Canary Islands government earmarks €16.8 million for new home‑care service on four islands

The Department of Social Welfare, Equality, Youth, Childhood and Families of the Canary Islands government is investing €16.8 million in the new Home‑Care Service (SAD). Starting in May, the service will assist roughly 1,500 people on Tenerife, La Gomera, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura.

This amount adds to the more than 1,800 people already receiving the service on La Palma, Gran Canaria and El Hierro, according to a regional department statement.

“The service is based on individualized care centred on the person, promoting autonomy and avoiding admission to residential centres,” said Candelaria Delgado, Councillor for Social Welfare, Equality, Youth, Childhood and Families.

The contract, signed by Councillor Delgado, Francisco Cruz (representative of BCM Gestión de Servicios S.L.) and Concepción Ramírez (General Director of Disability), lasts for one year and can be extended for an additional year. More than 550 professionals—including aides and coordination staff—will be employed to run the programme.

Beneficiary Persons

• Degree I: 20 % of users
• Degree II: 60 % of users
• Degree III: 20 % of users

The service will provide 20 to 94 hours of care per month per user, depending on the level of dependency. In total, it is expected to deliver over 700,000 hours of assistance at a cost of €21.90 per hour (including travel and regulated labour conditions).

The programme aims to:

• Prevent or mitigate personal deterioration, isolation, loneliness, abandonment, abuse, mistreatment, marginalisation and social risk.
• Support family organisation and avoid crisis situations, without replacing the family’s own responsibility.

About the Services

The specialised dependency service differs from generic home‑care options because it is tailored specifically for individuals with a recognised degree of dependency. Key features include:

• Pre‑assessment of each user’s situation to determine the type and amount of assistance required.
• Qualified home‑care aides trained to address both health‑related and psychosocial needs.
• Assistance with personal hygiene, nutrition, feeding, mobility, medication management, and supervision of medication intake.
• Household maintenance such as basic cleaning, laundry, ironing, and grocery shopping.
• Emotional support and companionship to reduce social isolation, especially for older adults or persons with disabilities living alone.

Team and Users

To ensure effective management, the service will be staffed by:

• 1 Coordination Manager
• 5 Coordinators
• 2 Administrative Assistants
• 545 Home‑care Aides

These personnel will handle daily operations and respond to any incidents or unforeseen issues.

The contract anticipates 1,500 new users across the four islands, distributed according to their dependency levels and required hours of care as defined by current regulations.

• Total effective hours: 717,175
• Hourly rate: €21.90 (travel time included; additional allowance for difficult access or long distances)
• Breaks: 15‑minute rest for continuous shifts exceeding six hours, in line with labour law.

The programme represents a significant step toward enhancing home‑based support for dependent residents of the Canary Islands, fostering greater autonomy and quality of life while alleviating pressure on institutional care facilities.