Eider Etxebarria and Beatriz Santamaría have been leading Bizipoz since 2015. This cooperative promotes active aging, with "all the knowledge gathered that the elderly can bring back to society." To this end, Bizipoz designs and develops programs that respond to the current reality: life expectancy increases and people want to live well, being an active part of society. Beatrice and Eider work in city councils and companies in Gipuzkoa and Bizkaia, but they are also well known in Spain. In this interview, Eider tells us more about Vipoz and explains how to work with the elderly.

 

We are a cooperative that promotes the empowerment of older people. We see the talent they have, the senior talent, and we develop and design programs that promote active aging. We saw a current need, life expectancy has increased greatly, people are living more and more, and it is challenging to live these years well and in the best possible way. We, as individuals want to be an active part of society, give them the tools to live well and be part of society.

 

Our philosophy is that we want to naturalize aging, to make it natural. We are aging from the time we are born until we die and we want to spread this to society in a normal and natural way. We also fight against age exclusion and against all stereotypes related to old age. We want people to give years to life and to have years to live a good, happy life. We too are going to be mainstream and we want to build that society that is for us.

 

We provide training and workshops in town halls, usually practical and dynamic, depending on the subject. Each city council has a different reality. So we adapt to each reality, see what is needed in each town and according to them, we have a range of colleagues: nurses, doctors, psychologists, lawyers, economists, personal trainers, nutritionists ... We mainly deal with health, emotional intelligence, new technology and economics. . On the other hand, we work with retirement home committees and provide them with different tools to work differently, because for many years retired people's associations have played a very important role, responding to very specific needs, but now the profile of the retired person has changed a lot. yes. They need new air, about leadership education, communication, how to reach the retired profile, how to design attractive actions for these new types of people ... Many municipalities are not very attractive centers. These centers are also a big challenge and we support these associations.

 

Especially for retirement preparation, now that some co-ops are working on it. People are training in the right way, but they are new and very few companies do it. And this is something we have heard many times before.

 

There is also considerable concern over the issue of housing. They have no idea what will happen to their home. In his time they bought a house, they had children, each made his own life, and suddenly people find themselves with a very large house for two, and if they are widowed, for one person. There are some models that started in the Netherlands, such as co-housing in the Netherlands, which are community dwellings, where each has its own apartment or site, and has community services or shared parts, such as a living room or kitchen, and other services. , nurses, doctors, exercise ... It is in the northern countries and is becoming more and more popular. It is a service of interest, or at least it leads to reflection, especially to adult people.

 

Before starting a project, you need to carefully consider why you will do it; look for a need, but a real need. This is "I think this is necessary and interesting, but I'll check it out." Look for the exact need and check with a lot of people and hear a lot of feedback. That way, you're changing, giving new insights ... We always have to go with our head open to get honest feedback. The first idea of ​​the project will probably be developed and will continue to change and improve. People need to go head-to-head with constructive criticism. Do a lot of work, be very careful because things don't go well, and profits will come. It needs a lot of sowing.

 

We have two. We have more and more work and we would like to expand the team, but in a sense; us, a profile that is in line with our philosophy, like working with the main people ...

In principle, we see ourselves working in the Basque Country, in town halls, in companies here, but since partnerships have been created outside the Basque Country, we want to be a benchmark company at the national level in terms of active aging, working in town halls or companies, or in universities or researching books. We are in the process of becoming a benchmark company and growing groups and boundaries.

 

I do not know whether it is difficult or not. he is very kind. They are a little neglected; it seems that people are reaching an age and are not replaced or do not exist. We really enjoy working with this profile. They are very grateful. If you do your job well, if you listen to them and you're with them, the feeling of gratitude they give you has never been known to me. And difficult, like everything in life: it's about working with people and each of us having our own stories. It is necessary to be educated, to know how to stay with the elderly, because they are many types, the newly widowed, the sick ... But I would not say that it is difficult, I like a lot.

 

They are people who know a lot, who have lived a lot on a personal and professional level. Many know and often do not know or do not show. Therefore, I would like anyone who reads this to give Jason a push to do things, not be afraid to do what he wants, learn, show…