Regional Government renews “New Elderly” programme for 2026 with regional investment of €5.53 million - Communication

Secretaria Regional da Saúde e Segurança Social

The renewal of the “New Elderly" programme for 2026 was approved on Thursday at a meeting of the Council of the Government, ensuring the continuity of this innovative social response with an investment of €5.53 million from the Autonomous Region of the Azores Budget (ORAA).

The Regional Secretary for Health and Social Security, Mónica Seidi, stated that this renewal "ensures the continuity of a response that has transformed the lives of hundreds of elderly Azoreans, allowing them to age actively and healthily in their homes, with the specialised support they need."

Created in 2022, during the first PSD/CDS-PP/PPM coalition government, as part of the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP), the “New Elderly" programme has led to the development of a personalised home care model based on the "ageing in place" concept, which has already shown highly positive and scientifically validated results.

Since the pilot project began, 545 seniors have benefited from this response, with 404 new elderly people currently integrated, supported by about 526 home caregivers and 40 specialised senior technicians.

The external assessment conducted by APLIXAR confirmed, among other findings, that 73.8% caregivers reduced their level of overload. Furthermore, 60.3% of seniors improved their cognitive function, 57.7% saw an increase in their quality of life, 82.5% felt less sad, 80.6% felt less lonely, and 41.2% stated that without the Programme, they would probably be institutionalised.

According to Mónica Seidi, "the results achieved are clear: improved quality of life, greater autonomy, reduced loneliness and anxiety, reduced burden on informal carers and prevention of institutionalisation."

The programme, which currently covers 16 municipalities and provides 465 vacancies, also has a significant impact on regional employability, with more than 400 jobs created, contributing to the retention of qualified professionals, especially on smaller islands.

The Regional Secretary also highlighted the essential role of Local Technical Teams and partner institutions in the social sector: “This is a programme implemented locally, with highly qualified multidisciplinary teams and the involvement of communities. It is a response that transforms lives and strengthens social cohesion.”

The implementation of the programme until October 2026 is financed under the RRP, with an overall amount of €14.6 million. The renewal now approved ensures continuity until December 2026, with funding for the last quarter of the year being secured by the ORAA, totalling €5.53 million.

“The Azores are establishing themselves as a national benchmark in promoting dignified and safe ageing at home. The renewal of the ‘New Elderly’ Programme is a decisive step towards consolidating this response as a structured and sustainable public policy,” concluded Mónica Seidi.