An “illegal” old people’s home in Portimão where 22 pensioners lived was closed down by Social Security officials this morning (February 16).
“Poor hygiene, a lack of licences and insufficient workers” were among the main problems identified.
According to CMTV, some residents denied the claims and said it “actually functioned very well”.
Nonetheless they are now being taken in by their families or moved to other homes.
Expresso newspaper says the home, located in Aldeia do Carrasco, had already been ordered to close around a year ago but that the case had been taken to court.
Meantime, Portugal’s Minister of Labour, Solidarity, and Social Security has guaranteed that whenever these “illegal homes are discovered, they are inspected”.
“Every year hundreds of inspections are carried out and dozens of (illegal) homes are closed down,” Vieira da Silva told journalists at the opening ceremony of the ‘PóvoaSol’ home in Penamacor, Castelo Branco.
Six homes have already been closed in Portugal this year, according to data from the Social Security institute, claims Lusa news agency.
In 2016, 104 were shut down.
