25 years of person-centred care
Sabadell Gent Gran marked its 25th anniversary on Thursday 15 October 2026 with a recognition event attended by residents, families, staff, and institutional representatives. The ceremony, held at the facility linked to the Parc Taulí health consortium, reflected on the organisation’s history, its model of integrated care, and future challenges in elderly support services. Sònia Mariscal, executive director of Sabadell Gent Gran and leader since its opening, delivered a retrospective of the centre’s journey. She described the past 25 years as positive, highlighting a care model focused on residents’ individual capacities and needs. Mariscal thanked staff, families, and partners for their contributions and stressed the importance of innovation and integration: "We must continue betting on innovation and integration. We are part of the city's citizenship. The idea is to keep growing, managing residences and other facilities, and improving home care." Mariscal also recalled the impact of the pandemic, a period marked by loss but also strengthened community bonds. She called for greater public visibility of residential care, stating, "Residences are the great unknowns. We need to open them up to the city and show the work we do."
Institutional recognition and future goals
Representatives from the Parc Taulí, the Generalitat de Catalunya, and Sabadell City Council attended the event, praising the organisation’s role in elderly care. Dolors Costa, president of the Consorci Corporació Sanitària Parc Taulí, noted the project was created to offer an alternative to traditional residential models, prioritising comprehensive support. Pedro Cano, director general for Older People at the Department of Social Rights and Inclusion, described Sabadell Gent Gran as a benchmark in innovation and public service. Sabadell mayor Marta Farrés underscored the organisation’s importance in defending the rights and well-being of older people.
Call for better working conditions
Alongside celebration, the event highlighted ongoing sector challenges. Vicky Martí, a worker at Sabadell Gent Gran, called for dignified working conditions, salaries aligned with the cost of living, and greater recognition for care professionals. Her remarks pointed to workforce sustainability as key to maintaining quality care. The anniversary coincides with broader city efforts to support older residents. Between 29 September and 16 October 2026, Sabadell hosted its annual Festa Gran, a programme of events honouring older people and challenging ageism, organised by the city council in collaboration with senior associations and care centres (web.sabadell.cat).
Primary sources: catsalut.gencat.cat, sac.gencat.cat. Reported by radiosabadell.fm, eb.sabadell.cat, tauli.cat, AFinestres, Ràdio Sabadell.
