Seniors demand health and wellness

Madrid (EFE).- The “Aging, Vital” movement, made up of more than 6.5 million older people, scientific and professional associations and the media, claims to be an active part of decisions regarding their health and well-being and urges administrations to “promote” equitable prevention policies.

They demanded this in the media presentation of this movement in which two-thirds of the 9.5 million people over 65 currently in Spain have joined.

“The movement is dedicated to, for and with older people, who are the heroes of our lives and we must be an active part in political decisions and in our health and well-being,” stressed the president of the Spanish Federation of Senior Citizens’ Organizations. (EOMA) and the initiative’s spokesperson, Sabina Camacho.

More years but no less rights

“Just because we are older, we do not lose rights,” Camacho stated, explaining that the movement wants to promote active and healthy aging and promote equitable active prevention policies in various autonomous communities.

To this end, they have already met with Andalusia, Galicia, Castile and León and have requested meetings with the Basque Country, Navarra, the Balearic Islands, Murcia, Catalonia and Madrid.

The goal is for communities to “take action” in “3 simple steps” for the health of older people over a period of 6 months, and to do so they are urging them to sign a cooperation agreement that includes a commitment to work together and promote health prevention. Measures that facilitate active and healthy aging.

They also call for the activation of cooperative working groups between the public and private sectors in which the administration, the elderly, and representatives of various organizations participate, as well as the launch of communication campaigns in each region on healthy and balanced eating, physical exercise, and vaccination.

“Let them worry about us”

For her part, the President of the Democratic Union of Pensioners and Pensioners in Spain, Inmaculada Ruiz, condemned the many barriers faced by the elderly and called for the cooperation of the entire society.

“They should worry about us because every day we become more isolated and more forgotten, there is hardly any talk about the elderly in any area, it is a group that must be extinguished, but I will not allow that and we have to work, struggle and struggle,” he said.

In addition to CEMA and UDP, the Platform for Seniors and Pensioners (PMP), the Spanish Committee of Representatives of People with Disabilities (Cermi), ONCE, the Pilares Foundation, the Age&Life Foundation, the National Union of Pensioners are part of this movement and the Pensioners of Spain (Conjupes) and the Association of 60 and More Much.

Scientific associations such as the Spanish Association of Vaccinology (AEV), the Spanish Society of Geriatrics and Gerontology (SEGG), the General Council of Official Colleges of Pharmacists (CGCOF), among others, as well as associations of employers in the sector and various media are also involved.