Alejandro Marichal: “We're talking about quality of life for hundreds of residents and peace of mind for their families. Our goal is that no one is denied the care they need due to a lack of planning or resources.”
Dimas Sarmiento: “In 2023 we served 347 people, and currently we serve 478 users, almost 38% more in just three years. This reality justifies the need to plan for the future with a stable financial commitment.”
The San Bartolomé de Tirajana City Council has approved a multi-year spending commitment to guarantee the provision of the Home Help Service (SAD) from 2027 to 2030, with a total investment of €5,4 million. The agreement, proposed by the Department of Social Services and Senior Citizens, headed by Alejandro Marichal, will allow for the immediate launch of the bidding process for the new contract and ensure the continuity of this essential service for senior citizens, people with disabilities, and those in situations of dependency, as well as their families.
Currently, the Home Help Service provides an average of 4.750 hours of personalized care per month , tailored to the needs of its users. This care is currently delivered indirectly by a specialized company with approximately 40 professionals , with the entire approved budget allocated to the direct provision of the service.
The planned annual allocation amounts to €1.350.000 , representing an increase of €186.128 over the current budget. This update will allow the contract to be adapted to the increased labor and operating costs in the sector, guaranteeing the maintenance of service hours, quality of care, and the economic viability of the future contract, thus preventing any service interruption when the current contract expires.
The First Deputy Mayor, Alejandro Marichal , stated that "talking about the Home Help Service means talking about quality of life for hundreds of residents and peace of mind for their families. Our goal is that no one is denied the care they need due to a lack of planning or resources. With this decision, we are providing stability to the service and offering security to those who depend on it every day."
Marichal added that "guaranteeing funding for the next four years allows us to face the future with confidence, reinforcing one of the most important public services provided by this City Council and responding to a social reality that demands increasingly more resources and a better capacity to respond."
For his part, the Councillor for Social Services and Senior Citizens, Dimas Sarmiento, highlighted the progress made by the Home Help Service in recent years. "In 2023 we served 347 people, and today the service reaches nearly 478 users. This represents an increase of 131 people, almost 38% more in just three years , a reality that demonstrates the growing demand and justifies the need to plan for the future with a stable financial commitment."
The councilor added that "this investment will allow us to continue strengthening the service's response capacity without compromising the quality of care. We want elderly people, people with disabilities, or those in situations of dependency to be able to continue living in their homes with the care they need, and for their families to have the peace of mind of knowing they have a local, professional, and stable service."
The Home Help Service is one of the basic benefits of the Public Social Services System and its purpose is to enable elderly people, people with disabilities or in situations of dependency to remain in their usual environment for as long as possible, preserving their personal autonomy and quality of life.
Care is provided in a personalized manner through Individualized Care Plans (ICPs), adapting support to the specific needs of each user. The service includes assistance with basic activities of daily living, personal care, companionship, domestic support related to personal care, and actions aimed at preventing situations of isolation and unwanted loneliness.
The planned duration of the new four-year contract will also promote the stability of the professional teams providing the service and the continuity of the relationship of trust established between caregivers and service users—a fundamental aspect for guaranteeing attentive, personalized, and high-quality care. Approval of the spending commitment will allow for the immediate commencement of the preparation of the tender documents and the bidding process for the new contract, ensuring that the service continues uninterrupted from January 2027 onward.
With this agreement, the San Bartolomé de Tirajana City Council reaffirms its commitment to local social services that respond to the progressive aging of the population and the increase in situations of dependency, guaranteeing dignified and professional care that improves the quality of life of users and provides essential support to their families.
