The Regional Secretary for Social Solidarity stated in Angra do Heroísmo that the Azorean Government has already invested "more than 7.5 million Euros" during this legislative period in the construction of homes, day centres and social centres for the elderly population of Terceira Island.

 Andreia Cardoso spoke at the opening of "Comendador José Cardoso Romeiro" Day and Night Centre, chairing the ceremony on behalf of the President of the Government.

 The new infrastructure, which is under the administration of "Santa Casa da Misericórdia" of S. Sebastião, has a capacity for 22 people in the Day Centre and 14 people in the Night Centre. With the relocation of the institution's Home Support Services, it will now support 65 seniors.

 "Included in the Regional Public Works Charter, this contract work represents an investment made by the Government, through the Regional Secretary for Social Solidarity, amounting to 1.8 million Euros. It falls within the policy to support and create social responses for older people, promoting their autonomy and socialisation," said Andreia Cardoso.

 In his speech, the Regional Secretary stressed that, since the beginning of the legislative period, we have taken "major steps towards these responses." However, it is always "possible and desirable to go even further."

 Andreia Cardoso restated the Government's commitment, pointing out that the investment in social solutions for the elderly on all the islands "has grown 45 percent during this legislature, from about seven million to more than 10 million Euros per year."

 In addition to the investment in infrastructures, the Regional Secretary noted the restructuring of Home Support Services in order to "ensure the maintenance of the elderly in their homes," which has been the "first concern" and one of the major investment lines of the Azorean Government since the beginning of the current legislative period.

 "There is a demand for more specialised responses and this is one of the Government's investment goals," said Andreia Cardoso.