Catalan town offers communal meals to tackle loneliness among older residents

Older residents in the Catalan town of Gironella are coming together for lunch in a council initiative aimed at tackling unwanted loneliness among seniors.

"It seems like it will never happen to you, but one day it does," says Jordi Marginet, a local resident. "You only realise what it means to be alone when you experience it yourself."

Jordi regularly takes part in the project, called 'Entaula't, dinem plegats' ('Take a seat, let's eat together'), a project from Gironella Town Council, in Berguedà County, central Catalonia.

The programme offers healthy lunches three times a week at a cost of €9 per meal. It is open to residents aged 60 and over, particularly those in vulnerable situations or with some level of dependency.

Camila, who attends every Thursday, says she looks forward to the weekly gatherings.

"I live alone, and I can't wait for the day to come when I get to eat with others," she says.

The initiative began in October and typically attracts between 15 and 20 diners per session, according to organisers, combining food with conversation and companionship in a setting designed to help older people stay socially connected.