The Month of the Elderly kicked off on Thursday afternoon, International Day of the Elderly, with a major event at the Carvalho de Calvos Interpretation Centre, which gathered 185 people from all the Council's Convívio Centres, celebrating the local seniors. The activities included physical activity, cultural engagement with heritage, contact with nature and agriculture, and promotion of healthy eating. The event, held under mild sunshine, offered cool shade, socialising, and entertainment, culminating in a dance to the sound of traditional concertinas.
The Mayor of Póvoa de Lanhoso highlighted the importance of the date for bringing the senior community together, reinforcing the municipality's commitment to their well-being and active ageing. "For us, it is another good reason to bring the entire senior community together, in this case, from the Convívio Centres, to celebrate this Day and reinforce our commitment to working towards their well-being and active ageing," he stated.
Throughout the month, various activities are planned to provide pleasant and happy moments for the elderly. The mayor mentioned the continuation of the work initiated many years ago by the Municipality of Póvoa de Lanhoso in creating the technical and logistical conditions for these events, with plans to strengthen and improve the programme, including the expansion of the Convívio Centre network. The Convívio Centres of Monsul and Covelas will also be inaugurated.
Frederico Castro, concluding, emphasised that the expansion of the Convívio Centre network and the reinforcement of associated programmes are synonymous with well-being and happiness for the elderly, ensuring they feel good, have quality of life, and receive the affection of the community and the Municipality.
“"I liked and I like cooking, now I can't. I'm alone at home. They've already told me: ‘I don't know how you go to the Centre when it rains!’, but look, if I went, it's because I like it!"
Lurdes Azevedo, a participant and user of one of the Convívio Centres, expressed her contentment after attending a culinary workshop on healthy biscuits, highlighting how much she enjoys cooking and the importance of these spaces for passing time.
“"We have very beautiful things in the municipality and we don't know what we have. We don't value what we have."
Fátima Abreu, after participating in a guided tour of the Mamoa do Madorro, reflected on the municipality's rich heritage, which is often unknown to its inhabitants.
“"I thought it was a good initiative, because it's needed, for the elderly to have fun. My work was always in the gardens, but for those people who haven't worked with the land for a long time, it's very good to touch the earth. These initiatives are wonderful."
Olívia Rodrigues, who participated in the vertical gardens workshop, considered the initiative excellent for the elderly's entertainment and praised the opportunity to connect with the land, especially for those who no longer work with it.
The afternoon of celebration, which began with a zumba class and ended with dancing to the sound of concertinas, marks the beginning of a month full of activities for the elderly population of Póvoa de Lanhoso.
