This blog post was meant for a week ago, Friday May 18, but after an unfortunate mishap I lost my phone for a week, so it’s coming a week late!
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Today, we began the day as an exhausted group, slowly marching onto a bus to leave the city of Tarragona and head elsewhere. Our eyes opened a little wider as the hills of Tarragona transitioned into taller, more intimidating mountains. We were eventually greeted by the waterfront town of Tortosa, a nearby town.
We stopped first at a university campus outside of Tortosa – a sister campus of URV, the one where we have been attending Spanish classes during our stay in Tarragona. And it wouldn’t be a day in Spain without second breakfast, so we took a break for coffee and croissants.
Next, we toured a geriatric facility in Tortosa. This specific facility was unique and different than anything we were used to because it’s free! Health care in Spain is considered a basic human right and is therefore provided by the state, free of charge (but funded by taxes). And so, this facility actually came at no cost to its residents – an option we do not have in the United States. This facility was extremely impressive for being state-funded and offered an wide range of care, from a nursing home floor to a one-day geriatric hospital.
The first floor functioned similarly to an outpatient or rehabilitation clinic, intended for shorter stays. As we moved upwards in the building, we got a look at the other forms of care offered. One floor included a physical and occupational therapy center intended for more intense rehabilitation. Another floor was devoted to palliative care. I was extremely impressed by all the accomodations offered on this floor, including small bedrooms and kitchens for family members to use as they stay with their loved ones. Perhaps the floor I was most impressed by was the “long stay” floor. This floor is reserved for elderly citizens who are no longer able to live at home, but have not yet secured a living space in a retirement facility. This geriatric center offers this specific population the option of the “long stay” floor, where patients can live anywhere from a few months up to a whole year, as they await other living arrangements. Nothing like this exists in the US, but I think it is an extremely valuable service. This form of housing crisis for the elderly population is an issue that is very prevalent, but rarely acknowledged or addressed. At times, it can even be unsafe for a geriatric patient to be living at home on their own, but they do not have another option. And so, I really appreciated this floor, and would love to see something similar implemented in the United States. I was very surprised by the variety of care offered and the holistic approach to geriatric health care we observed on this visit.
After our visit, it was time to eat (which it almost always is in Spain), so we ventured into the city for a group meal. Lunch was followed by a walking tour of the city. The city was beautiful and full of history. Between Roman ruins, a medieval cathedral, and a statue from Franco times, not much was left to be desired! And thankfully, our guide spoke English. A river runs right through the city, which makes for pretty views and intricate bridges. The architecture all throughout the city was ancient and expertly-crafted and beautiful. Every building has history, which has probably been my favorite part of this trip. There is nothing quite like these structures in America, nothing quite as old or as beautiful. Overall, it was a great day and I was impressed by the city of Tortosa!
Touring the geriatric facility
The river running through the city of Tortosa – in the background, a monument constructed during Franco times
The medieval cathedral
And a group meal!