Alejandro Marichal: “We have allocated 321.000 euros to promote a comprehensive program of activities that has quadrupled the offer and already benefits more than 850 elderly people in the municipality.”
Dimas Sarmiento: “We are launching these sessions so that our elders have a place to express themselves, share what they feel, and feel supported.”
The Senior Citizens Department of the San Bartolomé de Tirajana City Council has added a new line of neuropsychological group therapy sessions to its Active Aging program. These sessions, led by neuropsychologist Noelia Esther Perdomo Ojeda, will be held in different neighborhoods throughout the municipality during the last week of each month, from January to June. Each session will address a different topic of interest to older adults. This month's topic is Loneliness, serving as a starting point for working on emotional well-being.
The first round of matches will be held at the end of this month with the following schedule: Monday, January 26, in Cercados de Espino at 17:00 p.m. and in Aldea Blanca at 19:00 p.m.; Tuesday, January 27, in Tunte at 17:00 p.m.; Wednesday, January 28, in San Fernando at 18:00 p.m. and in El Tablero at 19:30 p.m.
These new sessions are part of the active aging program managed by the company EnFórmate. The activities will be open to everyone and will not require prior registration, thus facilitating participation for all interested individuals. These are group therapy sessions organized by region, designed to foster dialogue, active listening, and emotional support, creating safe spaces to share experiences and acquire practical tools for coping with different personal situations.
In addition, these therapies complement the range of activities already included in the municipal program, which encompasses fitness classes, yoga, Pilates, and Zumba, as well as adapted exercises for individuals recovering from surgery, suffering from injuries, or requiring specific routines to prevent mobility problems, improve balance, and maintain independence. The program also features workshops on mental stimulation and memory, digital skills training to bridge the digital divide, and guided tours, hiking, and cultural events in municipalities such as Agüimes, Arucas, Agaete, and Teror. All these activities take place in areas including San Fernando, El Tablero, El Pajar, Castillo, Cercados de Espino, Tunte, Montaña la Data, Juan Grande, and Aldea Blanca, among other locations within the municipality.
Regarding this new addition, Alejandro Marichal pointed out that the Department has allocated €321.000 over the next few years to promote a much more ambitious physical activity program. Proof of this commitment is that we have gone from offering physical activities to 300 senior citizens to developing a comprehensive program of activities in which more than 850 residents of the municipality already participate. This represents a fourfold increase in the range of activities offered to our senior citizens. Along the same lines, the Councilor for Senior Citizens, Dimas Sarmiento, stated that “many people go for days on end without speaking to anyone, and this ends up affecting their mood and health. At the Department, we believe that it is not enough to simply acknowledge this problem; we must take action. That is why we are launching these sessions, so that our senior citizens have a place to express themselves, share their feelings, and feel supported.”
The Senior Citizens' Department also offers a psychological support service that assists the Day Care Center and the Alzheimer's Center, and provides individualized support to those who need it. To schedule an appointment with the department's psychologist, interested individuals can call [phone number missing in original text]. 928 72 34 10This resource reinforces the work done in this area to care for mental and emotional health.
The addition of these group neuropsychological therapies reinforces the comprehensive approach of the municipal program, addressing the physical, mental, and social well-being of older adults. Combating unwanted loneliness helps prevent isolation and contributes to strengthening personal and community relationships in each neighborhood.
Following this initial round of meetings, sessions will continue during the last week of each month until June, addressing a different topic of interest each time, thus ensuring ongoing support. The Senior Citizens' Department encourages residents to participate and spread the word about this initiative, which is part of the city's commitment to promoting active, healthy, and supported aging.
