The Regional Secretary for Inclusion, Work and Youth highlighted that about 3,300 elderly people in the Autonomous Region of Madeira currently receive home support, provided by 489 home helpers, stressing that European guidelines continue to privilege this type of care provided at home. The information was provided during a visit to the requalification and expansion works of the Nossa Senhora do Bom Caminho Home, in Santo da Serra.
During the visit, the minister pointed out that the Regional Government recently approved a salary increase for home helpers, professionals who she considers essential in the social response to the elderly population. On the occasion, the Regional Secretariat underlined that “European guidelines continue to privilege home care,” highlighting the importance of valuing the professionals who ensure this daily support.
The visit to the Nossa Senhora do Bom Caminho Establishment was accompanied by the President of the Social Security Institute of Madeira (ISSM), Nivalda Gonçalves, and was guided by the head of the institution, Isabel Moura, who presented the progress of the rehabilitation and expansion works of the Residential Structure for Elderly People (ERPI), financed by the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR).
Inaugurated on the 2nd of July 2000, the establishment currently integrates three social responses, namely home, day centre, and social centre, ensuring personal care, food, laundry, monitoring, and occupational activities aimed at the senior population. Currently, the nursing home has nine vacancies, while the day centre has a capacity for 20 users, and the social centre welcomes 10 people.
According to the Regional Secretariat for Inclusion, Work and Youth, the ongoing intervention will strengthen the capacity and improve the reception conditions of the elderly population.
The work is part of the investment “Strengthening Social Responses in the Autonomous Region of Madeira,” of Component 3 – Resilience of the RRP, and represents an overall investment of 2.19 million euros. The project provides for the full rehabilitation of the building and its expansion, ensuring compliance with the legal standards applicable to the ERPI and improvements in terms of accessibility, comfort and safety.
With the completion of the work, the structure will have 22 vacancies in the nursing home area, resulting from the renovation of the nine existing living accommodations and the creation of 13 new vacancies. The new spaces include double and single rooms with private toilets, as well as living areas and functional areas more suited to the needs of residents and work teams.
The intervention also includes improvements in terms of energy efficiency and environmental sustainability, namely thermal insulation on the facades, replacement of exterior openings, repair of the roof, installation of a new sanitary water heating system and placement of photovoltaic panels.
The works began on the 5th of May 2025 and are scheduled to be completed on the 30th of June 2026. So far, the project has an execution rate of around 38%, corresponding to an executed amount of 836,978.16 euros, of which 580,922.09 euros have already been paid.
The Nossa Senhora do Bom Caminho Establishment currently has 18 employees, including senior technicians, technical assistants, direct action assistants, support staff and general services, also benefiting from the support of a nutritionist and the clinical and nursing team of the Santo da Serra Health Centre.
During the visit, the Regional Secretariat highlighted that this investment is part of a broader strategy of the Regional Government to strengthen social responses aimed at the senior population. “Initiatives of this nature contribute to promoting active, safe and integrated ageing in the community, ensuring more qualified and adjusted responses to the needs of the elderly population in the Region.”
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