In the notice, the municipality of Valença, in the district
of Viana do Castelo, explains that "the aging of the population is
currently a phenomenon increasingly present in society" and that "the
trend towards growth of the elderly population is one of the most noticeable
features of Portuguese society.
"Portugal is part of the group of European countries
that register the highest rates of aging, and our municipality has followed
this demographic trend," the document states.
According to the municipality, "it is with this
portrait, of an aging country, that it becomes necessary to create responses
and structures that minimize the effects of isolation, loneliness and the lack
of family support and that simultaneously create conditions for them to remain
longer in their environment, promoting their active aging".
"The municipality of Valença, in partnership with
institutions in the area, has created a support measure at the level of home
teleassistance. This measure will allow individuals, in a health, security or
simply a loneliness emergency, to immediately contact, through an emergency
button, the necessary means to solve the problem", sustains the
municipality.
According to the Valença City Hall, this service "will
make it easier for people to stay in their natural environment and with quality
of life".