The REAGIR party claims that recent statements by the Regional Secretary for Inclusion, Labour and Youth regarding the creation of intermediate care units, increased home support and a review of the Informal Caregiver Statute confirm long-standing criticisms of the Regional Government’s approach to the ageing population.
In a statement, the party argues that the problem of delayed hospital discharges is the result of “years of lack of planning, insufficient social responses and the absence of an integrated strategy” to address the needs of Madeira’s ageing population.
“The ageing of the population did not happen this year, nor was it unpredictable. Demographic data has been available for decades and has made it possible to anticipate the increased demand for residential homes for the elderly, long-term care, home support and assistance for people living with dependency,” the party stated.
According to REAGIR, repeated warnings from healthcare professionals, institutions and opposition parties were ignored, resulting in hospitals increasingly being forced to act as a substitute for social care.
“Today, hundreds of hospital beds continue to be occupied by patients who have been clinically discharged, while other patients wait for admission through emergency services, increasing the pressure on professionals, patients and the entire functioning of the Regional Health Service.”
Although the party recognises that the creation of intermediate care units may help ease pressure on hospitals, REAGIR argues that such measures are only being introduced now that the system is already at ‘breaking point’ and do not replace the need for a structural policy to address population ageing.
The party also expressed serious concerns regarding the announced review of the Informal Caregiver Statute, scheduled for October.
The Informal Caregiver Statute (Estatuto do Cuidador Informal) is a legal framework created to recognise and support people who provide regular unpaid care to a family member or someone close to them who is dependent due to age, illness, disability or loss of autonomy.
Informal caregivers often play a vital role in allowing people to remain in their own homes rather than entering residential care or remaining in hospital unnecessarily.
The statute provides official recognition of the caregiver’s role and aims to offer access to support measures, which may include guidance from health and social services, training, psychological support, periods of rest from caring responsibilities, and, in some cases, financial assistance.
The issue has become increasingly important as Madeira’s population ages and demand grows for elderly care, home support services and long-term care solutions. Many families provide daily care while balancing work, household costs and other responsibilities, leading to concerns over the physical, emotional and financial pressures placed on informal caregivers.
“Informal caregivers are facing difficulties today, not several months from now. Many families provide demanding daily care without the necessary support, while facing high financial costs and enormous physical and emotional exhaustion. They cannot simply abandon or reduce their professional activity to care for a dependent family member when mortgage payments, food costs, medication and all other household expenses continue to arrive every month,” REAGIR stated.
The party also criticised what it describes as a lack of consistent commitment to creating public residential facilities for the elderly, arguing that support continues to depend primarily on private social solidarity institutions and families.
“More than announcing emergency measures when the system is already at breaking point, the Regional Government has an obligation to explain why it allowed this situation to worsen over so many years without implementing an integrated strategy for an ageing population.
“What is now being presented as a solution should have been planned, funded and implemented a long time ago,” the party stressed.
REAGIR reaffirmed its support for the creation of a Regional Strategy for Ageing, based on strengthening the Continuing Care Network, creating new residential facilities, including public provision, expanding home support, recognising the role of informal caregivers and improving coordination between the health and social sectors.
Concluding, the party added, “delayed discharges are not the cause of the crisis, but the consequence of years without strategic vision or planning. Madeira needs a Government that anticipates problems and prepares for the future, not one that repeatedly arrives late to crises it had a responsibility to foresee.”
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com
Photo: DN
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