Almería opens a senior center in Carrera de las Piedras

The Almería City Council has approved the rental of two premises on the ground floor of the building of the municipal company Almería XXI, at Calle Gema number 1, to open a Municipal Centre for Older People in the Carrera de las Piedras area. The properties have independent access from Carrera de las Piedras and total 675.92 built square metres: one of 301.19 metres and another of 374.73, physically joined. The premises already have a communal room, an office, toilets and an equipped kitchen-office, as well as air conditioning, electricity, fire protection and acoustic insulation. The councillor for Urbanism, Housing and Major Festivals and managing director of Almería XXI, Eloísa Cabrera, has stated that the ground floor and the accessibility conditions make these properties a suitable option for the new centre. The agreement was approved by the Local Government Board on Friday, November 6. The City Council rents the premises from Almería XXI, owner of the properties, for a monthly rent of 4,744.96 euros, VAT excluded. The contract has an initial duration of one year, extendable by another, and no rent will be paid for the first four months. According to Cabrera, the centre responds to a neighbourhood demand and to the commitment of the mayor, María del Mar Vázquez, to provide the area with a space for the coexistence and participation of older people. The councillor has indicated that this type of local facility facilitates social relations and helps prevent isolation and unwanted loneliness. «With this agreement we take a concrete step to respond to a demand from residents and, especially, from older people, who need reference spaces where they can meet, carry out activities and share experiences,» Cabrera has stated.