Families Demand Action Over Care Standards
Families of residents at the Santa Rosa public care home in Sant Cugat have launched a petition calling for urgent improvements, citing persistent staffing shortages and lapses in care. The residence, managed by Mutuam under contract to the Generalitat, currently houses 68 elderly residents, with around 30 more using its day centre services. The campaign was initiated by the Associació de Familiars de la Residència Sant Cugat (Asfarés), which says it has reported ongoing issues to management for over a year and a half. These include medication errors, falls, hygiene problems, laundry delays, access control failures, and insufficient staffing levels. At times, families claim, just two staff members were responsible for a floor of around 30 residents, particularly during busy evening hours. Mutuam has defended its management, stating that staffing ratios at Santa Rosa exceed the minimum legal requirements set by the Department of Social Rights and Inclusion. However, families argue that despite regular dialogue and two formal complaints submitted to the Generalitat, meaningful solutions have not been implemented.
City Council Debates Its Role
The situation has prompted a cross-party political discussion on Cugat Mèdia, with representatives from Junts, ERC, PSC, PP, CUP, and En Comú Podem agreeing on the need for stronger advocacy. Although the City Council does not have direct responsibility for the care home, councillors acknowledged its proximity to residents and families.
What we must do from the City Council is to push from behind, push for things to be done,
Núria Fernández, Junts Health Councillor, said. ERC’s Ester Madrona confirmed the council met with families more than a year ago and encouraged them to escalate concerns to the Generalitat, but admitted the need to reassess whether further intervention is possible. PSC’s José María Gallardo stressed that, as the administration closest to citizens, the council must act when serious shortcomings are reported.
Call for Unified Pressure on Regional Government
PP spokesperson Estrella Salanova highlighted the chronic underfunding of elderly care, stating,
Obviously, the main problem, I repeat, is that we are not allocating the necessary resources to care for the elderly.
She called for better retention of healthcare professionals and improved working conditions. CUP’s Marco Simarro urged the council to consider public confrontation if necessary, advocating for a comprehensive review of the care model. En Comú Podem’s Ramon Gutiérrez echoed the need for stronger collective pressure on the Generalitat. Despite differing views on management models, all parties agreed on the need to review staffing ratios and adapt resources to the increasingly dependent profile of residents. The possibility of forming a united front to demand improvements at Santa Rosa and other care homes was also discussed.
What This Means for You
Residents and families at Santa Rosa are encouraged to contact the management via santcugat@mutuam.com or call 93 589 16 38. The City Council continues to support families in raising concerns with the Generalitat, which holds ultimate responsibility for public care homes in Catalonia.
Primary sources: cugat.cat, xarxafembarri.santcugat.cat. Reported by mutuam.es.
