The Regional Secretary for Social Solidarity revealed on Terceira Island that the new Elderly Home of the "Santa Casa da Misericórdia" of Altares, opened today, represents an investment of the Regional Government over two million Euros.

"The construction of the Elderly Home of 'Santa Casa da Misericórdia' of Altares represents an investment of the Regional Government of about 2.2 million Euros and has allowed the creation of an infrastructure with capacity for 21 senior citizens," said Andreia Cardoso.
 
The government official stressed that the construction of this infrastructure, like others built in small communities of the archipelago, “clearly reflects the Government's option to create and consolidate a decentralised and social support network.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, which she presided on behalf of the President of the Government, the Regional Secretary also stressed that, "together with the increased capacity of the responses traditionally directed to the elderly, there is also an investment in alternative responses to nursing homes. This is the example of day and night centres, which are intended to mitigate the isolation and loneliness of senior persons as well as to support families in elderly caring."

Andreia Cardoso also highlighted the work that has been developed towards the restructuring of Home Support Services, a project that includes "a very significant support component for informal caregivers."

The Regional Secretary also said that the existing support network will soon extend its capacity and improve the response conditions due to the increase of vacancies resulting from the construction of São Sebastião Home and Day Centre, also on Terceira, the creation of day and night centres in Cinco Ribeiras, the expansion of Piedade Elderly Home on Pico, or even the creation of the Senior Support Centre in Maia on São Miguel Island.

"The basic concept of the whole programme is based on inter-institutional cooperation, not just from a perspective of optimisation or sustainability but in a clear recognition of the fundamental role that all institutions play in the provision of social responses to the Azorean population," stressed Andreia Cardoso.