The Nagusilan association is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year with its work against the unwanted loneliness of the elderly in Zumaia. In 2001, eight volunteers from the Donostia Nagusilan group met with Jose Luis Elosua (Santoña, Spain, 1936), then president of the Hogare retirement association in Zumaia, and that idea spurred the creation of a new group in the town. Taking inspiration from a volunteer program in the United States, Nagusilan committed to improving the quality of life for the elderly.
Jose Luis Elosua, then president of the Beheko Plaza association, immediately saw the project's potential and quickly brought it to the retirement association's board. The board members approved the idea and committed to becoming volunteers, thus beginning the journey of Nagusilan of Zumaia 25 years ago. Elosua himself was later appointed general president of Nagusilan, and during his fifteen years in office, he worked to expand the association town by town and maintain contact with institutions, adhering to three main premises: that the elderly live at home for as long as possible, that residences be small to offer personalized attention, and that institutions consider Nagusilan in any matter related to the elderly.
Today, veteran volunteers like Maria Luisa Ubera (Zarautz, 1942) and Ignacio Gainza (Zumaia, 1946) continue their work. Both have been with Nagusilan for over twenty years. The group visits residences and the homes of elderly people in need, as well as organizing activities such as bingo, theater, choir, or Tipi-tapa walks. The volunteers offer company and joy to the elderly, and they assure that they receive gratitude in return.
In the last 25 years, societal changes have influenced how Nagusilan operates. Currently, most work is done in residences, and volunteers provide care tailored to each individual, as more and more elderly people are entering residences at an older age and in poorer physical and mental condition. In the case of face-to-face visits, volunteers accompany their assigned person, going for walks, telling jokes, or conversing, which fosters great trust and closeness.
Another service offered by Nagusilan is the Silver Thread (Zilarrezko Haria) program, where a volunteer calls an elderly person weekly by phone. This service maintains a degree of anonymity but offers trust and support. Volunteers receive training and, if they detect a suspicious situation with the elderly person, they notify Nagusilan.
This week, Nagusilan of Zumaia is celebrating its 25th anniversary with various events. Tomorrow, the Silver Thread Solidarity Calls Sprint will take place at the Alondegia's Oxford Hall to promote this service. The association calls on all citizens, if they wish to collaborate as volunteers or receive their services, to write to nagusilanzumaia@gmail.com. They have emphasized that participating in Nagusilan is a way of engaging in "herrigintza" (community building).
