City Council increases investment in home help to 5 million euros to reach a record number of more than 800 users

Next year’s municipal budget includes the largest item so far allocated to people who have recognized some degree of dependency or vulnerability. The Consistory assumes the financing of important improvements in the service, with more hours of care and more technical assistance than those marked as mandatory.

The Estepona City Council takes a new leap in the quality of care for home help, and includes in the municipal budget for 2026 the largest item allocated to this service so far. Specifically, about 5 million euros are allocated, with which a record of more than 800 users can be reached.

The home help service is a social benefit that guarantees the permanence at home of dependent people through comprehensive and specific care with qualified and supervised personnel who carry out a set of preventive, training, rehabilitative and care actions for people and cohabitation units with difficulties to remain or manage in their usual living environment. It is a benefit granted and financed by the Regional Government of Andalusia and managed directly or indirectly by the local councils, within the framework of the Dependency Law. However, with the idea of achieving the optimization of the service and can cover the largest number of people, the Consistory of Estepona has been making an important additional co-financing, increasing both the technical assistance material available as services, above the mandatory number established.

To this end, in 2026 the record figure of almost 5 million euros (4,957,025.84 euros) is reached, after having increased this item year by year since 2011.

The councilor attached to the area of Social Welfare, Maria Aguilar, highlights the “importance of this service provided from the City Council for all people, the vast majority of them older, who have support needs, and also for their families. Not only from the point of view of accompaniment, but also with other means that we provide and that we have expanded”.

Among the improvements that the City Council has introduced in this service, and that will be extended in 2026, highlights an economic fund of 70,000 euros for housing adaptations, cleaning products and household cleaning in vulnerable users and social exclusion; as well as the increase of technical aids that facilitate the movements of users in their homes and the service staff the proper provision of the same, with new additional material to the mandatory number. Thus, the Consistory has electric orthopedic lifts of up to 180 kilos, in addition to the compulsory ones; another 30 elevating articulated beds with handrails, 30 anti-decubitus mattresses also in addition to the ones provided; 40 shower and toilet chairs with wheels; as well as another 40 devices to help with ambulation (walkers, crutches and canes). Also, complementary shock cleanings and additional annual pedicure and manicure services have been increased, as well as hairdressing services.

This year, the City Council has been assisting around 750 people. The main profile of the users of the Home Help Service in Estepona is a woman between 80 and 89 years old, according to the data of the balance of activity last year. Of the total number of people assisted, 68% were women, compared to 32% men. Most of these users are between 70 and 90 years of age.