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Leixões Fire Department combats isolation of the elderly

Home visits identify household risks and health care needs


With the pandemic by COVID- 19, many situations of social isolation have worsened.

Supporting and raising awareness among the elderly living in isolation for situations of risk at home or on the street is one of the goals of the project that the Humanitarian Association of Leixões Voluntary Firefighters, in partnership with the Civil Protection of Matosinhos and the social services, have been implementing on the ground.

The elderly can be referred by MatosinhosHabit, but also by social solidarity institutions such as Associação Baptista Ágape, Obra do Padre Grilo, Centro Social Padre Ramos, among others.

During the home visits, the firefighters' team identifies both the primary health care needs at home and potential domestic risks, in articulation with family health doctors.

One of the visits was attended by the councilman for Civil Protection, Marta Pontes.

Another of this project's objectives is to train informal and volunteer caregivers who provide support to people who are dependent or in isolation. One of the actions will be training in basic life support.

The training is also extended to the employees of the Private Institutions of Social Solidarity in the municipality.

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