Rising life expectancy is one of today's great social challenges. A 65-year-old today can expect to live 21 more years. Against this backdrop, promoting healthy, meaningful ageing has become a priority. With more than a century of history behind it, the "la Caixa" Foundation's Older People programme responds to the needs of this population group in a changing, increasingly diverse environment.
The goal of the activities it runs is to promote active participation among older people and highlight their role in society, their social commitment and their community involvement. At the same time, it aims to support their empowerment so they can pursue their own personal projects and enjoy a life with purpose. This year, 550,000 older people took part in more than 20,000 activities run across 634 directly operated and government-partnered centres throughout Spain. In Catalonia, more than 190,000 people took part in over 7,292 activities run across 205 directly operated and partnered centres.
The workshops are organized around five broad areas of action that address the needs, interests and concerns of older people in a comprehensive way. The offerings help maintain and improve physical health and prevent frailty, stimulating sensory, motor and cognitive areas and promoting healthy lifestyle habits; they support personal development, reflection and empowerment to help people live in line with their own values; and they provide tools for improving digital skills and navigating the digital world independently. At the same time, they encourage social and community participation, recognizing the value of older people's experience and their involvement in the community, and they stimulate creativity and reflection through activities that nurture imagination, sensitivity and personal skills. All of this aims to support physical and emotional wellbeing and contribute to a better quality of life.
One of this year's new additions to the programme has been the innovative workshop "Ageism: how to spot and prevent it," which more than 1,600 people have already taken part in. It aims to give older people the tools to deal with situations of ageism while also becoming active agents of awareness-raising in their communities through volunteering. One in three people in Europe experiences some form of age-related discrimination at some point in their life. The initiative therefore promotes awareness of this phenomenon and encourages follow-up action. Among the community initiatives, intergenerational activities stand out as especially important. Awareness talks and workshops on grief, caregiving and related topics have also been held.
"In the programme we develop rigorous, innovative and up-to-date content that, beyond its visible benefits, also aims to tackle isolation. The centres are relational spaces where new bonds can form, where people can discover and build on their skills, share experiences and improve their physical, emotional and mental wellbeing. Our goal is for older people to feel that, by taking part in these activities, they are nurturing their sense of purpose in life," says David Velasco, director of the "la Caixa" Foundation's Older People programme.
Online self-learning workshops
To reach everyone inclusively and help close the digital divide, the "la Caixa" Foundation offers a series of virtual workshops. Since their launch, more than 11,000 older people from across Spain have signed up, whether taking part from home on their own computer or from the computer rooms at older people's centres. According to a survey of enrolled participants, more than 94% would recommend the courses to others.
The self-learning courses cover topics such as healthy eating, physical exercise, wellbeing routines and the use of apps. They are aimed at anyone who wants to keep building life experience at their own pace.
Aula Abierta mini-workshops
Continuing along the same digital track, the programme also runs the Aula Abierta mini-workshops, offering targeted training for older volunteers who provide digital support at the Aula Abierta (Open Classroom) spaces in older people's centres. These sessions give volunteers the knowledge and resources they need to support the people who use these spaces and teach them how to use the most popular digital apps and carry out common everyday tasks online.
The idea is to accompany and support a new stage of life that is worth living with awareness, responsibility and purpose — enjoying the present while actively contributing to society.
Looking to the future
With more than a century of history behind it, the "la Caixa" Foundation's Older People programme has a strategic purpose: responding to the current challenges associated with old age. With a contemporary approach centred on building models that prioritize "being" over "doing," it champions the development of a personal and community life project. The idea is to accompany and support a new stage of life that is worth living with awareness, responsibility and purpose, enjoying the present while actively contributing to society. In this context, it's especially important to combat isolation and loneliness, and to promote bonds of mutual support, self-care and care for those around us.
Add The New Barcelona Post as your preferred Google source for free
Stay informed with the latest news.
