Lagoa signs teleassistance deal for elderly residents
Azores GuideThe service will provide an emergency button linked to a specialised call centre, fortnightly follow-up calls and planned telemedicine support.
Lagoa Municipal Council has signed a protocol with the Portuguese Red Cross to implement a teleassistance service for the municipality's elderly population. Frederico Sousa, president of Lagoa Municipal Council, signed with Arnaldo Machado, president of the Administrative Commission of the São Miguel delegation of the Portuguese Red Cross.
The service will provide equipment through which users can request help in an emergency or urgent situation by pressing a button linked to a specialised call centre. The Portuguese Red Cross Attention Center will assess the situation and can activate the appropriate response, including 112, security forces, local entities or an informal support network.
It will also include fortnightly follow-up calls intended to reduce isolation and loneliness. Telemedicine is also planned as part of the service, according to Correio dos Açores.
The municipality said Lagoa is the first municipality in the Azores to implement the service and that it will strengthen safety, monitoring and quality of life, particularly for more vulnerable elderly residents. Sousa said the service will also reinforce families' peace of mind and help combat social isolation.
Through its Social Action Office, the council intends to make the equipment easier to access for elderly residents, especially those who are isolated or have some degree of dependency. Interested people can contact the office for information on acquisition conditions and access options, including more advantageous conditions through the municipality.
Machado highlighted the Red Cross's experience in providing the service. He said there were about 185,000 teleassistance requests and 338,000 calls last year, and that the project currently supports 11,670 people.
Sources
Azores Guide
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