Efebé at CUIDA 2026: designing to care

Design is also a form of care. That was the central idea our colleague Natàlia Gómez Vives, interior designer and project manager for care homes at Efebé, shared on 28 May at CUIDA 2026, the new professional congress and trade fair dedicated to elderly care, held at La Farga de L’Hospitalet.

Under the title “Designing to care: a new outlook on humanizing care homes”, the session — held at Aula Profei — focused on how space design can directly impact the wellbeing, autonomy and quality of life of elderly people, championing more human, welcoming environments.

How can we transform care through design?

During her talk, Natàlia explored how spaces can directly influence people’s wellbeing, autonomy and quality of life. Humanizing a care home, she explained, goes far beyond aesthetics: it means designing environments that bring calm, comfort, orientation and connection, while taking into account the needs of residents, staff and families alike.

At Efebé, we believe that designing spaces also means designing wellbeing experiences: putting people at the centre to transform the way we care.

CUIDA 2026: a new meeting point for the care sector

The first edition of CUIDA, organized by Fundación FiraGran, closed its doors having established itself as a reference space for the health and social care sector: over 1,300 professionals took part in nearly 80 activities held over the two days to reflect on the sector’s major challenges.

The congress addressed some of the key debates shaping the future of elderly care: the transformation of long-term care models, the difficulty of attracting and retaining professional talent, burnout among care teams, effective health-social integration, funding for dependent care, unwanted loneliness, and the role of technology and artificial intelligence in the care system.

One of the most repeated messages throughout the sessions was that transforming the care system is no longer a future option but an immediate necessity. On this point, jurist and bioethics expert Núria Terribas i Sala noted that some aspects of care “have to do with personal relationships” and that, however advanced technology becomes, it is unlikely to fully replace them.

Professional wellbeing, also at the centre of the debate

Another major focus of CUIDA 2026 was the wellbeing of care teams. Several talks agreed that a person-centred care model cannot exist without first caring for those who provide care — an idea that directly connects with how Efebé approaches the design of care home spaces: designed not only for those who live in them, but also for those who work in them.

Spaces that care, today and tomorrow

Taking part in CUIDA 2026 reinforces a conviction we already shared following the ACP Conference by ACRA: humanizing care homes is no longer a trend but a necessity. More domestic spaces, therapeutic and biophilic environments, environmental comfort and design that fosters autonomy are, today, part of the solution to the sector’s major challenges.