The director of Communication, Marketing and Sustainability of Amavir, Roberto Rodríguez, intervened on Monday morning on Radio Lanzarote-Onda Cero to defend that there have been "specific problems" in the Tías residence since last summer. However, he pointed out that it is "tremendously unfair to the residence and its professionals to convey an image of total abandonment or neglect towards the elderly".
During his radio intervention, Rodríguez has reported that it was not until last week that they learned of the existence of a group of WhastApp of the workers, where some employees shared intimate images of the workers and made fun of them. These conversations were exposed by other employees.
According to what was confessed on Buenos días, Lanzarote from the company opened on Friday several disciplinary files against workers, although they do not specify how many employees have already been removed from their positions and has reported that they have also been reported for the recording and dissemination of these videos. "Those who recorded those videos cannot continue in the residence," he added.
Denounces the lack of staff
Rodríguez has pointed out that since the summer of 2025 they are suffering "a very problematic situation due to the lack of staff", which they have tried to alleviate "offering better working conditions".
The agreement that regulates salaries in the sector states that last year unqualified staff in residences or assistants earned 1,051.81 euros in basic salary, before taxes, while geroculturists who are responsible for assisting and caring for elderly people earn around 1,160 euros.
The Director of Communication of Amavir has pointed out that employees of senior centers do not have "the [collective] agreement that healthcare has, which is a higher agreement". However, to increase it, they have asked public institutions to "commit to improving the funding they provide" to the sector.
To alleviate this lack of staff, the company has assured that they have had to opt for looking for employees on the peninsula to come to work in Lanzarote. Despite these attempts, they have highlighted that the high cost of housing on the island "is complicating" this option.
"We have gone through difficult times in which the staff of the residence, the permanent staff, has given their lives," he added on the morning show Good morning, Lanzarote. Currently, he has assured that "the permanent staff is covered," but that there is a lack of professionals in Medicine and Physiotherapy.
At the same time, he has alluded to the "absenteeism" of the staff. "Every day two out of ten people do not come to work and, at some point, practically that same day they communicate it and it is very difficult to be able to work," he has assured. Within the concept of absenteeism, medical leaves are included. Unions like Comisiones Obreras have highlighted that medical leaves are rights and justified absences.
Investigations on the material
In this regard, he has responded to the criticisms for the lack of material in the residences, where the images show elderly people sleeping without sheets, blankets, or pillowcases. Rodríguez has assured that they have sent 2,500 units, including sheets, towels, or pillowcases for a 90-bed residence.
"Something is happening with that material and that is precisely one of the issues we are investigating," he indicated. "It has not been a general situation, I repeat, it has occurred in specific cases," he added.
Rodríguez has highlighted that it is necessary "to update the tender", because socio-health costs have risen throughout this time and has indicated that public administrations "are not financing the system with the money that would be needed".
