The mayor of Elda, Rubén Alfaro, and the Councilor for Social Welfare, David Guardiola, have announced this initiative focused on early detection, coordinated voluntary support, and the establishment of a robust community and intergenerational network. The presentation event took place at the Civic and Youth Center and gathered representatives from local associations, educational centers, senior centers, and volunteers.
The program aims to address unwanted loneliness, a silent yet detrimental reality that causes serious consequences for the physical and emotional health of residents, particularly affecting older adults who have lost a partner or whose family support networks have diminished due to relocation or other reasons. The local government has driven this project, coordinated by the Municipal Institute of Social Services, elevating the fight against loneliness to a public policy.
‘Elda Acompaña’ is structured around three key action lines: early detection, establishing a coordinated network with health centers, local businesses, and entities to identify situations of isolation; specialized support, where volunteers will play a crucial role, receiving training from professionals and complementing municipal public services; and community building, actively promoting intergenerational and transversal relationships.
Mayor Alfaro thanked the participating groups and explained that a call has been made to all citizens to expand this mutual care network. ‘Elda Acompaña’ is founded on the principle of placing people at the center of local policies, demonstrating that citizen participation and joint commitment are the best tools for building a more humane and solidary city.
Following the presentation, technicians will conduct a training session on October 30th and November 6th and 13th at the Civic and Youth Center. The training will comprise 6 hours of theoretical and practical modules covering sociodemographic context, psychosocial approaches, first aid and emergency response, ergonomics and risk prevention, and the functioning of the Teleassistance Service.
