The extraordinary Plenary session of the Pozoblanco Town Hall has given the green light to the specifications for the Home Care Service, an essential provision for the care of the elderly and dependent individuals in the municipality. The new contract, with a total amount of 3,136,806 euros, becomes the highest value tender processed to date by the local government. The public procurement platform will receive offers until September 21st.
This approval is a fundamental step to guarantee the continuity, stability, and quality of a service that currently assists 465 users and employs 125 workers. The provision aims to enable elderly and dependent individuals to remain in their homes, maintaining their personal autonomy and receiving support in their usual environment. It will cover users referred by the System for Autonomy and Dependency Care, basic Social Services provisions, and the Municipal Program for Home Care for the Elderly (PAMD).
Mayor Santiago Cabello highlighted the service's importance due to its "enormous social and human impact." He emphasized that "Home Care directly reaches those who need it most, supports hundreds of families, and allows many elderly and dependent individuals to continue living in their homes with attention, closeness, and dignity." He recalled that the service "has doubled in the last six years" and that the tender "exceeds three million euros," making it the largest tender ever initiated by the Town Hall. He acknowledged the "essential, sensitive, and profoundly human work" of the female caregivers.
The new document details two main modes of action: personal care, including assistance with hygiene, nutrition, mobility, special care, and autonomy promotion; and household needs, referring to basic home maintenance, dressing, and food preparation. Mandatory subrogation of all employees is required in case of a change in the awarded company, along with the promotion of predominantly full-time employment and a minimum of 15 annual hours of specific training for auxiliary staff.
The new contract also incorporates significant improvements, such as podiatry services, deep cleaning, and the supply of support elements like mattresses, hoists, and adjustable beds, along with a 3,254-hour pool for reinforcing care when necessary. It also includes a training plan for employees and a participation program linked to active aging, complementing municipal initiatives like "Healthy Mondays" and the "Activa" Center for Aging.
Councilwoman for the Elderly, Anastasia Calero, noted the importance of a service that is "well-organized, stable, and capable of responding to the reality of our elderly and dependent residents." She added that Home Care "not only improves the quality of life for users but also brings peace of mind to their families, prevents isolation, and allows many residents to maintain their routines in their own environment," reinforcing "an essential service within municipal social policies."
The approval was made with votes in favor from the Partido Popular, abstentions from the PSOE and IU, and a dissenting vote from the non-attached councilor, Gerardo Arévalo.
