The public care home for the elderly in Alcorcón, Madrid, is facing a crisis. Both employees and families have raised alarms about the worsening conditions at the facility, citing an alarming shortage of staff and claims of mistreatment.
According to news website Infobae, the Comunidad de Madrid, responsible for managing the centre, insists the issue is a temporary one. However, workers argue it is part of a more systemic problem that has been escalating for years.
A crisis in public care
On January 6, 2025, a letter from a nursing assistant working at the Alcorcón residence was sent to the Marea de Residencias organisation. The letter highlighted the overwhelming physical and emotional strain on staff. It also warned that the wellbeing of the residents was at serious risk. The worker described the situation as “unbearable,” citing that the centre was severely understaffed, and this was impacting the quality of care for the elderly residents.
This claim has been echoed by workers who have been at the facility for years. María, a nursing assistant who has worked at the care home for nine years, reported that the problems had been present from the very beginning. She explained that many staff members had come to accept the dire conditions. Meanwhile, she and her colleagues had been fighting for better working conditions and care standards. Despite their efforts, legal complaints about the staffing shortage have been dismissed by local authorities. They claim that the staffing ratio meets legal requirements.
The impact of staffing shortages
Despite official statements claiming adequate staff levels, the reality on the ground is starkly different. María revealed that for every 38 residents, there are only two nursing assistants. That arrangement puts immense pressure on workers and compromises resident care. With 10 modules housing between 18 and 20 residents each, the numbers simply don’t add up. Additionally, a specialised module for residents with Alzheimer’s and a medical centre that serves other elderly residents are also under-resourced.
The lack of staff is particularly evident when it comes to the residents’ daily care. María explained that many residents are not even helped out of bed until midday due to the limited workforce. This delay in basic care leads to frustration among family members, who rightfully expect their loved ones to be attended to promptly.
Quality of services in public care home deteriorated over time
For families like Mariví Nieto, whose mother spent the last decade of her life at the Alcorcón residence, the situation is deeply troubling. Mariví recalled that although the centre initially provided adequate care, over time the quality of services deteriorated. External companies began to manage meals, and staffing shortages became more apparent, particularly as residents’ dependency increased. On several occasions, medical attention was lacking, especially during weekends when no doctor was available.
Tragic incident due to understaffing
One tragic incident, involving a resident named Miguel, highlighted the deadly consequences of the understaffing issue. Miguel, a resident who was well-known for maintaining the garden, was found dead in the garden the following day after failing to attend dinner. His absence went unnoticed until his roommate alerted staff. This delay in care led to the tragic loss of life, a situation Mariví believes could have been avoided had adequate staff been present.
Employees and families demand better conditions
The employees and families of the Alcorcón care home continue to raise their voices in protest. They have formed a platform to press for better conditions. However, the response from management remains the same: the issue is “temporary” and not a cause for alarm. María and her colleagues are exhausted and overwhelmed, with no end in sight. They have raised concerns about physical abuse of both residents and staff due to the demands of the job.
Other incidents in Madrid’s handling of elderly care
The ongoing issues at the Alcorcón care home are not isolated incidents in the Madrid region. The handling of elderly care in Madrid has been under intense scrutiny for years, particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic. In October 2023, a court in Madrid launched an investigation into the actions of regional President Isabel Díaz Ayuso and two of her advisers regarding the controversial protocols that kept elderly patients out of hospitals during the early months of the pandemic. These protocols, which were designed to manage the surge in hospitalisations, have been described by many as “shameful” for preventing vulnerable elderly people from receiving necessary medical care, potentially resulting in unnecessary deaths and suffering.
Spoiled meals
The situation was further exacerbated by reports in 2023 highlighting the deplorable quality of food being served to elderly residents in care homes across the region. A caterer, Plataforma Femar, was found to be supplying meals that were both spoiled and insufficient in nutritional value. Disturbing images of rotten food, including spoiled cauliflower, eggs, and expired meat, were circulated on social media, triggering public outrage. Despite these revelations, Ayuso’s government extended the contract with the caterer until 2024. This decision faced sharp criticism from opposition parties and social organisations. The combination of substandard food and chronic understaffing has led to severe malnutrition and weight loss among elderly residents, further highlighting the systemic issues within Madrid’s public care system.