New applications for day care services for the elderly in Gipuzkoa have increased by 51.8% over the last decade, setting a record last year with 1,406 requests. In an increasingly aging society, support for care has become crucial for families with dependents, making day centers an indispensable resource, especially as over eight out of ten people wish to age in their own homes.
Currently, 374 seniors are on the waiting list for a place in a day center in the province, according to data from the Department of Care and Social Policies. Of these, 100 already have an assigned or reserved spot, although they are not yet using it.
Population aging directly impacts the use of social resources like day centers and residences. While residences are more utilized in Gipuzkoa with over 5,000 places, the Provincial Council has registered a growing interest in day centers. After a dip during the pandemic, applications have steadily increased since 2021, surpassing a thousand in 2022 and reaching 1,406 last year. The average waiting time for a place is currently 125 days, or four months.
Experts like geriatrician Javier Yanguas attribute this surge in demand to 'demographic pressure'. However, other factors contribute: over 85% of Gipuzkoa residents wish to age in their homes, and day centers provide this option. Furthermore, they 'allow family caregivers to balance caregiving with their personal lives'.
Access to these services requires a minimum age of 65. The average age of users in the territory is 84.7 years, slightly higher for women (85.3 years) than for men (83.13 years). Currently, 72% of users are women (1,138) compared to 28% men (437). Nurse Violeta Barquín from the Nuestra Señora de Las Mercedes de Hurkoa center notes that women's longer life expectancy and their historical role as primary caregivers explain this disparity.
The profile of a day center user in Gipuzkoa is therefore predominantly female, around 85 years old. Regarding dependency levels, Grade II users are most common (44.9%), followed by Grade III (30.75%), and then Grade I (24.35%).
Most users attend from Monday to Friday, but 43 out of Gipuzkoa's 65 day centers also offer services on Saturdays and Sundays. There are 1,641 places available on weekdays and 753 on weekends. Barquín suggests the weekend service is 'less known' and perhaps less requested, despite its potential benefit for caregivers working during the week.
Like residences, day centers are undergoing a transformation towards a new care model 'based on personalization, innovation, and community connection', according to the Department of Care and Social Policies. Adapting services, resources, and spaces is crucial, and the environment must 'promote user well-being'. The new Adinberri aging center in Pasaia exemplifies this adaptation.
