25.09.2024
- The candidacy “Lugaritz, housing with support” receives recognition in this edition of the Fundación Mutualidad awards for its role in improving the quality of life of the elderly.
- Unique in Spain, the housing units contribute to the transformation of the long-term care model in the community.
Aware of the socioeconomic challenges arising from longevity, Fundación Mutualidad is developing different actions in the field of aging, including the School of Thought Award, a distinction that, from a multidisciplinary perspective, recognizes and values initiatives aimed at improving the quality of life of older adults and that provide value to long-lived societies by protecting their rights and seeking to defend them.
The candidacy of the Lugaritz homes has won the Ex aequo award for the best aging project in the category of singular project together with the AFAGA Association, and serves as recognition of the commitment of both entities with the elderly, and as an invitation to continue working on this type of initiatives that are essential to eradicate ageism.
The award ceremony took place on September 26th, in the Mutualidad space (C/ Francisco Silvela nº 106, 28002 Madrid).
Iraide Robles, Social Worker - Case Manager of Lugaritz housing, and Juncal Gárate, one of the neighbors living in this new housing model, came from Matia to collect the award in Madrid. Both were accompanied by Maria Carmen Garmendia Lasa, president of the Matia Board of Trustees.
About Lugaritz
The goal of this project is to promote an innovative model of housing with support as an alternative to residences, where to respond to the diversity of situations, preferences, needs of people in their aging process, such as situations of unwanted loneliness or ensuring the decision making process of where to live even when support is needed.These homes are based on a model of community care, inspired by various experiences, learning and evidence on the Nordic models of reference. They have a professional in charge of facilitating the life plan of the people who live there, supporting the management of the various care needs through public and private services, and facilitating the relationship with neighbors, the neighborhood and the community.
A project that has generated a lot of expectation among agents and the community, receiving, since its opening in 2023, numerous visits interested in its implementation.
Lugaritz has been financed by the IMSERSO through the General State Budget, by the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa through the Recovery and Resilience Plan by means of Next Generation funds and with the cession of the plot of land by the City Council of Donostia - San Sebastián.
