José Carlos Rolo, president of Albufeira municipality, signed onto the construction of the complex; named the Retirement Home, Home Care and Day Care Centre – Fontainhas; alongside a representative from Telhabel – Construções SA, a construction company.

It’s foreseen that ground will be broken on the project in September as the contract has already been sent to the Court of Auditors for approval. Expected to last 720 days, the facility can start helping citizens nearer the end of 2025.

“This is of great importance to our municipality, as it addresses a long-awaited social need,” José Carlos Rolo emphasised, talking up the “notable work” by Telhabel, who have already built other projects around Albufeira.

“The month of August this year marks a significant milestone for our municipality, as we are set to inaugurate the Olhos de Água Elderly Care Home, Creche, and Day Centre on August 20th, while simultaneously signing the contract for a new facility of the same nature,” the mayor boasted.

The complex being constructed consists of a main building, an annex for technical support, access roads, parking, and landscaped outdoors areas. The main building will house the elderly, the daycare centre, the home care area, and with some communal and support areas.

The single-storey annex is to store technical support features while exterior areas will host water reservoirs, an emergency centre and a power substation.

The territory set aside for this institution covers 28,356 square metres and is split into three uses: facilities, rural space, and agriculture. They reassure that “this social complex will strive to preserve the existing trees on the site.”

“We are dedicated to promoting sustainable ageing in Albufeira, which entails vigilant attention to all forms of care,” said Rolo. “One of these approaches materialises in physical structures, while the other involves support to ensure that social welfare organisations foster ageing that maintains the functional capacities of senior citizens, allowing them to continue pursuing what they value. To achieve this, it’s imperative to combat ageism and recognise our elderly as valuable sources of wisdom. For this, our senior citizens, which we will eventually become, must have quality living conditions,” the mayor surmised.