They were surprised that the elderly were simply satisfied when they were given basic care (hygiene, nutrition...) or listened to the things that concerned them and that they wanted to share with them. This is the general opinion of group formed by fourteen students and three professors from the School of Nursing of the University of Navarra who, for fifteen days, carried out their internships in two nursing homes in Valpaços, a city of 15,000 inhabitants in the north of Portugal, on the border with Galicia.

Tamar Ochoa, one of the students, says that the centers there are called "lares". In one of them, the elderly were "bedridden". Her colleague Laura Armendariz explains that some residents, because of their physical condition, spend many hours in bed without being able to get up: "When we arrived, through passive rehabilitation exercises, hygiene and care, we began to lift them into wheelchairs, so they could go out onto the patio or into the living room. They were thrilled when they came back to see the other residents of the nursing home."

As the teacher Mª Pilar Encabo comments, "there were people who we thought did not see or speak, and after a few days of being there encouraging them, we discovered that they began to communicate with us, which made us understand the importance of stimulation in the elderly". The problem, according to Ana Canga, another of the teachers, is that the professionals there lack an adequate training "They are people who have not received the appropriate knowledge, they do not know the importance of stimulation to improve communication, and although it seems very simple to us, due to lack of knowledge they do not take it to the internship".

Five positive years

"But the evolution from five years to this part," continues Ana Canga, "when the work camp was held for the first time, is quite positive. The status has changed considerably. In basic care, a lot of progress has been made. The institution manager of the geriatric centers what they appreciate most is the example that our students give to those who work there, and the professional financial aid that they can contribute to improve in their daily work . In addition, the caregivers in the geriatric centers are very receptive. If they do not improve faster, it is because of the scarce training and the lack of staff".

The workshop in Valpaços was intense: "We would start around 7:00 a.m. and average in the morning, go to the places, do hygiene and give them breakfast. Then we would cheer them up: we would go out to the park, we would sing.... Until lunchtime. In the afternoons we worked on different aspects of geriatrics in groups," adds student Noemí Jiménez. She was surprised by the ulcers of the elderly due to the long hours spent in bed: "When we were studying ulcers at class , I could not even imagine that it could be like this, that being in bed for so long could give rise to such impressive ulcers.

When you think about the qualities of a good nurse," adds Laura Armendariz, "you think that the most important thing is the mastery of advanced techniques. Being there you realize that this is not always the case, the importance of carrying out the most basic care, the ability to listen or joy have been the qualities most valued by these people. We have received much more than we have given".

As Ihintza Gómez adds, "simply holding their hand and listening to them was everything to them. Many times, with the barrier of language we didn't understand half of what they said, but it was the gesture of listening to them that they appreciated and valued".