Por Redaccion 
The initiative, developed by Lorca’s main department, part of the Ministry of Social Policy, with a historic amount of 640,000 euros for the municipality, ensures the improvement of the quality of life and autonomy of approximately 6,000 rural areas and distances.
The project encompasses a total of 15 very diverse projects, and to facilitate access, an automatic WhatsApp system is planned so that the elderly can easily register for workshops and receive personalized reminders.
Mayte Martínez, Mayor of Lorca: «The objective was to design and bring services that are provided in a day center for over 65 years to our districts. Additionally, it is important in Lorca to have an ambassador, Margarita Sánchez, from Campillo, chosen among 20 applicants, who will be their voice and image, inspiring others to join.»
Lorca, May 12, 2025. The Mayor of the Municipality of Lorca, Mayte Martínez, along with the Director General of Pensions, Evaluation, and Inclusion, María Antonia Abril, presented this initiative on Monday morning, pressing forward with the ‘Close’ program, Alrea ‘su Embastor’, responsible for the image of the initiative and audience visibility.
«To Close» is a project of medical services, autonomy, and active aging promotion, aimed at the elderly living in rural areas, with special attention to distances from urban areas and funded for our municipality by the autonomous community with approximately 640,000 euros.
«They have new services in podiatry, functional rehabilitation, occupational activities, coexistence, trips and cultural visits, maintenance programs for mental capacity, music therapy, photography, guidance, intergenerational activities, personal hygiene habits, and many more, all in the current gym,» said Martín, emphasizing that distance «is not a barrier to enjoying a full and active life in rural areas and areas far from urban centers.»
«The main goal is the commitment of the Lorca government, so that the elderly have access, on equal terms, regardless of where they live, to all these services aimed at increasing their well-being and improving their autonomy,» added the Mayor, thanking the councilor and the autonomous community for this historic effort.
In Lorca, the plan is to reach all districts of the municipality, taking it to associations, markets, social centers, and of course, through social networks. «We want this program to be something that feels like yours, something that is proudly lived in every district.»
To facilitate access, the Mayor’s Department created an automatic WhatsApp system for the elderly to easily register for workshops and receive personalized reminders. As they become public, interested individuals can contact 968 467 754.
Additionally, the «Near» program has an ambassador, Margarita Sánchez Túnez, from Campillo, selected from 20 applicants in a call established for a significant representation of the initiative, for her naturalness, proximity, positivity, and expressiveness; she will be the voice and face of the program, motivating and inspiring others to join, with the hope of reaching over 6,000 people over 65 who can benefit.
The Director General of Pensions explained that «this program is part of the ‘Strategy against unwanted loneliness’ developed by the Ministry and for its design» Study for the elaboration of the strategy to combat depopulation and improve the quality of life in rural areas,» carried out by the General Directorate of Local Administration,» if the agitation difficulties.
«With this initiative, we are approaching these services itinerantly, in those places that, geographically distant, are far from reference centers to improve the well-being of their inhabitants, but also to promote socialization and combat unwanted loneliness,» added April.
The program details on «Nearby Actions»
Ongoing:
Project 1: Mental capacity and memory workshops to improve spatial-temporal orientation. Training in workshop delivery to prevent cognitive impairment.
Project 2: Spring in Lorca: Lorca in motion. Training in the execution and realization of physical activity courses adapted for the elderly, taking advantage of the good weather and public spaces. Courses such as: Taichi, yoga, Pilates, outdoor stretching, meditation, companionship…
Project 3: Dynamization, artistic and cultural workshops, with dance, cutting and sewing, and crafts in those centers that requested them.
Planned:
Project 4: Improvement of personal care workshops, focusing on home safety and cybersecurity, nutrition and healthy eating, fall prevention and first aid or oral treatment; and adapted physical activity, with gerontogymnastics, active gymnastics, circuits, dances, taichi, and yoga, Nordic walking, etc. (June 25 to April 26).
Project 5: Photue: district with exchange of experiences. (May and June 25).
Project 6: Podiatry service. Aimed to provide this service in 17 districts, it will be available on Tuesdays and Fridays, free of charge, and appointments will be managed by the main department. It can also be managed at home for those with disabilities.
Project 7: Social relations and social activities, with laughter therapy and music therapy, radio, and theater. (Will be carried out throughout the program).
Project 8: Dementia focus, with non-pharmacological therapies for those with Alzheimer’s or other similar conditions, including support, guidance, and intervention for their caregivers. Highlighted in these therapies: cognitive stimulation, physiotherapy, and activities for daily living training (ADL). (September 2025 to February 2026, with the possibility of extending until April 2026).
Project 9: Know your municipality and region, with hiking routes, gymnastics, cultural and/or ethnographic visits to monuments, other places, etc. Activities will be conducted according to requests, starting from the second week of October 2025 to February 2026.
Project 10: Knowledge sharing with the university. Collaboration with the Faculty of Socio-Sanitary Sciences of the University of Murcia, which includes, among other things, through the didactic innovation group on the Lorca campus, conducting teaching activities from an intergenerational approach, where university students and the elderly share a coexistence space, improve the creation of a mutual school and a coexistence space. Participation in the campus tutorial action plan is added here, awarded to the campus to work with the Vera platform, which offers occupational therapy services, artistic services, with entertainment spaces; and further encourages engagement in each of the socio-health research groups, with socio-health days from nearby areas. (Implementation scheduled for September 2025).
Project 11: Supporting caregivers and family support, creating a caregiver school, seeking participation and support from the three elderly residences in Lorca: Domingo Sastre, the San Diego Foundation, and the Caser residential for the elderly, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s. The employment of a specialized entity is also expected. (Planned for 4 months, starting with September for the study of requests and the employment of the specialized entity in November 2025 – February 2026).
Project 12: «Senior’s Week II». Between September 29 and October 3, featuring gymnastics masterclass, theater, free visits to various museums and monuments in our city, and the grand «Senior’s Gala».
Project 13: Experience meetings, with assistance for document closure in different districts. (Scheduled for February and March 2026).
Project 14: Information and communication management of the program, with a strategic plan for information and communication management, considering traditional methods like community meetings, posters, and informative brochures, as well as modern ones like digital platforms. (Open).
Project 15: Accessibility, mobility, and transport management, offering accessible, durable, and efficient mobility options, better connections between different modes of transport, and reduction of architectural barriers. (This project, like the previous one, will be available in connection with the other projects of the program, to address the existing request in them).