Mayor José Luis Martínez-Almeida announced at the State of the City Debate that this measure will provide an annual saving of between 72 and 144 euros to beneficiaries, estimated at around 50,000 people.
The City Council has been progressively implementing gratuity: in 2024 it applied to those over 90, in 2025 to those over 88, and since January 2026, to those over 87 years old.
Currently, 37,700 users over 87 already enjoy the service free of charge, in addition to another 35,500 below an income threshold of 614 euros per capita per month. In total, over 73,200 users no longer pay for teleassistance.
It is expected that in 2027, an additional 12,280 users will join, reaching a total of over 85,480 people with the free service, representing 66% of the average 130,000 monthly users.
The Teleassistance service, provided by the City Council for over 20 years, aims to ensure the safety and autonomy of individuals over 65 or younger individuals with recognized dependency, allowing them to remain in their homes.
Since 2023, the service is being digitized with new technologies. Users can choose between the traditional red button, a smartwatch with GPS and SOS button (used by over 13,100 people), or bracelets/pendants with fall detectors (over 40,700 people).
Additionally, 21,300 gas, smoke, and routine detectors have been installed in users' homes to alert of emergencies.
The majority profile of users are women (73%) over 80 years old, with mild social risk, and in half of the cases, living alone. 90% feel safer and 74% state that teleassistance helps them remain at home, rating the resource 9.11 out of 10.
