically healthy. We just needed a social group,' she noted. 'Now I have people I can call if I need anything—or if I just need company.'
The group is not only for newcomers. 82-year-old Keki Tavadia arrived in the UAE in 1969 and lives among children, grandchildren, and an extended family network. He joined in May and now cannot imagine his Saturdays without the Smartlife gatherings.
The Smart Senior Citizen and Single Parent project was created to support and engage retired seniors and single mothers living in Dubai. One of the program's founders, 67-year-old Mandjula Ramakrishna, describes it more as a family than a program.
She explained that 'it was conceived as a free program.' This idea took shape two years ago when Golden Visas began attracting retirees and aging parents to the UAE. 'For many people like us, Dubai is home. I have been here 45 years, and my grandchildren study here. Since more and more people over 60 are coming here to settle, I could see the emergence of a vibrant senior community.'
However, she also noticed the problem of loneliness. One participant, who recently lost their spouse, shared how the group has been a comfort to them. 'My son leaves in the morning and returns late at night,' she said. 'I don't even want to bother him for a chat. I have so many people here. My family is big now.'
The initiative is run entirely free by a team of 14 volunteers. Meetings take place twice a month. During each meeting, the first hour is dedicated to something meaningful, such as advice on staying active or investing wisely. In the second hour, the group has fun. Mandjula laughed: 'We are like children.'
Currently, the senior and single parent programs run separately. But at some point, she hopes to merge both programs. Seniors, she explained, could become 'local grandparents for these already struggling but strong single mothers.'
The group has grown to 72 participants, but they do not have their own permanent venue. Each event depends on the goodwill of venues that provide space. Mandjula reported: 'Since we conduct our events with a very limited budget, even a venue that charges 100 dirhams is a huge expense. We would prefer to spend that money on juice and snacks for our participants.'
Nevertheless, she remains hopeful. 'Our hearts are in the right place,' she concluded. 'It will grow.'