The city offers them a set of resources, services and programs aimed at improving their quality of life and helping them to stay active, maintain autonomy and age with dignity.
health and care
To ensure the health of the elderly there are different municipal services:
Telecare: permanent telephone assistance service, available 24 hours a day, every day of the year, so that older people with disabilities or dependency can continue living at home safely and, also, to reduce the risk of isolation
Home Help Service: set of resources and actions aimed at people who have limited autonomy to carry out the basic activities of daily life in areas such as hygiene and care, control of food or medication, physical help -Motive, cleaning the home or meals at home.
Health School for the Elderly: weekly cycles of talks organized in the neighborhoods that provide basic knowledge in four areas of health: nutrition, physical activity, emotional well-being and cognitive stimulation.
Respir Plus: economic benefits program that seeks to improve the quality of life of both older people who live in private homes and need continuous care, as well as the people they care for.
Loneliness
The “Barcelona against loneliness” strategy offers tools to fight unwanted loneliness with programs such as the following:
“Living and living together”: provides accommodation for young students in the homes of elderly people who are lonely or in need of company, an experience between unknown people from different generations who help each other to achieve joint well-being.
Radars: community project to create a network between neighbours, shops, pharmacies, facilities and health centers in the neighborhood that are attentive to the daily dynamics of the elderly in their environment and, if they detect any significant change, they contact Social services.
Vincles BCN: the user receives a tablet with an accessible and very intuitive application installed that allows them to communicate and interact via video calls and video or voice messages, both with their family and friends and with the elderly who are part of the group of Vincles users.
“We go down to the streets”: once a week, older people who live alone, have mobility problems or live in a situation of social isolation go out into the streets accompanied by volunteers.
Physical activity
Physical exercise is essential to keep fit and enjoy a good quality of life. The municipal sports facilities offer a wide range of directed activities, which can range from traditional sports to a wide variety of proposals, such as aquagym, tai chi, chi kung or yoga.
You can also enjoy outdoor activities, such as those offered by the “Activate in the parks” program, which brings together physical exercise and health sessions that are held in many city parks, or group walks through the city ??«Barnatresc».
financial education
The Municipal Consumer Information Office (OMIC) permanently offers specific sessions throughout the year to explain to older people the rights they have before financial institutions, delve into the use of face-to-face and online financial services and provide advice of prevention and security. The sessions are free. The calendar of the next financial education sessions can be consulted on the OMIC website.
Culture and leisure
All the civic centers, centers for the elderly and the libraries of Barcelona are open and local spaces with a wide range of courses, workshops and cultural activities. Many libraries have book clubs for seniors running.
Between March and November, a cycle of visits and activities is organized for the elderly to enjoy the museums of Barcelona and the surrounding area, “Museums await you”. This cycle is aimed at users of youth centers and the Vincles BCN programme.
urban gardens
The Network of Urban Gardens of Barcelona is a participation program aimed at people over 65 years of age. Periodically, each district opens lottery processes for small plots, between 25 and 40 square meters, to grow vegetables, seasonal plants and flowers. You will find more details about the orchards and raffles at this link.
Respect and non-discrimination
A series of initiatives work to combat discrimination based on ageism and eliminate stereotypes and prejudices, such as the “Against mistreatment, good treatment” campaign or the Protocol for action against abuse of the elderly. The Office for Non-Discrimination accompanies people who suffer any type of discrimination, advises them legally to file complaints and works to raise awareness among the citizens of Barcelona. The Big Screen festival also wants to collaborate in dismantling stereotypes about the elderly, which through films, short films and talks offers new perspectives on the fact of being and growing older.
Volunteering and intergenerational programs
In order to take advantage of the experience of the elderly and create networks with the younger generations, proposals have been created such as intergenerational participatory spaces or the convention «The voices of the elderly» with the Advisory Council for the Elderly.
In the city there are many associations and volunteer programs in which older people can contribute their time and knowledge in different fields.
You will find all the services and resources for the elderly that the city offers at https://ajuntament.barcelona.cat/personesgrans.
