Dénia ups budget for elderly and disabled care

OVER €200,000 has been set aside to help with home care for elderly and disabled residents in Dénia after upping the budget by nearly 100%.

Of the 79 households with at least one dependant member, only 16% are under 65, and many of the remaining 84% are elderly.

Social welfare officer Cristina Morera and councillor for the elderly Elisabet Cardona say the aim is for as many of them as possible to carry on living in their own homes.

Last year's care budget was €130,000, and this year's has gone up to €233,000, for the same number of people.

Dénia's population is one of many on the coast which is gradually ageing – the birth rate is at an historic low rarely seen since the Civil War, and it is a popular spot to retire to, meaning those who do will eventually be among those needing home care in 20 or 30 years' time.

Attention to daily needs is not the only crucial service for the disabled and elderly – a service which, in Spain, is more often carried out by family than by professional carers – they also need company, Sra Cardona recalls.

For this reason, she is seeking ways of getting pensioners together to mix and make friends – even younger pensioners, so that they will have a network of firm friends by the time they reach old age.

One of these schemes is the Aulas de la Tercera Edad ('Third-Age Classrooms'), a local version of the U3A, which

“We want to enable people to carry on living in their own homes,” say councillors in charge

is already active in Dénia but only suitable for those who speak English.

This year, around 900 pensioners have taken part in one or more of the 21 workshops and courses offered by the scheme.

Also, €60,000 has been set aside to renovate the kitchen and €70,000 for replacing bedroom and bathroom doors at the Santa Llúcia nursing home.