Costa del Sol expat Steve: older neighbours need the same kindness we showed family this summer

Long-time Costa del Sol expat Steve has a simple challenge for readers now summer is winding down. We spent weeks looking after visiting family and friends. Why, he asks, is it so much harder to show that same care to older people living here all year?

Most of us would say we are caring people. Pressed on how we actually show it, many of us hesitate. Holidays proved the skills are already there: patience, kindness, genuine interest and a bit of respect. Caring is not only practical help. It is noticing someone and treating them as if they still matter.

Summer proved we already know how to care

Steve’s point is blunt. Reluctance, not ability, is what holds people back. A chat on the street, a regular visit or a quick “how are you today?” can change an older neighbour’s week. Listening to the answer is the part that counts. You see the difference when the interest is real.

Older residents carry decades of experience, knowledge and stories. Take time to hear them and both sides come away better off. They are usually delighted to share that wisdom if someone bothers to ask.

Small acts that actually land

Tiny gestures often do more than grand plans. A short phone call or a few minutes of company will do more good than most people expect. NHS advice on loneliness in older people makes the same case: a friendly conversation or a regular call can be enough.

Isolation among British retirees on this coast is already well documented by Euro Weekly News. Groups such as Age Concern Fuengirola, Mijas and Benalmadena and the Soledad 0, Vida 10 volunteer work exist for a reason. Coach trips and coffee mornings help, as Age Concern’s Estepona outings have shown. None of that replaces a neighbour who knocks.

Steve has written before about retirement and purpose and staying safe on local roads. His latest message is quieter. Use the same caring we showed visitors, here on the Costa del Sol, so older people feel heard, valued, respected and not forgotten.