The Deputy Minister for Social Welfare, Francisco Candil, presided over the inauguration of the ‘Towards a Culture of Good Treatment’ event organised for World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.
The event aimed to raise awareness and call for action to protect the elderly, ensuring their dignity and rights while strengthening systems for the prevention and response to abuse. This initiative, titled ‘Towards a Culture of Good Treatment’, was held today (Friday, 19 June) in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, coinciding with World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, observed each year on 15 June.
“When we speak of good treatment in old age, we refer to the right of older adults to be treated with the dignity and respect they deserve; to live free from any situation that implies a form of abuse, whether physical, psychological, sexual, economic, or due to negligence and abandonment,” stated Deputy Minister Candil during the event, which addressed crucial topics such as the protocols and Good Treatment Guidelines for the Elderly.
“Our aim is to act from a preventive standpoint, ensuring that the dignity of our elderly is respected and responding robustly to any incidents, suspicions, or situations that may constitute abuse against these individuals,” he asserted. Furthermore, he indicated that a protocol for detection, prevention, and intervention related to abuse against older individuals in institutional settings is being developed in collaboration with the Official College of Social Work of Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
Meanwhile, the Vice President of the Official College of Social Work of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Yanira Febles, explained that, through a mandate from the Department of Social Welfare, a seven-month project has been undertaken. This involves creating protocols for detection and social intervention in cases of elder abuse, along with a Good Treatment Guide for Older Adults. “We also hope to expand into another area of research and action, such as a protocol for detection and social intervention in domestic abuse situations, as well as piloting all these protocols to evaluate their effectiveness,” she added.
Today’s event in Gran Canaria was attended by about a hundred professionals from social work, psychology, education, and representatives from social and health entities focused on the elderly. This follows an earlier event held at the Government Presidency of the Canary Islands on 15 June in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, coinciding with World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. This year’s theme is “Addressing Abuse of Older Adults in Long-Term Care Facilities: Through Data and Action,” focusing on prevention through policies, institutions, and support systems that protect the autonomy and rights of elderly individuals. These events have been jointly initiated by the Official College of Social Work of Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
This initiative is part of the Maresía Plan, driven by the Department of Social Welfare through the General Directorate of Seniors and Active Participation, which integrates all activities, programmes, and projects aimed at promoting active ageing, social participation, innovation, and the protection of the rights of older adults in the Canary Islands.
During the event, various tools aimed at ensuring the good treatment of older individuals in the islands were presented. These include the protocol for detection and intervention in cases of abuse in the health and social care field, as well as in community settings, the Good Treatment Guide for Older Adults, and a final report that contains theoretical frameworks, empirical research, analysis of results, instruments, general conclusions, and proposals.
