The event, hosted at the Casino de Rubí, focused on defending the rights of seniors and their active participation in a more inclusive society. It served as a platform for exchanging experiences among entities, municipal councils, professionals, and institutional representatives.
The opening ceremony was attended by the mayor of Rubí, Ana María Martínez Martínez; the president of the Consell Comarcal of Vallès Occidental, Xavier Garcés; representatives from the Rubí Senior Advisory Council, Elvira Altisent and Rosa Maria Andrés, and Ramon Pla, representing the Vallès Occidental Seniors' Council.
The mayor emphasized that a society's value is measured by how it treats its elders, which involves recognizing rights, fostering autonomy, and facilitating active participation. The regional president, in turn, advocated for moving beyond a view of aging focused solely on the past and for combating ageism and unwanted loneliness.
The conference addressed topics such as longevity, the life cycle, and citizen participation, aiming to foster collective reflection and incorporate seniors' voices into decisions affecting society. The need to shed stereotypes of passivity or dependency was highlighted.
According to 2025 data from the Regional Observatory, Vallès Occidental has over 177,000 residents aged 65 and over, representing 18.3% of the population, with a growing trend and increasing feminization.
This demographic reality presents challenges in areas such as care, housing, health, and combating loneliness, underscoring the importance of recognizing the social contribution of older generations.
