A reality that needs change
Currently in Europe, there are more than 1.4 million people living in institutions. Spain, in particular, has an alarming figure of almost 392,000 individuals in this situation. A worrying majority, eight out of ten citizens, believe that these people are excluded from society and that it is urgent to implement inclusion measures.
History and evolution of uninstitutionalization
The concept of disinstitutionalization is not new; Its roots go back to World War II, with an initial approach to intellectual disability and child care. Later, criticism of asylums led to the understanding that these institutions, in their nature, are fundamentally coercive. Michel Foucault expressed it this way: ‘Discipline creates docile bodies’, and this translates into a thorough control over people’s daily lives.
The control of the daily life
A moment to reflect: Who decides our daily routines? From clothing to eating hours, institutions often make these decisions, depriving people of their autonomy and rooting at home.
A envied future: We need a new model
With a population that is increasingly aging, the current model of residential support is small to meet future needs. The traditional idea of caring for isolation is not sustainable. Who would like to consider his house as a confinement space?
A strategic framework for change
A year and a half ago, the Ministry of Social Rights and Agenda 2030 proposed a ‘strategic framework of disinstitutionalization’, focusing on five fundamental axes: the prevention, transformation of services, the creation of community environments, the empowerment of individuals, and the promotion of a favorable context. This initiative seeks to implement the right to a decent and independent life, as reflected in the European Charter of Fundamental Rights.
A collective challenge
Some may argue that society is not ready for this change and that individualistic capitalism will not allow significant transformation. However, the case of Belgium, which in 1988 banned investment in residences, shows that it is possible: only 3.5% of its currently institutionalized population.
Building an inclusive future
To achieve this metamorphosis, a determined political will and a rethinking of how we take care of each other is essential. Desinstitutionalizing does not simply mean moving responsibility to families, but to guarantee the existence of services that respect individuality and the community.
Dreaming of a future where Spain can reject coercive institutions and foster inclusive environments is an achieveable goal. We just have to start working in this direction, with the gaze on a more human and supportive society.
