The construction works of the elderly home of "Santa Casa da Misericórdia" of Altares, Terceira, will start this year. This government-funded project represents an investment of one million Euros.

During a visit to the site and the premises of "Santa Casa da Misericórdia" on Thursday, the Regional Secretary for Social Solidarity told journalists that this investment is "a response to a village where ageing is a reality that must be addressed."

Piedade Lalanda restated that the "in the last 16 years the Socialist Government has considered elderly homes a last resort and not a first response," however she acknowledged the need for these infrastructures.

In this context, our goal is to invest in home support, including food support and the provision of personal care and house hygiene services. These services are provided in the village of Altares through a protocol with the local “Santa Casa da Misericórdia,” which supports 100 households. The home is intended to support the elderly who cannot live on their own and have no family support.

The new elderly home will accommodate twenty people and will also include a day centre and an industrial kitchen for home care support.