The commemorative event featured the reading of the manifesto “We Retire from Work, Not from Life”, with participation from Mayor Pere Xirau, councilwoman Àngels Isart, Fina Escriche from the Advisory Council of the Association of Older Persons, and Josep Maria Soler, Paca Sola, Roser Carbonell, and Delfín Fernández.
The manifesto emphasizes the fundamental role of older persons in the social fabric, representing over 20% of Catalonia's population. It calls for a society that recognizes this group and warns that aging should not be synonymous with invisibility, ageism, or precariousness.
Key demands include the defense of guaranteed social rights, a solvent public pension system, universal healthcare, and quality dependency care. Emphasis is also placed on combating poverty in old age and recognizing caregiving tasks.
The document advocates for the right of older persons to decide how they want to live and be cared for, promoting person-centered care models. It also combats discrimination based on age, gender, or origin, with special attention to older women, and asserts the right to live with autonomy and free from violence.
The call is to strengthen community networks, facilitate lifelong learning, ensure access to clear information, and reduce the digital divide. It also requests that older persons continue to have real spaces for social, cultural, and community participation, and that their experiences and contributions be considered.
The day concluded with a talk on loneliness, explored from four perspectives: Josep Maria Soler offered advice for a happy life; Roser Carbonell discussed the loneliness experienced by caregivers; Delfín Fernández linked loneliness and depression; and Paca Sola highlighted the importance of staying active to combat isolation.
The event served to give voice to older persons, highlighting their role in the community and stressing the need for dignified, active, and participatory aging.
