Dénia addresses the challenges of an ageing population
Experts examine the growing problem of unwanted loneliness, delays in dependency support and the need to rethink the care model.
Experts examine the growing problem of unwanted loneliness, delays in dependency support and the need to rethink the care model
Panellists on El Debat Marina Alta discuss older people
Translation of the article from COPE Denia website, the interview recording is available here:
COPE Dénia Newsroom
Dénia – Published 30 June 2026, 13:26
Dénia, like many other municipalities in the Marina Alta, faces an unavoidable demographic reality: an increasingly ageing population. While this reflects longer life expectancy, it also brings new and complex challenges, including dependency, unwanted loneliness, a shortage of carers, waiting lists for services and the need to ensure that older people remain actively involved in community life.
To discuss the situation, a debate on COPE Dénia Marina Alta brought together four women with close knowledge of these issues: Marta Gascó, Dénia Town Council’s Councillor for Older People; Kathleen Misson, from the European Union of Women Marina Alta; Candy Wright, from the NGO HELP; and Diana Martí, Head of Social Services at the council.
The experts agree that the issue is complex, although each highlights a different aspect. Diana Martí distinguishes between older people who remain independent and those who are dependent, as each group has different needs, resources and options. Marta Gascó points to a lack of awareness of available services as a major barrier, while Candy Wright, from HELP, focuses on the slowness of the system in delivering support. Kathleen Misson adds the perspective of the international population, which is often poorly informed and unprepared for later life. In some areas, international residents make up as much as 60% of the population.
Loneliness: a silent emergency
One of the most serious and widespread problems is unwanted loneliness, described as a silent emergency. According to Diana Martí, older people can become increasingly isolated. Social services professionals across Spain are now receiving training to help identify this problem, as there are very high numbers of people living alone at home who have not been recognised or reached by support services.
Marta Gascó adds that there is often a stigma which makes it difficult for people to acknowledge their situation:
There are two cases: the person who realises they are alone but does not want to admit it, because they feel ashamed, and the person who may not even realise that feeling lonely is the real problem.
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According to the experts, the solution should not focus solely on the individual experiencing loneliness, but also on the people around them. Gascó explained how their approach to working with the Red Cross has changed:
We should not focus only on the person who is lonely, but on their wider environment. We need all the people who may notice that another older person is in this situation and who can report the case to us so that we can take action.
This idea of strengthening the community network is shared by Candy Wright, who mentions Xàbia’s Radars initiative as an inspiration. The scheme encourages neighbours to keep an eye out for one another and raise the alarm if they notice anything unusual.
We should not focus only on the person who is lonely, but on their wider environment.
Marta Gascó
Dénia Town Council’s Councillor for Older People
As Diana Martí points out, the need for a stronger community network forms part of a wider care crisis. Women entering the workforce has changed the traditional model in which families assumed most caring responsibilities.
The family has always been the main point of support, with the State playing a subsidiary role, she explained. “Strengthening social networks is therefore a key area of work in moving towards more Nordic-style models, in which the State assumes a greater level of responsibility.
The bureaucratic maze of dependency support
Accessing dependency support is another major obstacle. Diana Martí explained that the procedure begins at the Town Hall but requires subsequent approval from the regional government, the Conselleria.
According to Martí, this stage is the “first stumbling block”, as the waiting time for approval is unpredictable: “It could be three months, two months or one month”, delaying the whole process.
Although Dénia has reduced its waiting list for assessments, the aim is for a person to receive a final decision within one year.
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