The Santa Cruz de Tenerife City Council celebrated Grandparents' Day with a day of beach Olympics at Las Teresitas beach, featuring aquagym, petanque and bowling to promote active ageing.
The music of 'La Macarena' and 'Noches de Fantasía' echoed on Las Teresitas beach as dozens of seniors followed the choreography in the water. Some grandchildren tried to imitate the movements from the shore amidst laughter. It was the scene of the beach Olympics organised by the Santa Cruz de Tenerife City Council to mark Grandparents' Day.
The event, which took place this Wednesday, included activities such as petanque, bowling and tic-tac-toe, in addition to aquagym, which was one of the major successes. The aim was to share time between generations and promote active ageing.
This activity is part of the municipal programme Santa Cruz Vital, which combats unwanted loneliness and develops initiatives throughout the year. “It’s a slightly more special day,” explained the Councillor for Social Policies, Charín González, while observing the exercises of nearly fifty participants.
Participants in the programme attended accompanied by their children and grandchildren to enjoy a different morning. Ángel de León, one of the attendees, shared that these activities marked a turning point in her life after the death of her husband. “They told me: ‘How are you going to give up?’ And here I am,” she recounted with a smile.
Another participant, María del Pino, brought a notebook to jot down the number of people she met during memory exercises and dances. “I have a great time with everyone,” she stated. A widow and independent, she assured that she has never felt lonely thanks to the support of her family and the friendships she has made. “I am very happy with the life I have,” she said.
Behind the games, there is a follow-up of the elderly to detect possible situations of vulnerability and offer them resources. Santa Cruz Vital currently has 42 groups spread across the five districts of the municipality and continues to grow with new additions each month.
Natalia Rangel, one of the monitors, helped the grandmothers who were still in the water with their granddaughters. “I always see them excited. They love coming and sharing these activities with their grandchildren. We try to help them get out of the house, exercise and keep their bodies and minds active,” she explained.
The initiative aims to foster intergenerational relationships and combat the isolation of the elderly. The beach Olympics have become a highly anticipated event for participants, who count the days until the next meeting.
The Santa Cruz de Tenerife City Council, through Santa Cruz Vital, will continue to develop similar activities in the coming months to further promote active ageing and the social participation of older people.
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