The Regional Secretary for Social Solidarity stated in Angra do Heroísmo that the Regional Programme for the Restructuring of Home Support Services and Support to Caregivers safeguards some key issues related to carers of elderly and dependent people.

Speaking at the presentation of the programme, Andreia Cardoso stressed that the documents foresees the need to "reserve a set of beds in residential homes to ensure that caregivers can get proper rest." The government official also considered "the importance of providing caregivers with the necessary tools to support the elderly or dependent people" at their care.

The programme presented today aims to contribute to the maintenance of elderly and dependent people in their home environment by preventing or delaying their admission to a nursing home and, simultaneously, provide support to informal caregivers.

"This programme is based on two key pillars; firstly, the restructuring of home support services and, secondly, the provision of support to carers," stressed the Regional Secretary.

Andreia Cardoso stressed that the first phase of the process consisted of an identification of the services available, taking into account the standpoint of institutions and the actual needs of patients.

The programme encompasses four intervention axes: reorganising home support services, promoting awareness-raising actions and the training of caregivers, providing psychosocial and psychological support to informal carers, and ensuring that informal caregivers can get proper rest.

Andreia Cardoso also said that "the programme also takes into consideration the assessment of waiting lists for residential homes," adding that "the response provided by home support services, when duly restructured, may be able to meet the needs of the elderly or dependent people."

The Regional Programme for the Restructuring of Home Support Services and Support to Caregivers will be in force in the years 2015 and 2016.

The Azores are fully covered by the network of Home Support Services (SAD), providing 41 services with an installed capacity that serves 2,600 people.