Casa UdeC providing warmth to the elderly

The project called CASA UdeC is led by the Nursing program of the Girardot branch by the knowledge manager, María Victoria Rojas Martínez, who sought, since its creation fifteen years ago, to read the needs of the environment of this population, in order to formulate solutions, as stated in the Transmodern Digital Educational Model.

According to figures from a study called Care and Gender, conducted by DANE (National Administrative Department of Statistics), the number of people over 65 years of age has doubled in 30 years, rising from 5% of the total population in 1991 to 10% in 2021, and it is estimated that by 2040 this percentage will reach 20%. “The idea for this initiative arose from this type of analysis and from the population pyramid, which shows a constant increase in the number of older adults.”.

That's why the focus has always been on working with the mind and body, as an inseparable pair in human beings going through this stage of life. "We develop their physical and cognitive activity, since in many cases they suffer from chronic illnesses due to the lack of stimulation they receive. This is partly because the caring family doesn't have much knowledge about it.".

But this interesting project doesn't end there, as it also focuses on the caregiver of the elderly, an often unrecognized task that frequently leads to physical and mental exhaustion, even death. “These individuals have become more visible; however, in the past they were not, and they often became ill due to the overload. Based on this reality, workshops were designed for them with the support of the Latin American Caregivers Network. In these workshops, they are taught to adopt self-care practices so they can respond more effectively to the care of the elderly. We have even provided them with cardiovascular and metabolic screenings.”.

Finally, this comprehensive work carried out by UCundinamarca is complemented by a listening center. “It’s a place where they can meet and express their problems to us.”.

The students talk about the project

As part of its mission to train professionals for life, democratic values, and civic responsibility, UCundinamarca has students in each of these areas who confront this reality, contributing to their well-rounded education when they enter the job market. “Regarding the topic of caregivers that our professor is discussing, it's worth noting that we hold a caregivers' conference every two years, and this one will be on October 24th.”.

The activity is led by senior students. Its main purpose is to create synergy between the Nursing program, the Health Secretariat, the Economic and Social Development Secretariat, the disability coordinator, and the dean's office, to promote the well-being and quality of life of this population, which sometimes has chronic illnesses and disabilities. "In these kinds of spaces, we seek to share experiences and acquire skills," says student Yesenia Sarria.

On the other hand, for her colleague Estefanía Bucuru, the program in general is very good because it seeks to give older adults an opportunity to navigate the aging process in the best possible way and modify their expectations regarding their quality of life. “We organize activities for them such as music therapy, memory exercises, stretching, flexibility, and cardiovascular exercises, among others. We hold these meetings at the university on Mondays and Thursdays from 7:00 am to 8:00 am, after prior registration.”.

Likewise, for Valeria Sofía Ibarra, a future nurse participating in a prevention program for the university community aimed at promoting healthy lifestyle habits for a healthy old age, this experience, also led by Casa UDEC, has been invaluable. “I now work on a prevention initiative focused on early detection and prevention of chronic diseases common in old age, which are appearing earlier and earlier. This work has been incredibly enriching, and I am grateful to UCundinamarca for this opportunity, which will be fundamental to my professional life.”.

In this way, UCundinamarca, through University Social Interaction, reaffirms its commitment to seeking solutions to the problems of the environment, as stated in the Transmodern Digital Educational Model.

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