Around 30 pensioners took part in a public tribune in Lisbon today to draw attention to the state’s “insufficient responses” in terms of care facilities for the elderly, as well as the proliferation of clandestine homes.
The initiative by the National Confederation of Retired People, Pensioners and the Elderly (MURPI) and the CGTP-IN’s Inter-Reformed was held in Praça Paiva Couceiro, a month after the organizations delivered a petition to parliament with more than 8,000 signatures demanding a public network of homes and reinforced support for the elderly who remain at home.
Speaking to the Lusa news agency, the president of MURPI, Isabel Gomes, explained that there is an “imperative need for the elderly” to have a support network.
“We need a public network of homes that depends on Social Security, that the state runs, (…) that has enough competent people to take care of those who are going to be in need,” she stressed.
Isabel Gomes recalled that there are homes “without conditions” and that there is no inspection of clandestine structures.
Giving an update on the signatures collected for the petition handed in on June 18, she said that the document was received by the Assembly of the Republic with 8,400 signatories and that there are currently more than 2,000 to be handed in.
“It’s already been accepted. We’re waiting for the Assembly of the Republic’s committee to call us and then the parties can present bills, as they see fit,” he said.
Arlindo Costa, coordinator of the CGTP-IN’s Inter-Reformed Workers’ Union, said that “more and more” elderly people “are abandoned”, stressing that “they can’t afford to go to a home”.
“It’s very striking for people who have worked all their lives to reach the end of their lives and have no chance of living the rest of their lives in dignity, because care homes are expensive, non-existent and those that do exist are clandestine and equally expensive and without the conditions to have a space and a dignified life,” he stressed.
Arlindo Costa also said that the parties “have not taken this problem into account”.
“It’s everyone’s problem, because sooner or later – the life cycle being normal – they will be old and are faced with this sad reality: low pensions. Increasing wages is essential, increasing pensions is necessary. With low pensions it’s not possible to pay for a home and it would be good if the government, successive governments, put this on the agenda for discussion in Parliament,” he said.
