Favoring an active and healthy old age

Physical, social, and mental activity is a great ally for active and healthy aging. As we get older, factors emerge that show a progressive loss of abilities that we can delay with an active and healthy life. Some of the effects appear or intensify throughout old age, so it is important to work on our abilities to maintain our autonomy for as long as possible.

One of the most recommended resources to prolong well-being and autonomy when we reach old age are day centers, a space where activities, dynamics, and therapies designed by expert professionals are developed to stimulate the senses of older people, whatever their abilities or degree of dependence.

According to professionals from FIATC Residencias, a day center takes care of the integral well-being of the older person during the day, promoting their abilities and autonomy in a safe and comfortable environment. In addition, it is a good resource to combat the situation of unwanted loneliness in which, unfortunately, many older people find themselves.

We must not forget that the well-being of older people also depends on the well-being of those who care for them, usually family members. With the day center, we open a window for family caregivers that allows them to rest or reconcile with other aspects of their lives if that is the case.

Daily life in these spaces

Many people are unaware of the resource and operation of a day center. It is a resource that, as its name indicates, takes place throughout the morning, afternoon, or all day, in a flexible schedule that adapts to the needs of the older person and the family. Most day centers offer a mobility service to manage round-trip transportation from home to the center.

In addition, so that the person and the family can check if the resource fits their needs, FIATC Residencias offers the possibility of carrying out trials of one to two weeks without obligation.

Once at the day center, professionals welcome them and accompany them to the space where the programmed activity will take place in a group according to their abilities. Throughout the day, the person is accompanied by expert professionals from whom they will obtain support in the activities of daily living that they need, in addition to being surrounded by people with similar tastes and preferences. Depending on the chosen duration of the service, the elderly person can also use the catering service.

Some day centers that incorporate the residence service offer larger spaces and greater specialization and dedication from professionals in the fields of medicine, nursing, psychology, physiotherapy, social work, social education, and occupational therapy. In addition, overnight stays can also be made on an ad hoc basis depending on the family's needs. Many of these use this last service when going on vacation or during the summer season.

Selection of tailored activities and therapies

For the day center activities to be more beneficial for the elderly person, the center's psychologist conducts a test to determine their cognitive level and an interview in which they gather their life history. According to the results, a work group is assigned, and a series of activities are recommended. Later, another test will be carried out to monitor the person's evolution.

The programmed activities are carried out in groups and also individually and are focused on the physical, emotional, and social well-being of the person. Some of these activities include doll therapy, group physiotherapy, music therapy, animal therapy, psychomotricity, or intergenerational activities with the collaboration of neighboring schools. In addition to these, there are outings, such as visits to the Montserrat Monastery, the beach, or the Santa Llúcia market, among other recreational and discovery proposals.

Fostering people's autonomy and abilities should never stop, not even as one advances into old age. In day centers, there are specialists prepared to provide people with resources designed for their improvement in all senses, and also to expand their social environment, because being in contact with other people means a physical and also emotional improvement for them.