The Regional Secretary for Social Solidarity presided over the ceremony of laying the first stone of Elderly Support Centre of "Santa Casa da Misericórdia" of Madalena, Pico Island. This 1.5 million-Euro investment of the Regional Government will expand and redevelop the social responses provided by the institution with the elderly population.
 
Andreia Cardoso highlighted the Government's commitment to ensure the adequacy of the Regional Network of Social Infrastructures to new demographic dynamics, "always enhancing specialised and proximity responses directed to the elderly population."
 
"These demographic dynamics reopen and expand the debate on issues regarding the reconciliation of family, personal and professional life. Hence, rethinking the support to the elderly has become a priority matter," said Andreia Cardoso.
 
According to the Regional Secretary for Social Solidarity, "it was precisely in this context that the Regional Government wanted to ensure, from its first day of work, that it would take active part in this process," ensuring the adequacy of new public policies to the needs of the elderly.
 
The support to caregivers is also included in the work that now begins. In this regard, Andreia Cardoso revealed that it will include "beds for the rest of caregivers, a night centre and the improvement of conditions for the provision of already existing services, including those provided by the centre as nursing home, day centre and home care."
 
The work of Elderly Support Centre of "Santa Casa da Misericórdia" of Madalena has a completion period of about a year and ads up to a series of interventions, including the redevelopment and construction of infrastructures, on the islands of São Miguel, Terceira, Pico, Flores and Corvo.