The event, held on Wednesday, April 8, at the Municipal Initiatives Center, featured specialists and healthcare professionals from the Hospital Universitario General de Villalba. The conference was timed to coincide with World Parkinson's Day on April 11, emphasizing the importance of raising awareness about this complex disease.
The inauguration was led by Mariola Vargas, Mayor of Collado Villalba, and Carmen Blázquez, Counselor of the Governing Council of the Parkinson's Madrid Association. Both highlighted the relevance of institutional collaboration and support for initiatives aimed at improving the quality of life for those affected and their families.
“"We made the improvements they asked for. What was most applauded was the accessibility of the bathrooms (they used to be for children as they were in a school); we have adapted them for people with mobility difficulties, and there are bathrooms for wheelchairs. Then, the air conditioning."
Improvements at the association's headquarters, located at Nicolasa Fernández Street, 21, include the adaptation of common rooms and spaces, the renovation of restrooms to ensure accessibility, the installation of heating systems, and painting work. These works, which are nearing completion, were made possible by municipal support and aim to optimize the services the association offers to its users.
Laura Carrasco, director of the Parkinson's Madrid Association center in Collado Villalba, highlighted the replacement of the gymnasium floors to adapt them for rehabilitation exercises and the installation of a defibrillator. These adaptations are crucial for the therapies and activities that benefit about fifty users and their families in the town, who previously had to travel to Madrid for care.
“"It is the most important day for the collective, because it makes this very complicated disease visible. Everyone thinks of an elderly person with a slight hand tremor, but the reality for those who suffer from it and the families who accompany them is tremendous."
The Parkinson's Madrid Association, declared a Public Utility, was founded in May 1994 and has over 2,000 members. Its mission is to offer care, guidance, training, and information to affected individuals, their families, and caregivers, through specialized rehabilitation workshops, social activities, and psychological and socio-health support.
