In the context of Saint Joseph’s Patron Saint’s Day, the work of women dedicated to caring for those most in need has been recognized.
The Almería Provincial Council serves more than 6,700 people throughout the province through its Home Help Service, which is available in municipalities with fewer than 20,000 inhabitants. In the municipality of Taberno, the City Council, the Regional Government of Andalusia, and the Provincial Institution have joined forces to recognize women who care for those most in need.
Coinciding with the religious events in honor of Saint Joseph, after the traditional mass, the Stage Space hosted this tribute event that brought together more than a hundred residents. The Vice President, Ángel Escobar; the Territorial Delegate for Social Inclusion, Youth, Families, and Equality in Almería, Francisco G. Bellido; and the Mayor, Antonio Martos, presided over an event in collaboration with Atende, the company that provides this service in the municipality, represented by Iris Hernández.
The mayor of Taberno stated that it is an honor that Patron Saint’s Day 2025 is dedicated to highlighting the work these women do in the municipality: «Thanks to the Provincial Council, the Regional Government, and Atende for caring for dependent people, and specifically to all the people who work every day to make life easier for the elderly and dependent people of Taberno.»
“Today is a special day in which each and every one of us will feel more like tavern owners, because we maintain one of our traditions. Today, March 22nd, and continuing the path begun a decade ago of recognizing neighbors, we have decided to recognize a group that embodies dedication, love for others, patience, and commitment to providing companionship and human quality to our elders,” he added.
Ángel Escobar explained that if Almería is a recognized province and a model of growth, it is thanks to its elders: «No one has ever given us anything; the elders who have built our province know this. The Provincial Council always wants to equalize opportunities and ensure that everyone can enjoy the same rights, regardless of where they live.»
“There are few ideas as appropriate as the mayor’s recognition of the professionals who work in the Home Help Service on Saint Joseph’s Day. At the Provincial Council, we are very aware that the front lines are our more than 1,500 assistants who work with our clients. Today, the main protagonists are the women who carry out this work with an outstretched hand, sincere embrace, and boundless affection for dependent people who suffer from unwanted loneliness,” she explained.
The regional delegate of the Andalusian Regional Government congratulated the mayor for promoting this recognition: «There is a brain that coordinates, a muscle, which in this case is the Regional Government, but the most fundamental part of the human body is the heart, a heart that you put into caring for others every day.»
She also stated that each of these assistants cares for the users as if they were their own loved ones. «The Andalusian Regional Government funds the Home Help Service, and since Juanma Moreno arrived, we’ve increased the hourly rate by up to three times, which demonstrates our commitment to the service.»
Iris Hernández praised the work of these «heroines» who demonstrate their «vocation and love for others» every day; she thanked the Provincial Council and the Regional Government of Andalusia for being here today, once again demonstrating their commitment to an essential and necessary service for the province’s seniors.
At the end of the tribute ceremony, a plaque was unveiled next to the Stage Space, ensuring this recognition will live long in the memory of all tavern owners.
About the Home Help Service
The Provincial Council’s Home Help Service has more than 1,540 assistants throughout the province to serve all users. The profile of this service’s users is predominantly people at risk of unwanted loneliness. Another high percentage reside in rural areas. Around 50% have Level II dependency, and 20% Level III. Approximately 11% of users have been using this service for more than ten years.
In addition, this service includes a series of care programs to make it more effective in specific situations, such as mental health interventions, legal and administrative issues, social inclusion, telemedicine, unwanted loneliness, safe housing, and cognitive stimulation. These services are provided by the 13 Social Services centers in the province of Almería.