The Councillor for Seniors, Esther de Andrés, visited the activities of the programme, which runs until July 17 in four municipal centres.
The initiative, which started in early July and will continue until next Friday the 17th, has managed to fill the classrooms of the seniors' centres Reyes Católicos, Cervantes, Los Pinos, and Gil de Andrade. The places were filled in the first days of registration, according to municipal sources.
A varied offer for an active summer
The programme includes laughter therapy, Zumba, Pilates, maintenance gymnastics, and health workshops. All activities are adapted to the participants' abilities and aim to improve physical condition, stimulate social participation, and promote healthy habits during the summer.
The Councillor for Seniors, Esther de Andrés, visited a Zumba class at the Los Pinos Seniors Centre and another gymnastics class at Cervantes on Wednesday. There, she spent a few minutes with the users, who expressed their enthusiasm for the return of a programme that had not been offered since before the pandemic.
“The new edition of the summer course for seniors is receiving an excellent response from users, reviving a summer programme that has not been offered in recent years,” highlighted De Andrés.
The councillor explained that the goal is “to promote active and healthy ageing, providing meeting, learning, and leisure spaces that contribute to improving the quality of life for seniors in Alcalá de Henares.”
Over 200 seniors registered in the four centres
According to data from the City Council, more than 200 seniors have registered for the course, a figure that has exceeded initial expectations. Most participants are residents of the neighbourhoods close to the centres, although there are also users from other areas of the city who travel to attend.
The activities are scheduled in morning and afternoon slots to facilitate attendance. Each centre offers a different combination of workshops, allowing seniors to choose according to their preferences. Laughter therapy and Zumba are the most in-demand options, closely followed by health workshops.
“It’s wonderful to be able to exercise and laugh together. Summer becomes more bearable,” commented one participant in the class at Los Pinos. Another user from the Cervantes centre added: “I hadn’t done gymnastics in years, and this has encouraged me to move.”
A boost to active ageing in the city
The programme is part of the municipal policies for the care of seniors, which also include memory workshops, excursions, and intergenerational activities. The councillor announced that, given the response, the City Council is considering expanding the offer next summer with more places and new activities.
For the seniors of Alcalá, this course represents an opportunity to socialise and stay active during a time of year when many usual activities are interrupted. The seniors' centres thus become a meeting point that combats loneliness and sedentary lifestyles.
Classes will continue until Friday, July 17. Those who were unable to register this time can inquire at the municipal centres about autumn activities, which will start in September.
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