Logroño pharmacies combat the loneliness of the elderly with a mailbox

With the aim of detecting the lack of company in citizens over sixty years of age, pharmacies in Logroño have incorporated the loneliness mailbox. The initiative, which has the collaboration of the Official College of Pharmacists of La Rioja, is part of Logroño Acompaña, a City Council program where different actions are carried out aimed at reducing the isolation of the elderly.

Half of the pharmacies have already voluntarily signed up for this campaign. Each of these establishments will have a mailbox in which people who need help can leave a form with their personal information. The mailboxes will be reviewed weekly by pharmacists and, if they receive requests, they will contact the Logroño Acompaña team, which will provide an effective response to the situations detected.

The evolution towards a more healthcare and socio-health pharmacy is increasingly present, playing an increasingly active role in people’s comprehensive health care. «Many are already providing additional care, advice and support to older people who access their establishment. This initiative not only promotes organizing something that in many cases is already being carried out, but also formally recognizes this great work,” indicated the mayor of Logroño, Conrado Escobar, during the presentation of the campaign at the Palacios pharmacy.

For his part, the president of the Official College of Pharmacists, Mario Domínguez, stressed that “every 20 days, the equivalent of the entire population of our community passes through the Rioja pharmacy. The trust that citizens have in their pharmacist puts us in a unique position for this task, we are the medicine specialists, but we also have that social aspect. Often, these places act as a meeting point for Riojans, “people tell you about their private lives and we can collaborate with those who are having a hard time,” explained Nuria Sacristán, owner of the Palacios pharmacy.

The flow of communication between these establishments and the Logroño Acompaña staff reinforces collaboration and coordination between the different agents involved in caring for loneliness in older people. Currently, the team works “on an individual level with 45 citizens and we have different workshops and group activities underway such as ‘Despierta con Logroño Acompaña’ or the grief workshop,” indicated Patricia Arenzana, program coordinator.