“Tomás Ballester Herrera” centre will serve at least 100 patients and offer vital respite for families in a city with a growing elderly population
Mayor Eduardo Dolón has presented the detailed architectural project for the future Centro de Día “Tomás Ballester Herrera”, a state-of-the-art day centre dedicated to people with Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative conditions. The facility, developed in close collaboration with AFA Torrevieja (Alzheimer’s Family Association), will be built on a 7,900 m² plot in Sector 25, opposite Quirón Hospital, with a total built area of approximately 2,700 m² and an estimated construction cost of €7–8 million.
The project drafting contract, awarded to architect Francisco Juárez for €204,354 (VAT included), is expected to be completed by April 2026. Construction tendering will follow immediately, with works scheduled to take around one year, meaning the centre could open its doors as early as mid-2028.
Key Facts – New “Tomás Ballester Herrera” Day Centre
- Location: Sector 25 (opposite Quirón Hospital)
- Capacity: Minimum 100 patients
- Built area: ~2,700 m² | Plot: >7,900 m²
- Estimated construction cost: €7–8 million
- Project drafting completion: April 2026
- Construction duration: ~12 months
- Opening expected: 2028
The centre will be divided into three main areas totalling over 2,000 m² of usable space:
- Access & Administration (421 m²) – reception, multi-purpose hall, offices and adapted toilets
- General Services (482 m²) – dining room, industrial kitchen, laundry and staff facilities
- Specialised Care Area (1,080 m²) – therapy rooms, physiotherapy cabins, psychology office, medical consultation, hairdressing, podiatry, geriatric bathrooms and quiet resting zones
“This centre is not just a building: it is a commitment to the dignity, well-being and quality of life of those who need it most. It will provide comprehensive care that adapts to the changing needs of patients while offering families the support they desperately need in what is often an extremely tough journey.”
— Eduardo Dolón, Mayor of Torrevieja
A long-awaited response to a growing need
Torrevieja’s registered population already exceeds 100,000, but the real figure is closer to 150,000 when including non-registered residents – many of them elderly northern European retirees. AFA Torrevieja currently has a permanent waiting list of 30–35 people and demand continues to rise every year.
Until now, the association has operated from adapted premises that are far too small. The new purpose-built centre will finally allow it to offer places to everyone who needs them and provide the full range of therapies proven to slow cognitive decline and improve quality of life.
More than just a day centre
The “Tomás Ballester Herrera” facility will also serve as an essential lifeline for family carers, offering respite periods that help prevent burnout. With specialist medical, psychological and rehabilitation services on site, it will become a regional reference point for dementia care on the southern Costa Blanca.
When it opens in 2028, Torrevieja will have one of the most modern and comprehensively equipped Alzheimer day centres in the entire Valencian Community – a powerful statement of the municipality’s commitment to its senior residents and to families facing one of society’s most challenging illnesses.
