ACTIVE AGEING PROGRAMS ELDERLY DEPARTMENT COMUNIDAD DE MADRID MARGARITA ARRIBAS

“ACTIVE LIFE” PROGRAM FOR THE ELDERLY THEORETICAL AND PRACTICAL COURSES ON HEALTHY AGING FROM THE PHYSICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL POINT OF VIEW. THIS PROGRAM IS RUN IN COOPERATION WITH CITY COUNCILS OF MADRID REGION. THE PROGRAM BEGAN IN 1997 AND MORE THAN 9,000 ELDERS HAVE TAKEN THEM.

CINEMA FOR THE ELDERLY IT BEGAN IN 2006 FOR PEOPLE AGED 60+. THEY CAN BUY AN ADMISSION TICKET AT RECOMMENDED CINEMA THEATRES FOR JUST ONE EURO, ONLY ON TUESDAYS DURING MAY AND JUNE EVERY YEAR. IDENTITY CARDS MUST BE SHOWN UP AT THE BOX OFFICE AS A PROOF OF AGE. THE AVERAGE ANNUAL ATTENDANCE IS 500,000 PEOPLE.

UNIVERSITY FOR THE ELDERLY PROGRAM TARGETED TO PEOPLE 55+, IT BEGAN IN 1999 IN FIVE PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES OF MADRID: COMPLUTENSE, CARLOS III, REY JUAN CARLOS, AUTÓNOMA AND ALCALÁ. THE ACADEMIC PROGRAM CONSISTS OF THREE COURSES OF 150 HOURS EACH, TOTALLING 450 HOURS A YEAR.. EACH COURSE HAS FIVE CORE SUBJECTS AND ONE OPTIONAL ON HUMANITIES, SOCIAL SCIENCES AND SOME OTHER FREE-ELECTION SUBJECTS. SINCE 1999 THE ALUMNI REGISTERED SUM UP TO 18,800 SENIORS. WE ARE CURRENTLY PLANNING TO LAUNCH A CHAIR OF THE ELDERLY

COMPUTER LITERACY FOR THE ELDERLY PROGRAMMING AND LAUNCHING OF SKILLS COURSES WITH DIFFERENT LEVELS AS OF THE ELDERLY’S DEMAND. HOW TO GET STARTED, POWER POINT, EXCEL, INTERNET, PHOTOSHOP, AND SO ON. THESE COURSES ARE TAUGHT AT 32 CENTRES FOR THE ELDERLY AND SEVEN LOCAL CENTRES IN COOPERATION WITH CAIXA FOUNDATION. THE PROGRAM BEGAN IN 1997 AND NOWADAYS 60,000 ELDERLY PEOPLE HAVE RECEIVED TUITION IN NEW TECNOLOGIES THROUGH MORE THAN 3,000 COURSES. SOME OF THEM HAVE BECOME VOLUNTEERING TEACHERS.

CULTURAL TRAVELS FOR THE ELDERLY THIS TRAVELS ARE PLANNED AND RUN BY THE REGIONAL GOVERNMENT OF MADRID EVERY SPRING AND AUTUMN FOR CITIZENS OVER 60. THIS YEAR WILL BE THEIR SIXTH EDITION. 10,700 PLACES ARE AVAILABLE FOR TRAVELLING IN 2010 AS FOLLOWS: 5,000 IN SPAIN AND PORTUGAL; 5,500 FOR PRAGUE, VIENNA, BUDAPEST, BELGIUM, FRANCE, ITALY AND 200 IN A MEDITERRANEAN CRUISER. CRITERIA TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE PROGRAM: - TO BE AN OLD-AGE PENSIONER - TO BE PHYSICALLY AUTONOMOUS, SELF-SUFFICIENT - NOT SUFFERING FROM ANY HEALTH-RELATED PROBLEM. - LIVING IN MADRID CAPITAL OR REGION.. OUR ELDERLY DEPARTMENT SUBSIDIZES A THIRD OF THE TOTAL PRICE.

LEGAL ADVICE SERVICE FOR THE ELDERLY THIS SERVICE PROVIDES INDIVIDUALIZED, COSTLESS LEGAL ADVICE FOR SENIOR CITIZENS IN THE REGION OF MADRID. TARGET POPULATION: OVER FIFTY FIVE, LIVING IN THE REGION OF MADRID. IT ALSO OFFERS ADVICE TO SOCIAL SERVICE PROFESSIONALS, CITY COUNCILS, ASSOCIATIONS, NGOs. THE SERVICE IS AVAILABLE AT DAY CENTERS AND AT OUR HEAD OFFICE BY APPOINTMENT. IN CHARGE OF LAWYERS. THE LEGAL ADVICE SERVICE BEGAN IN 2003 AND COVERS AN AVERAGE OF 80,000 IN-CALLS PER YEAR.

FOSTER FAMILIES CARE FOR THE ELDERLY It is aimed at physically autonomous, self- sufficient persons aged 65+, or for people aged 60+ if dependent or in need of help, living in Madrid Region. There are 60 foster families in the whole region.

- SUBSIDIES TO MUNICIPALITIES FOR THE PROVISION OF SOCIAL SERVICES TO THE ELDERLY - SUBSIDIES FOR NONPROFIT INSTITUTIONS FOR THE ELDERLY SERVICES. The official announcement is made every year.. Last year 385 Institutions and Municipalities were granted with 1,800,000 €.

TELEPHONE INFORMATION FOR THE ELDERLY IT PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE INFORMATION ON SOCIAL RESOURCES, EQUIPMENT, BENEFITS AND ACTIVITIES IN THE MADRID REGION. IT ALSO TAKES CARE OF COMPLAINTS AND SUGGESTIONS OF THE ELDERLY. PHONE INFORMATION SERVICE BEGAN IN 1999 AND COVERS AN AVERAGE OF 30,000 IN-CALLS PER YEAR

ELDERLY INFORMATION CENTRE IT PROVIDES INFORMATION ABOUT: NURSING HOMES FOR THE ELDERLY ELDERLY DAY CENTERS, ELDERLY CENTERS AND RESIDENTS ACTIVE AND HEALTHY AGEING PROGRAMS RESPIRE CENTERS HIKING PROGRAMS FOR THE ELDERLY FOSTER HOME FOR THE ELDERLY On the website of the Community of Madrid there is information about services, equipment and programs for the elderly.

REGIONAL COUNCIL FOR THE ELDERLY IT IS AN ADVISORY BODY FOCUSING ON INCREASING PARTICIPATION FOR THE WELFARE AND QUALITY OF LIFE OF THE ELDERLY. IT CONSISTS OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE REGIONAL, LOCAL AND STATE DEPARTMENTS, TRADE UNIONS, COMPANIES, CIVIL ASSOCIATIONS, NGO’s…

UNIQUE MADRID PROGRAM THIS NEW PROGRAM CONSISTS OF ONE-DAY TRIPS TO A SELECTION OF SPECIAL PLACES WHICH USUALLY CAN ONLY BE VISITED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT. THIS IS THE REASON WE HAVE CALLED OUR PROGRAM “UNIQUE”. PEOPLE AGED 55+ ARE TAKEN BY BUS TO VISIT UNIQUE PLACES IN THE REGION OF MADRID, SUCH AS: CHEESE FARMS, WINE CELLARS AND OLIVE OIL MILLS. WATER TRAILS, INCLUDING DAMS AND WATER TREATMENT CENTERS. MADRID AS HOMELAND OF WRITERS: A VISIT TO HISTORICAL WRITERS’ LANDMARKS. CONTROL CENTERS LIKE AIRPORT BASE CONTROL, EMERGENCY CENTER, RAILWAY AND SUBWAY CONTROL CENTER TRIPS INCLUDE A 2-COURSE LUNCH MENU AT A VERY COMPETITIVE PRICE (€ 12 PER PERSON)

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