Finalist in the Zero Project Awards
The Premature Aging Program of the Ramon Noguera Foundation is one of the finalist projects selected to receive the international Zero Project Awards 2025. This international recognition highlights the most innovative and effective actions and practices to overcome the barriers that people encounter with intellectual disabilities worldwide.
The program: a response to an urgent need
Since the end of last year, our multidisciplinary support team has been driving a new project. This is the Premature Aging Program aimed at intellectually disabled workers over 45, who are part of our Special Work Center (CET).
The initiative arises in response to the results of recent studies that indicate that people with intellectual disabilities can begin to experience symptoms of aging from the age of 40, much earlier than the rest of the population.
The aim of the program is threefold: to provide training, provide specific tools and ensure adequate support to prepare for a healthy old age. In addition, it seeks to strengthen the support networks of the participants and promote their active participation in the community, ensuring that these people can maintain a full and active life despite the challenges associated with premature aging.
The program activities have been designed in a consensual manner according to the interests of this year's first 15 participants. Among them, we want to highlight the importance of a healthy diet in order to prevent the symptoms of premature aging. The program promotes balanced meal planning, with a variety of foods that contribute to a person's overall health.
The Life Plans that we carry out for each user of the Foundation have been the point that has allowed us to identify the current growing demands.
The Premature Aging Program of the Ramon Noguera Foundation not only offers solutions to a specific problem, but also highlights the need to adapt policies and services to the specific needs of people with intellectual disabilities as that grow old Our work is not limited to the local area; we want this model to be applied in other environments and institutions to benefit an even greater number of people.
International recognition: the Zero Project Awards
This year's call focuses on issues of inclusive employment and the use of information and communication technologies (ICT).
The work we've done so far has attracted international attention, and we're proud to be among the 160 finalists out of a total of 522 entries for the Zero Project Awards. This internationally renowned award recognizes initiatives that make a difference in the lives of people with intellectual disabilities, highlighting their innovation, impact and replicability.
The future of the program
Being finalists in the Zero Project Awards motivates us to continue forward with more strength and determination. That is why we will continue to work to improve and expand the program, with the aim of creating an environment where people with intellectual disabilities can grow old with dignity, autonomy and adequate support.
Thank you to all of you who support us and follow our work, and a special thanks to our workers, who have helped us identify the real needs and have been essential to the development of this program.
