# Canary Islands healthcare and elderly care developments > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/canary-islands-healthcare-and-elderly-care-developments > Updated: 2026-09-25T03:01:16.000Z. Sources: 24. Developments: 3. The Canary Islands has seen developments in healthcare planning and elderly support services. In 2025, the Health Ministry reported a 26.6 percent increase in the registration of Advance Directives, with 4,611 documents recorded compared to 3,642 in 2024. These filings reached a total of 28,276 active directives. In a separate expansion of care services, the region increased the number of people receiving advanced telecare services sixfold, from 2,352 in August 2023 to 14,761. This initiative involved an investment of approximately 30 million euros, supported by the Next Generation EU Recovery and Resilience Facility, to implement monitoring technology such as wearable watches and occupancy sensors. Recent data indicates shifts in pension and dependency management. In the Canary Islands, the average monthly contributory pension reached 1,253.8 euros in August, a 4.8 percent increase from the previous year, serving 383,600 beneficiaries. This regional trend occurs amid a broader national context where Spain’s Social Security system reached a record monthly expenditure of nearly 14.5 billion euros in September, a 6.3 percent increase from September 2025. By September 2026, Spanish Social Security pension expenditure reached a record 14,498.2 million euros, driven by over 9.5 million beneficiaries and higher benefit amounts following reforms. The average monthly pension across the system rose by 4.6 percent to 1,374.6 euros. A 2026 revaluation included a 2.7 percent increase, aligned with inflation rates from late 2024 to late 2025. Regarding dependency management, the regional government reported that average processing times improved, dropping from 513 days in July 2025 to 283 days in July 2026. However, concerns remain regarding mortality during waiting periods, with 367 deaths recorded between January and August 2026 before dependency requests could be assessed. Additionally, over 98,000 people in the islands are recorded as having confirmed or suspected rare diseases. ## Claims - The average pension in Spain reached 1,374.6 euros in September, a 4.6% increase compared to the previous year. (disputed by 10 sources) - The average retirement pension in Spain reached 1,576.1 euros in September. (disputed by 10 sources) - The Spanish Social Security system paid out a record 14,498.2 million euros in contributory pensions in September. (corroborated by 10 sources) - The number of pension beneficiaries in Spain exceeded 9.5 million in September. (corroborated by 10 sources) - Pension expenditure in Spain rose by 6.3% in September compared to the same month in 2025. (corroborated by 10 sources) - The 2026 pension revaluation was set at 2.7% in line with the average IPC between December 2024 and November 2025. (corroborated by 4 sources) - Retirement pensions accounted for 73.5% of the total pension expenditure in September. (corroborated by 2 sources) - The average annual public pension in Spain is 19,844 euros, which exceeds the estimated annual cost of living for a Spanish retiree by 3%. (single source) ## Timeline ### 2026-09-25: Spain Social Security pension spending hits record 14.5 billion euros Spanish Social Security pension spending hit a record 14.5 billion euros in September, a 6.3% annual increase, as the number of beneficiaries exceeds 9.5 million and average payments rise. 19 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/canary-islands-report-shifts-in-dependency-management-and-pension-averages ### 2026-09-23: Canary Islands expands advanced telecare services sixfold The Canary Islands has expanded its advanced telecare services sixfold, now assisting 14,761 people through a 30 million euro investment in technological monitoring. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/canary-islands-expands-advanced-telecare-services-sixfold ### 2026-08-27: Canary Islands reports 26.6% increase in Advance Directives The Canary Islands Health Ministry saw a 26.6 percent rise in Advance Directives registered in 2025, with 4,611 new filings documenting citizens' healthcare preferences. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/canary-islands-reports-266-increase-in-advance-directives --- Cite as: Canary Islands healthcare and elderly care developments. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/canary-islands-healthcare-and-elderly-care-developments