The Minister for Social Rights, Consumer Affairs, and 2030 Agenda, Pablo Bustinduy, visited the central offices of Suara Cooperativa today to get a firsthand look at some of its social and digital innovation solutions that are transforming the care model for people in situations of dependency. This transformation aims to address one of the major social and economic challenges we face as a society: population aging. The numbers demonstrate this: according to data from the Ministry itself, more than 2 million people will require care in Spain by 2030, representing a 27% increase compared to the people receiving care in 2024.
During his visit to Suara Cooperativa, Minister Pablo Bustinduy had the opportunity to learn about the Social Digital Lab, Suara's social innovation laboratory, and three of its technological innovation projects that are already in operation. These include Casal Online and Connected Homes, two solutions addressing unwanted loneliness, and the Independent Living Center, a digitized home that aims to provide personal autonomy and promote active aging.
During the visit, Minister Bustinduy highlighted xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Furthermore, Suara presented the minister with a series of proposals to contribute to the reflection on the necessary reform of the Law on the Promotion of Personal Autonomy and Care for People in Situations of Dependency (LAPAD).
In this regard, according to the co-directors of Suara, Laura Peracaula and Tomàs Llompart, "the reform of the LAPAD represents a unique opportunity to transform the model of care for dependency in Spain, aiming for a system that is more just, efficient, and person-centered."
The visit helped to highlight the activities of the Social Digital Lab, Suara's social innovation laboratory, which the minister had the chance to explore with the director of innovation, Jordi Picas.
"Innovation is part of the cooperative’s DNA, and the Social Digital Lab is the embodiment of our commitment to addressing current social challenges with innovative solutions," emphasized Picas.
In this context, Àngels Cobo, Director of Digital Transformation, explained how the projects Casal Online and Connected Homes focus on addressing the issue of unwanted loneliness, stressing that technology should serve people.
"Technology, combined with our knowledge of the sector, helps provide people with solutions to different needs, which can evolve over the course of each individual's aging process," she explained.
Lastly, the minister visited the Independent Living Center, a model of a digitized home designed to enhance and maintain the functional capacity of elderly people, those in situations of dependency, and individuals with functional diversity.
