Specialised social responses are important contribution to quality of life in old age, says Andreia Cardoso
The Regional Secretary for Social Solidarity stated in Angra do Heroísmo that the "Government of the Azores regards the development of social responses addressed to the elderly as a strategy to improve the quality of life of all citizens, allowing the development of actions closer to people, especially those on dependant on care or on their families."
Andreia Cardoso visited Thursday the new facilities for the Elderly in the village of Cinco Ribeiras, municipality of Angra do Heroísmo. According to her, "the continuous improvement of the network of social responses is not only achieved through its expansion but also through the specialisation and adaptation of the care provided." In this context, she pointed out the recently announced measures such as the teleassistance service, the provision of training to informal caregivers or the creation of the commission in charge of monitoring social policies in the Region, in addition to other measures already implemented in home care services.
The aim is to ensure that the "care provided to our elderly beneficiaries is the most appropriate to their reality and to the new challenges of the times we live in."
"We understand the health and well-being of our elderly people as their ability to adapt and manage their daily lives in the light of the physical, emotional and social challenges that life brings to them. Therefore, we must consider social responses as the means that allow these people to continue developing meaningful activities to themselves and possibly contribute to the lives of other people," concluded the regional secretary.
An investment supported by the Regional Government in about two million Euros, this elderly home is the result of the redevelopment of a building owned by the Nossa Senhora do Pilar das Cinco Ribeiras Social and Parish Centre that has opened just a year ago. It provides a new response for the elderly and has a capacity for 18 users.
Currently, the Autonomous Region of the Azores has 25 day and night centres, with capacity responses capacity for 550 users, on the islands of Pico, Faial, Santa Maria, São Jorge, São Miguel and Terceira.
"The Government of the Azores considers that this transformation in the structural and organisational paradigm of elderly support is highly necessary," Andreia Cardoso stressed, adding that, "for this reason, the close collaboration with our partner institutions is essential, being the backbone of the services provided to the Azorean population."