benalmádena
The Unicaja-owned centre in Benalmádena is home to 72 people, including many foreign residents
11.05.11 - 11:04 -
Rally. Mayor, Enrique Moya (third from right), joins the protesters. /G.P
The residents and staff of the Marymar nursing home in Benalmádena Costa organised a rally outside the building’s main entrance last Tuesday morning to demand explanations as to the centre’s forthcoming closure on 31st May.
Following years of rumours and speculation, the Marymar residents received a letter in April from Unicaja bank, the centre’s owner, confirming that it is to be closed at the end of this month.
The building is being shut down for the safety of those living and working there, according to an official Unicaja statement. The financial institution claims that the premises, which were constructed in the 1960s, are in need of urgent reforms, after which a study will be undertaken to establish the future use of the building, located in a privileged position overlooking the beach.
However, those at the rally say they have not been informed of the reasons behind the action. “The letter we received gave us no explanations about the reforms Unicaja will supposedly be carrying out, nor where the residents will be relocated to. The nearest Unicaja nursing home to here is in Ronda!” says Sonia Martínez, whose mother is one of the residents. “It’s a disgrace that these 72 people of many different nationalities will lose their homes, and 45 more will lose their jobs.
“We will continue to protest every week until Unicaja tells us if and when the centre will re-open,” she added.
Protest
Speaking to SUR in English at last week’s rally, another daughter of one of the residents, who did not wish to be named for fear that her mother would be “pushed down the list” when it comes to re-housing, said: “It was hard enough putting my elderly mother in a home, but we had some comfort knowing she was close by and that she was in the town she had lived in for many years. The thought of her being moved to Ronda or Marmolejo (Jaén) is torture.”
The Mayor of Benalmádena, Enrique Moya, who stood alongside the protesters, said: “For more than 30 years ‘Residencia Marymar’ has provided great support for local elderly people and their families. I totally reject the idea of it closing.”
But as the crowd chanted “Unicaja! Unicaja! The old people will not be moved!” for some it was too late.
With the rally coming to an end, 84 year-old German resident, Ewald Heidtmann, was being loaded into an ambulance to be taken to another nearby nursing home which he managed to find through his own means.
“I loved it here. I loved my apartment, the views and the wonderful facilities. But most of all I loved the friendliness of the staff and the other residents. I will miss them all, I will miss my home,” he told this newspaper through his tears. “I have been so stressed that I’m now taking extra medication. It’s devastating to have to leave,” he lamented.
Alternative accommodation
Unicaja has said that the residents will be relocated at its other care homes, but it is a proposal which has not been well received by those at last Tuesday’s rally.
“The two other options are in Ronda or in Marmolejo in Jaén. Not only does this mean these elderly people have to move further away from their families, but they are also considerably more expensive than Marymar, so we’re asking that Unicaja pays the difference,” said a spokeswoman. “Also the one in Marmolejo will not take people who need assistance and the one in Ronda only has five places left. So, 30 people will be left homeless on 31st May.”
