Age is one of the first characteristics we observe in people and discrimination based on age -known as ageism- becomes important when it occurs in older people.
Within the framework of the World Day of Older Persons, the Parc Taulí Healthcare Corporation Consortium (CCSPT) held today in the auditorium the second edition of the conference focused on this world day. The objective of the session was to raise awareness of situations in which ageist attitudes occur and, thus, raise awareness of the need to identify and rectify these ways of acting.
The day began with a welcome from Ms. Laura Reyes, councilor for the elderly at Sabadell City Council, Ms. Núria Collell, head nurse of the Intermediate Care Area at Parc Taulí, and Ms. Dolors Costa, president of the CCSPT, who stated “that at Parc Taulí we work to guarantee quality social and health care that puts the person at the center”.
Next, Ms. Núria Collell and Ms. Lourdes Charles Jaimejuan, social psychologist and director of the SomSeniors Association, explained what ageism is and how to combat it. “We need to provide seniors with tools and resources so that they can make their own decisions and, therefore, guarantee an active school”, Collell explained.
Afterwards, Dr. José Antonio Medina, doctor from the palliative care unit at Parc Taulí, presented the round table on the adequacy of care for the elderly. The participants included Ms. Mónica Roldán, occupational therapist from the Intermediate Care area, Dr. Francesca Salido, family doctor and chronicity specialist at the Primary Care at Parc Taulí, and Ms. Sílvia Vila, coordinator and psychologist at Sabadell Gent Gran.
The panel, moderated by Dr. Macarena Cabrera, specialist in Geriatrics at the Parc Taulí Convalescence Unit, served to present different possibilities for adaptation within the hospital, social and primary care areas.
Otherwise, there was a second round table on aging in the digital age and its challenges and opportunities. Dr. Ester Risco, a leader in research and innovation in home care and care, moderated the table in which different projects were presented.
On the one hand, Ms. Sílvia Vila has presented different non-pharmacological therapies based on innovation and technology that are used at Sabadell Gent Gran to mitigate cognitive deterioration and promote active aging.
On the other hand, Ms. Sílvia Robles, Primary Care Case Manager Nurse at Parc Taulí, presented two telematic projects to address the fragility and unwanted loneliness of the elderly. Likewise, Dr. Mireia Fernández-Ardèvol from the Open University of Catalonia presented tools to address ageist attitudes towards the technological field.
With all this, Ms. Míriam Salvador, social worker at the CDIAP and Intermediate Care at the CCSPT, moderated a final round table focused on the role of older people involved in the fight against age discrimination. Firstly, Ms. Rosa Maria Gelabert explained her role as a volunteer at the Intermediate Area of Parc Taulí.
Next, Ms. Sílvia Baños, coordinator of Cáritas in La Garriga, presented the screening “Great moments” focused on an intergenerational volunteering experience and Mr. Joan Sebastià, patron of the Enllaç Foundation, acted as an LGTBIQ+ witness.
Likewise, the prizes of the photography contest “The weight of the gaze: ageism in images” were awarded. This is a contest that aimed to make visible the ageist situations that affect the elderly. The winner of the contest was Ms. Elena Montero with the photograph Everything for me, but without meIn addition, Ms. Judit Martínez has received a second prize for her photography. The Cost of Age.
Finally, Dr. Óscar Duems, director of Intermediate Care and director of Geriatrics at Parc Taulí, closed the day by emphasizing the joint work of the social and healthcare fields.
The day also included a bibliographic display on ageism and its impact on society by Ms. Celia Picún from the Librerío de la Plata bookstore and a performance by the Crótalos Group from the Sant Josep Parish in Sabadell.
