More Than an Ambulance: San Fulgencio Service Tackles Loneliness and Isolation

A unique Red Cross initiative in San Fulgencio is addressing the issues of loneliness, isolation and vulnerability among elderly, disabled and vulnerable residents. The Integrated Municipal Emergency Response System, or SIREM, has carried out more than 2,500 health and social-care interventions since its inception in August 2024. While ambulance services are its most visible element, SIREM's activities extend well beyond emergency medical responses.

SIREM's ten emergency medical technicians conduct scheduled home visits to monitor vulnerable residents, identify unmet needs and provide practical and emotional support. This service is particularly vital in San Fulgencio, where around 42% of the population is aged over 65, and where elderly residents, disabled individuals and those with chronic illnesses or reduced mobility are prevalent.

SIREM coordinator José Manuel Ávila emphasizes that the service is more than just an ambulance. Each visit may involve social monitoring, companionship or coordination with other services. Social support has grown rapidly during the service's first two years, with an average of over 100 interventions per month. The rising demand for social support is evident in the monthly statistics, with social-care activities increasing from 15 in the first month to 79 in the latest month.

The team responds to accidents and illnesses in homes and public places, supports searches for missing people, and provides preventive healthcare at local events. They also help disseminate public warnings during severe weather. However, a medical callout often reveals a broader issue. SIREM staff may discover that someone suffers from loneliness, mobility problems, lacks family support or requires assistance at home.

Regular home visits enable SIREM staff to assess basic needs, provide emotional support and arrange or deliver essential items such as food, hygiene products, clothing, medicines and mobility equipment. Staff can accompany residents to healthcare appointments, assist with movement and mobility, and monitor individuals considered vulnerable or isolated.

Working closely with San Fulgencio's Social Services department, the Local Police, primary healthcare professionals and other Red Cross programs, SIREM complements, rather than replaces, the public healthcare system and Social Services.

By maintaining a regular presence in residents' homes, SIREM can detect problems that may be overlooked during single emergency visits. Follow-up visits prevent minor issues from escalating into full emergencies. For residents like María del Mar, who has been unable to walk for three years, SIREM has provided crucial support, including the provision of an adjustable bed and continence products.

Another resident, Úrsula, experienced profound loneliness after her husband's death. Regular SIREM visits enabled her to receive emotional support and companionship. As the team became familiar with her situation, they assisted her in regaining her independence, personal safety and social connections. In gratitude, Úrsula donated her deceased husband's mobility scooter, which continues to aid another resident.

The most valuable service SIREM can provide is simple human contact, offering reassurance that someone is there to listen and ensure that residents are safe and well.