Porto develops project to tackle senior social isolation in municipal housing districts

"Porto. Importa-se" [Porto Cares, free translation] is a project to tackle senior's loneliness and social isolation in Porto housing districts. The social municipal policies are based on the extensive knowledge of the present-day reality of seniors, namely the housing sector, as pinpointed by Mayor of Porto, Rui Moreira.

Municipal company Domus Social is collecting data on the resident population in Porto municipal housing, in the context of this project, ongoing since September 2017 and completion due to this summer, which demonstrates that there are around 30 thousand tenants living in social neighbourhoods in Porto, of whom seven thousand are already over 65 years of age and experience social isolation.

Rui Moreira also stressed the importance in countering seniors' social isolation during the presentation of the project to social welfare institutions which took place at Coliseu Porto.

"What we seek with this project is to deliver support that has to be more than just addressing housing needs. Traditionally, Domus Social would provide appropriate housing but at present, we must go further and have full scrutiny of the needs assessment, implement a follow-up policy, develop a social network, involve partners, so that these people will not succumb to the isolation they are in. It is necessary to modify the perspective regarding social policies" Mayor of Porto stated.

More specifically, the "Porto. Importa-se" will address the problem of social isolation in the senior population aged 70+ and senior couples aged 75+, in a total of 2541 people, 70% are female, 56,6% with an income below 500 euros, 56,7% live alone and 48% say they feel lonely.

"We know how many people are, we know who they are, we know where they live but now it's time to go further, get down to it and truly understand each reality and needs", Rui Moreira concluded.

This project is aimed at providing standard home care, regarding one's hygiene or nutrition, but it also envisages new types of care, namely healthcare and a daily or weekly follow-up.