Adapting your plan for disability, illness or older relatives

Terms used

• Receta electrónica — The receta electrónica is Spain's electronic prescription, which lets the pharmacy see and dispense your treatment in portions.
• Teleasistencia — Teleasistencia is a remote-help service where a button or pendant connects you to staff who send help.
• Administrador de fincas — The administrador de fincas is the professional who manages your apartment building.
• Padrón — The padrón is the town hall register of residents, needed for many local services.
• Servicios sociales — Servicios sociales are your town hall's social services, which assess needs and approve help such as teleasistencia.

Key rules

• 112 registration: Register for the 112 text-message service before an emergency, because many regions require it.
• Medication reserve: Renew early and keep proof of prior treatment, because pharmacies cannot dispense prescription-only medicines without a prescription.
• Teleasistencia: Apply through your town hall's social services; cost is often free or based on your income.
• Evacuation: Do not plan on using a lift in a fire, and tell neighbours and building staff about mobility needs.

Start with four things

Set up four things early: a medication reserve, an accessible way to reach 112, a written evacuation plan, and teleasistencia if you qualify. The documents you need are in the list below.

Medication: build a safe reserve

Most prescriptions in Spain are electronic (receta electrónica). If you have a chronic condition, your doctor can renew a treatment plan for months. The pharmacy then hands out your medicine in portions, usually one month or one pack at a time. Some regions allow up to three months.

• Renew early, before you run low.
• Ask for a longer dispensing period where your region allows it.
• Pharmacies will not give you prescription-only medicines without a prescription. Antibiotics and controlled drugs have tighter rules.
• In an urgent case, a pharmacist may give you a minimum pack of a vital chronic treatment. You need proof of prior treatment, such as your treatment plan or past prescriptions. Keep copies in your go-bag.
• Visitors from the EU can use a prescription from another EU country in Spanish pharmacies.

Quantities and emergency rules vary by region and drug type, so ask your pharmacist what applies where you live.

Accessible alerts

112 is the single emergency number. If you are deaf, hard of hearing or speech-impaired, you do not have to phone:

• Many regions run a 112 text-message (SMS) service. You must register first, usually with your name, phone number and a disability certificate or declaration. Register before you need it.
• Accessible 112 apps exist, and some regions offer video-interpreting or a text-relay service.
• ALERTCOPS is the national app for police alerts. It sends your location.
• If you are blind, the voice channel works as normal, and the accessible apps are designed for screen readers.

112 locates the caller automatically. Which channels exist, and how to register, depends on your region, so ask your regional 112 service.

Evacuation with reduced mobility

Write a personal plan. It should cover:

• Your route out of the home. Do not count on lifts in a fire.
• A ground-floor refuge if you cannot get out.
• Who helps you, and how.

Tell your neighbours, the building's administrador de fincas and the concierge. Keep the plan where people can see it. Tell local social services, or your teleasistencia provider, about the mobility need. If the risk is sizeable, tell the fire service (bomberos) or Protección Civil too.

Keep a go-bag by the exit with medication, documents, chargers and mobility aids. Plan transport that fits a wheelchair. When you call 112, say what your mobility limit is and which floor you are on. Practise the plan.

Teleasistencia

Teleasistencia is a remote-help service. You press a button or pendant and get help. It is mostly for people over about 65 who are dependent, live alone or are isolated, and for people with a disability. A state-funded advanced version exists within the dependency system, and many councils and regions run their own.

To apply, go to your town hall's social services office (servicios sociales). A social worker assesses your need. Foreign residents usually must be legally resident and registered on the padrón. It is often free, or you pay a co-payment based on income. Eligibility, cost and waiting times are set locally, so ask the office.

If you are moving with an older relative or someone with a health condition, do these four things in your first weeks.

Documents you need

• Disability certificate or declaration, needed to register for the 112 text-message service in many regions.

• Padrón certificate from your town hall, showing you are registered there, for a teleasistencia application.

• ID or NIE (foreigner identity number) for a teleasistencia application.

• Proof of your income, for a teleasistencia application, since any co-payment is based on income.

• Medical report from your doctor, for a teleasistencia application.

• Proof of prior treatment, such as your treatment plan or past prescriptions, if you need a minimum pack of vital medication in an urgent case.

Frequently asked questions

Can a deaf person contact 112 without calling?

Yes, deaf, hard-of-hearing and speech-impaired people can use a 112 text-message service, but in many regions you must register first. Registration usually needs your name, phone number and a disability certificate or declaration. There are also accessible 112 apps and the national ALERTCOPS app, which sends your location.

Who can get teleasistencia from the town hall?

Teleasistencia, a remote alarm and support service, is mostly for people over about 65 who are dependent, live alone, are isolated or have a disability. You apply at your local social services office, where a social worker assesses your need.

How can I build a reserve of regular medication?

Renew your electronic prescription early and ask the pharmacy to dispense for a longer period where your region allows it.

Who should know about a family member's reduced mobility?

Tell your neighbours, the building administrator (administrador de fincas) and the concierge, and register the need with social services or teleasistencia. If the risk is sizeable, also tell the fire service or Protección Civil. When you call 112, state the mobility limitation and the floor.