Yzabelle Bostyn
SOME 72,000 Brits who retire to Spain’s Costa del Sol risk becoming ‘alone and isolated’, the British Embassy has warned.
Diplomats have reportedly asked the Junta and university professors to come together to tackle expat loneliness.
Yolanda Maria de la Fuente, professor of Social Work and Social Services,at Jaen University highlighted that many Brits move to Spain to retire with their partners.
But if their significant other dies, they are often left isolated and lonely.
According to the academic, Mijas, with over 8,000 British residents, is ‘an example to follow’ to avoid such situations.
The local council is ‘proactive’ in the face of expat issues and encourages them to participate in community life.
They have also established an English speaking 24-hour helpline which allows residents to overcome ‘bureaucratic barriers’.
This is especially helpful, says the expert, for older expats, for whom using new technology to process documents and arrange appointments can be difficult, even in their native language.
She has urged local councils to assess and understand their population of older and expat residents so they can take ‘proactive’ measures to avoid social isolation.
In a statement given to The Olive Press, The British Embassy said: “The British Embassy works to protect and promote British interests in Spain.
“As part of that, we provide support and advice to British people visiting or living in Spain, working with local authorities to ensure British people are able to access services available to them.”
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