The president of the Cabildo of Lanzarote, Oswaldo Betancort, accompanied by the councilor for the Elderly and Intergenerational Relations, Nori Machín, presented this Thursday in the Plenary Hall the new summer program for the elderly, framed in the Island Plan for Active Rejuvenation, Plan +Vital, a strategy that pursues active and healthy aging in Lanzarote and La Graciosa.
The event was attended by representatives of senior citizens' associations and councilors from the seven municipalities of the island, showing institutional and social support for a project that this year incorporates a novel activity such as PlazaActiv, a modality that brings physical activity to squares and paths of towns and neighborhoods, bringing health closer to the most everyday environments of older people.
During the presentation, Betancort stressed that "the Cabildo's commitment is to continue taking care of those who have made possible the society we enjoy today. We want to give them back part of the effort of so many years with quality time, with affection and with spaces that favor physical, emotional and social well-being."
For her part, Councilor Nori Machín expressed her satisfaction with the success of the previous edition and announced the expansion of the program to meet the high demand. "We have designed a lively and close proposal, which will be developed in natural and urban environments of Lanzarote and La Graciosa, and which seeks to promote physical activity, as well as the socialization and emotional well-being of our elders," she said.
Three programs, one common goal
This plan is being developed again after the achievement of last year and is reinforced this summer with an important novelty, the PlazaActiv program, which brings physical activity to squares, roads and paths of different municipalities.
The three initiatives, aimed at older people, will begin on July 1st free of charge and are in the process of coordinating schedules to agree with the agents involved the best option for each group.
Among the initiatives is the novelty of PlazaActiv, and the activities consolidated since last year such as PlayasFit, which will be carried out on the sand of beaches such as Famara, El Reducto, Guacimeta, Costa Teguise or Playa Blanca; where the AquaBeach sessions will also be held inside the sea.
All programs will be supervised by qualified instructors and adapted to the physical conditions of the participants. In addition, at the end of the year there will be an island closing day with joint activities and diploma awards.
Machín stressed that "the +Vital Plan is already consolidated among the older population of Lanzarote and La Graciosa, and this year we are taking a step further by bringing physical activity closer to accessible and familiar environments, such as the town squares. We want to continue betting on physical health, but also on socialization, self-esteem and active aging."
The +Vital Plan
The +Vital Plan, promoted since 2023 by the Senior Citizens Area of the Cabildo, is structured around four pillars, health and prevention; participation and training; leisure and culture, and senior tourism. Its objective is to guarantee the right to an active, participatory and healthy old age, in line with the Regulations of the Island Council of the Elderly approved last year.
Since its launch, the plan has developed initiatives such as the Senior Test, which offers functional assessments of the health status of older people; interpreted hiking routes through natural landscapes of the island; intergenerational workshops or first aid talks.
"Last year we launched Playas Fit and Senior Test with great success. This year, with PlazaActiv, we consolidate and expand our commitment to an island strategy that puts older people at the center of public policies," concluded Machín.
