L'Hospitalet de Llobregat is hosting the 27th FiraGran, Catalonia's Senior Citizens' Fair, which opened today at La Farga and runs from 27 to 29 May. This year's edition focuses on tackling ageism, discrimination based on age.
The fair includes more than 300 free activities and brings together 80 companies, entities and institutions. Among them is the Barcelona Provincial Council, which has its own stand centred on raising awareness of ageism and its effect on the lives and opportunities of older people.
The council's stand uses illustrations by Raquel Gu, along with a comic-style leaflet also illustrated by Gu. The leaflet shows everyday ageist situations and how they can overlap with other forms of discrimination, and includes a questionnaire for reflection on personal attitudes towards older people. More on the council's work is available on its official site: Barcelona Provincial Council.
Age discrimination is a strategic focus for the Barcelona Provincial Council this term through its 'Diverse Generations, Towards Equal Opportunities' project. Previous initiatives include the campaign 'If age doesn't limit me, why should you?', a series of talks, the First Congress on Ageism, and a €1.5 million fund to develop anti-discrimination policies.
Visitors to the stand can take part in workshops including Chair Yoga Taster, A Deep Dive using virtual reality devices, Start Active Meditation, Train Your Memory with tablets, and Do You Remember, a bingo-based activity. The stand also provides information on services and resources for local authorities in the province, including the Local Telecare Service, Temporary Residential Stays and Respite Services, Mutual Support and Help Groups, the Housing Improvement Programme, NEXES against unwanted loneliness, the Citizen Mediation Programme, and the Neighbourhoods and Communities: Engines of Social Transformation project.
FiraGran is also focusing this year on informal caregivers, unwanted loneliness, the digital divide and learning opportunities beyond 65. The fair, which was founded in 1999 during the International Year of Older Persons, expects to exceed 25,000 visitors this year. It is supported by the Government of Catalonia, the Barcelona Provincial Council, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat City Council and Barcelona City Council. For updates on related coverage, see our news page.
Journalist Luis del Olmo and Begoña del Pueyo will lead a Dialogue on Old Age on 29 May at 5pm, reflecting on five decades in radio. FiraGran will also host the first edition of CUIDA for two days, a professional meeting for businesses and professionals working in care for older people, including an Innovation Hub on assisted technology trends and networking.