The problem of the elderly was the first to be felt. In the beginning the Centre appeared as a place where the elderly could meet and socialise with each other. Later its help spread to the rest of the community.
The DAY CARE CENTRE is opened to all the elderly who live in Carcavelos. Its aim is to stimulate and prolong the psychic and physical capacities of individual, helping them to have access to the activities and even awakening them to new interests.
The activities vary constantly and are adapted to the interests of the people. The activities that interest the elderly more are:
-The choir, with 20 participants some of who come to the Centre just for this activity.
- Geriatric Gymnastics, with over 30 participants.
- Handicraft that is frequented by people of various ages.
- There is also entertainment, such as games and contests that are very good exercises to fight against the loss of vocabulary and stimulate cerebral activity.
- Many elderly come to the Centre for debates on subjects suggested by them. ”Old-timers” ball, with music ballroom dancing is held once a month for the whole community. This is what they like most.
- Woodwork is an inter-generations activity where the elderly develop new skills that also stimulate their creativity.

Intergenerations
In the Community Centre there is always permanent contact among the elderly, children, and young people, which is encouraged through the activities thus permitting an exchange of experiences, examples of such activities are: Carnival Parade and the Chestnut Party in November.
There is also a close relation between the Centre and the primary schools of the area. At the beginning of each school year there is a meeting between the animators of The Community Centre and the teachers to plan joint activities according to the school curriculum.
The elderly theatre Group write and perform plays on themes accorded in the meeting. For example “Regions of Portugal” is a play that explains to the children the traditions of each region i.e customs, dresses, music, cuisine etc. After seeing the play the children are encouraged to write an essay on what they saw and learnt.

Volunteers
We seek to work with as many volunteers as possible, some of whom are retired from their professions and others waiting retirement. The aim is to promote the value and potentials of these people enabling them to help those in need and to contribute to the development of the community and to strengthen ties with their neighbours.
These initiatives, among others, help to promote solidarity between the generations. They make young people aware of the problems of the elderly and at the same time, bring them together.

Services
To solve the problems of the elderly we have created various services such as:

- Meal on wheels

- A surgery

- Legal guidance

- A hairdresser

- Pedicure

- A laundry

Home Care

Home Care exists since 1984 for people of all ages living in Carcavelos, but most especially for the elderly.
Simultaneously a Home Care Animation service began. This is made up of volunteers; the majority of them are retired. These volunteers visit elderly people who are isolated or unable to leave their homes.
They celebrate their birthdays with them, read the newspapers and accompany them to the doctor whenever necessary. In this way we maximise human resources and occupy the permanent staff only in specialised tasks.
Besides occupying the group of volunteers, this service permits the elderly sick not to lose contact with the outside world.

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