The Principal of the Universitat de València, Esteban Morcillo, has emphasised that the creation of this Chair “responds to a work initiative of several faculties such as Medicine and Dentistry, Physiotherapy, Psychology and Physical Activity and Sports Science. I am convinced about the possibilities that physical activity offers to people”.

The councillor Sandra Gómez has highlighted two realities: “The world is getting older while it is becoming streetwise. It also happens with policy. Now there is a need of ageing and, in my councillorship, we work daily for it”. In particular, there are today 200,000 Valencian people over 60 years old. According to the councillor, “the majority of the population live in cities, and it is expected that there will be one out of three people living in cities by 2030. Furthermore, we have to take into account the forecast for 2050. The elderly population in the world could triple”. Given this data, “the local leaders have to take on two challenges: the ageing of population in growing cities”, has emphasised Sandra Gómez.

Improving the social image of elderly people

Julio Fernández, dean of the Faculty of Nursing and Podiatry of the Universitat de València, who will be in charge of the Chair, has explained that this “is designed to teach people how to take care of themselves and become ready to get older and feel confident with this process”. According to the dean, the Chair tries also to “make visible for the responsibles of ensuring the health and living standards of the citizenship how important the coordination of the resources and services is, and the necessity of protection, prevention and care of elderly people. Moreover, it is also important to promote intergenerational relationships because it is a good way to improve the social image of the elderly.  

Esteban Morcillo has also talked about this idea in his intervention: “The intergenerational activity is highly significant, young people should appreciate and understand the experience in life”. 

Sandra Gómez has explained that “there are 200,000 people over 60 years old in Valencia, and given the fact that this figure will be tripled, we are compelled to work on that. Many elements of our environment or cities, were conceived in other demographic context, and their revision leads to the promotion of the beneath of elderly people”. In order to carry out this task, the councillorship has received the support of the Universitat de València, historically linked to the City Council.