This initiative, already benefiting several people in the Ripollès region, primarily aims to connect seniors with mobility difficulties or those experiencing unwanted loneliness with community spaces and various social activities. The service includes a caregiver who picks up users from their homes and takes them to the community center, thereby facilitating their participation.
A success story is that of an 87-year-old resident of Sant Pau de Segúries, who, thanks to this service, has been able to resume her weekly visits to the hairdresser. Every Thursday, the community center transforms into a beauty salon, allowing users to enjoy an essential service and a space for socialization.
“"I've been out and able to get into the car, I won't have to worry about carrying the trolley home. I'll come every week, as long as I'm well."
One of the co-founders of Cooperativa Hèstia Benestar has highlighted the importance of these services, emphasizing that many elderly people tend to isolate themselves due to physical and emotional difficulties. The fear of falling or facing daily challenges can limit their social life, and projects like this provide them with a way to resume their routines and stay active.
One of the hairdressers collaborating with the initiative, who has been moving her salon from Camprodon to the Sant Pau de Segúries community center once a week for six years, has expressed her satisfaction with the project. She noted that many elderly people increasingly suffer from mobility issues and that this service is fundamental for those who cannot always rely on family assistance.
“"Many elderly people, due to their physical and emotional difficulties, begin to withdraw into themselves and find it hard to go out; the fear of falling or the fear of daily life, this way they have a means to go out and resume their daily lives."
From the Sant Pau de Segúries City Council, its highest representative has expressed satisfaction with the provision of these services, and although they currently have two users, they hope the number will increase. He stressed that the population is aging and it is crucial to care for the elderly, advocating for such proposals. He also called on the Department to provide more support for similar initiatives, especially in small towns where these services are even more necessary.
