Mutxamel adds an occupational therapist to enhance citizen services

Mutxamel continues to improve services for its citizens within the Social Services area. The Town Hall has added an occupational therapist to the Municipal Home Care Service, increasing the team to a total of six professionals.

The service is aimed at individuals with limitations in personal autonomy who require personal support at home and meet the criteria established in the municipal ordinance that regulates it. In some cases, the needs are temporary and end with the functional recovery of the individuals. In others, the Municipal Service is a transitional resource until access to the Services or benefits of the System for the promotion of personal autonomy and care for Dependency.

The benefits, requested through the Department of Social Services, have assisted a total of one hundred and twenty-five people in the municipality over the past two years. Specifically, in 2025, forty-two users have been attended to, including twenty-eight women and fourteen men, of whom thirty-six are elderly, one person with a disability, and five with mental health issues.

The inclusion of this new professional in the service allows for more specific tasks; individualised rehabilitation at the psychomotor level, mental activation to maintain and improve cognitive functions, fostering the recovery of skills and abilities to achieve greater independence in daily life, and advice and recommendations on changes and adaptations that can facilitate accessibility and mobility within the home. Early intervention is also considered to carry out interventions with children who have developmental disorders, thereby facilitating integration into the family, school, and social environment.

To establish the appropriate care, a four-phase protocol is followed. During the first phase, an initial visit is made with a SAD assistant to meet the future user and complete the data sheet. Subsequently, a planning phase is conducted where the Occupational Therapist makes a diagnosis and establishes the intervention methodology and frequency.

During the development phase, the proposed work plan is carried out with the user and in coordination with the SAD assistants. Once it is concluded that the objectives have been met, the care ends by providing the user and their environment with guidelines to ensure the work done remains effective.

The Councillor for Social Services, Estefanía Moreno, stated that "the incorporation of the occupational therapist into the municipal SAD allows for the design of personalised intervention plans, tailored to the specific capacities and needs of each user. It also facilitates the adaptation of the home environment to prevent falls and improve safety and autonomy at home."

Meanwhile, the Mayor of Mutxamel, Rafael García Berenguer, highlighted that they remain firmly committed to the constant improvement of their Social Services, and the addition of an occupational therapist to the Home Care Service "is a clear example of this."

"Our goal is to offer closer, more humane, and specialised care that not only meets basic needs but actively contributes to improving the quality of life for those who need it most. This new resource allows us to advance towards a more personalised and effective care model, placing the person at the centre, respecting their rhythms, environment, and capabilities. We will continue working to strengthen our Social Services so that no one in a vulnerable situation in Mutxamel is left unattended," stated the Mayor.