The Canary Islands Parliament held a special session on Wednesday dedicated to the voices of older residents. The event featured contributions from regional president Astrid Pérez, Social Welfare Counsellor Candelaria Delgado, and General Director of Older Adults and Active Participation Verónica Meseguer, alongside various parliamentary representatives.
The gathering brought together delegates from the 24 Day Centres for Older Adults across the archipelago, who presented eight proposals—one from each island—aimed at promoting active, healthy, and participatory longevity for seniors.
The initiatives tackled issues including care and prevention, combating loneliness, digital inclusion, accessibility, senior talent, mobility, and transportation, as well as involving older adults in public policy governance.
Astrid Pérez emphasised the importance of allowing older residents to voice their ideas directly in the Parliament, stating, “This session is an opportunity for those who have contributed greatly to building the Canary Islands to continue participating actively in decisions that affect the future of our society.”
The proposals included specific requests from each island: establishing a Senior Office in Lanzarote, comprehensive service centres in La Graciosa, a plan to address loneliness in Fuerteventura, digital inclusion measures in Gran Canaria, accessible and community-friendly environments in Tenerife, a senior talent programme in La Gomera, improved mobility and transport in La Palma, and a stable participation model in governance from El Hierro.
At the conclusion of the session, a manifesto for Active and Participatory Longevity was read, summarising the main demands and proposals discussed during the meeting.
