By EWN
Copyright euroweeklynews
Women in Business
The woman behind one of Andalucia’s most respected care homes is changing how we think about growing old – one heart at a time.
In the vibrant seaside town of Torre del Mar, in Malaga’s Axarquia region, stands a care home that locals whisper about with admiration and trust. Sanysol Residencia para Mayores isn’t just a facility for the elderly – it’s a sanctuary. And at its heart is a woman whose values and vision have shaped every brick, every policy, and every soul that passes through its doors.
Meet Carmen María Gálvez del Río, the quietly fierce and endlessly compassionate Managing Director of Sanysol – a woman who embodies grace under pressure and kindness in action.
A Calling, Not a Career
While many stumble upon a profession, Carmen was born with a vocation.
“I’ve always known I wanted to care for people,” she says. “In my family, grandparents were pillars. They taught me that ageing is not something to fear – it’s something to honour.”
That reverence for life’s later chapters inspired her to study social and healthcare management, and ultimately to take the reins of Sanysol – a space she describes not as her workplace, but as her life’s mission.
“Caring isn’t what I do,” Carmen says with a soft but steady voice. “It’s who I am.”
A Home Built on Humanity
Under Carmen’s leadership, Sanysol has become one of Andalucia’s most recognised care homes – not just for its state-of-the-art facilities, but for its unwavering focus on dignity and empathy.
She knows every resident by name. Their stories live in her heart. “We have people here who’ve been farmers, surgeons, teachers, mothers, pioneers… They carry entire histories inside them. We don’t just care for bodies here. We hold memories. We nurture spirit.”
And it shows – in the smiles exchanged over lunch, the laughter during morning routines, and the serenity that fills every sunlit corridor.
Leadership Through Crisis
When the pandemic struck, Carmen faced challenges no manual could ever prepare her for.
“There was fear. Real fear,” she admits. “But we had a responsibility. People had trusted us with their lives – and their families had trusted us too.”
She worked around the clock, shouldered impossible choices, and became a pillar of calm when the world trembled. “The strength of our residents and their families is what kept me going. Their faith gave us courage.”
The Secret to Sanysol’s Success?
One word: Empathy.
“Running a care home isn’t about ticking boxes or balancing budgets. It’s about asking yourself every day – Would I want my own parents here? And if the answer isn’t a full-body yes, we change something until it is.”
Though awards like the Andalucia Excelente have followed, accolades aren’t her driving force. Carmen is powered by heart – and it radiates the moment she enters a room.
Carmen Beyond the Director’s Desk
When she steps away from Sanysol, Carmen reconnects with her own roots: walking, reading, and most of all, spending time with her family.
“They are my refuge,” she smiles. “They keep me balanced. Because this work, while beautiful, is heavy. You carry people’s lives, their pain, their hope. You have to take care of yourself to give care that’s whole and true.”
The Woman With a Big Heart
Ask anyone in Torre del Mar who Carmen María Gálvez del Río is, and the reply is instant: “una mujer de corazón grande” – a woman with a big heart.
Her humility, quiet strength, and belief in people’s goodness have made her a respected leader and deeply trusted one. She doesn’t believe in hierarchy – only humanity.
Whether she’s speaking with a patient’s grandchild, a cleaner, or a regional minister, Carmen treats everyone with equal respect.
“We’re all here for the same reason,” she says. “To make people feel safe. Seen. Loved.”
Her Philosophy, Her Promise
How does Carmen sum it all up?
“To care for others the way I’d want to be cared for one day. That’s my compass. That’s my contract with every person who walks through our doors.”
In a fast-paced world that can feel cold and transactional, Carmen reminds us that leadership rooted in compassion is the most powerful of all. She proves that softness is strength, and that in the hands of someone who truly cares, ageing can be not a decline, but a return – to dignity, to peace, and to love.
Carmen María Gálvez del Río – Leading with Kindness. Living with Purpose. Changing Lives.
