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There are different housing options for people aged over 65 in Portugal, from remaining in their own home to living in a residential setting or in a private apartment with services. The main difference lies in the level of autonomy, the type of support required and how each person wants to live day to day.
For an autonomous person, for example, needs can be very different from those of someone who requires regular support with activities of daily living. Therefore, before comparing settings or prices, it is important to understand what distinguishes each model.
Not all so-called senior residences meet the same needs. Some are primarily intended for people who require care and support; others are designed for people who remain autonomous and are looking for a home that is easier to manage, with services and a community close by.
Remaining in your own home allows you to keep your routines, neighbourhood and familiar surroundings. For many people, this remains the right solution as long as the home continues to meet their needs and day-to-day life can be managed autonomously.
It may be necessary to adapt some features of the home, simplify maintenance or occasionally use domestic services, meal provision, transport or other types of support.
Where there is a situation of dependency, the formal Home Support Service (Serviço de Apoio Domiciliário — SAD) may also be considered. Under Portuguese legislation, SAD provides care and services in the home to people who, due to physical or psychological dependency, are unable to meet certain basic needs or carry out activities of daily living.
Continuing to live at home can make sense when the home, location and support network make it possible to preserve quality of life and autonomy without making day-to-day management too demanding.
A Residential Facility for Older People (Estrutura Residencial para Pessoas Idosas — ERPI) is the legal designation for the residential care provision often known as a “care home”.
Portuguese legislation defines an ERPI as a collective accommodation establishment, temporary or permanent, where social support and care appropriate to residents’ needs are provided. As a rule, it is intended for people aged 65 or over who, for reasons such as dependency, isolation, loneliness, insecurity or family circumstances, are unable to remain in their own home.
ERPIs provide services and support in line with this framework, including assistance with activities of daily living and nursing care.
This model is therefore different from a solution designed primarily for autonomous people who simply want to make managing their home easier or have services close at hand.
The term “assisted living residence” is used to describe solutions where housing is accompanied by some level of assistance with day-to-day life.
The level of support can vary considerably between operators. Depending on the model, it may include meals, cleaning, help with personal hygiene, medication support or other services.
For this reason, the name of a residence alone is not enough to understand the type of solution it provides. Before deciding, it is advisable to confirm its framework, who it is intended for, what care it provides, which professionals are available and which services are included.
Someone who needs daily personal support will have different selection criteria from a fully autonomous person who is primarily looking for comfort, security and fewer concerns about managing their home.
Independent Living, or independent housing with services, follows a different approach: it is designed for autonomous people who want to continue managing their own lives but prefer to do so in a home suited to this stage of life, with services that make day-to-day living simpler.
Rather than a model centred on permanent care, residents have a private, independent apartment complemented by services and shared spaces. Depending on the project, these may include cleaning, maintenance, dining, security, activities, or spaces for exercise and socialising.
Privacy is maintained. The community and services are available without replacing each resident’s autonomy.
This is the Senior Independent Living model adopted by Club65. The concept is intended for people aged over 65 who are active, independent and autonomous, live in their own apartment and retain the freedom to organise their own schedules, routines and choices.
For people who remain autonomous but are looking for a home that is easier to manage, services on hand and a community close by, Senior Independent Living now provides an alternative to traditional solutions.
Club65 is neither an ERPI nor an assisted living residence. The aim is not to provide permanent assistance, but to combine independent housing, services, comfort and community living, while preserving each person’s autonomy.
Family placement for older people is a social care response that differs from the options above. It consists of the temporary or permanent placement of a person in the home of a family considered suitable for this purpose.
It can be an option for people who are no longer able to live alone and who benefit from support in a family setting rather than in a collective residential facility.
As with other forms of provision involving ongoing support, suitability depends on the individual situation, the person’s needs and the conditions available.
| Option | Level of autonomy | Where they live | Type of support | May be most suitable for |
| Own home | High to variable | Current home | Occasional services or SAD, where applicable | People who want to remain at home and can manage day-to-day life |
| ERPI | Variable, often with a need for support | Collective residential facility | Social support, activities of daily living and care | People who need regular support and care |
| Assisted living residence | Variable | Depends on the model | Different levels of day-to-day assistance | People who need some regular support |
| Independent Living | High | Private apartment | Convenience services, security and community | Autonomous people who want to simplify day-to-day life without losing independence |
| Family placement | Variable | Home of a host family | Support in a family setting | People who are unable to remain at home alone |
The commercial name of a solution does not, in itself, make it possible to understand exactly what it offers. The most important thing is to confirm who it is intended for, the expected level of autonomy, which services and care are included, and the entity’s regulatory framework.
Start with your current level of autonomy. Ask yourself how much support is genuinely needed today. Managing meals, shopping, travel, medication, cleaning or home maintenance can require very different levels of assistance.
Also consider the autonomy you want to preserve. Having friends over, cooking, travelling, keeping your own schedule or simply closing the door and having time to yourself can all be important factors when choosing a new home.
Compare what is included. Two similar monthly charges can correspond to very different propositions. Check the accommodation, utilities, meals, cleaning, maintenance, activities, security and any additional services.
Assess the location. Being close to family is important, but so are transport links, shops, green spaces, culture, restaurants and the places that are part of your routine.
Ask what happens if your needs change. Before deciding, understand the level of support each option can provide and what happens if different support is needed in the future.
The choice should not be based on age alone. It should be based above all on how you live today and how you want to continue living in the years ahead.
No. Moving home can be a proactive decision rather than one driven by necessity. An autonomous person may look for a more practical home, with less maintenance, a better location or services that simplify day-to-day life long before they need assistance.
Not necessarily. “Senior residence” is a broad term used for different types of provision. An ERPI has a specific legal framework and provides social support and care. Therefore, when comparing residences, it is important to check the model, licensing and the services actually provided.
Yes. Depending on individual preferences and circumstances, an autonomous person may continue living in their own home, move to another home that better suits their needs, or choose an independent living model, where they retain a private apartment and use services that simplify day-to-day life.
Yes. In models based on independent apartments, each resident retains their own home and privacy. Shared spaces and activities are available as opportunities to socialise, not as an obligation.
Confirm who it is intended for, what level of autonomy is required, what is included in the monthly fee, which optional services are available, what support is provided 24 hours a day, what the contractual terms are and what happens if your needs change.
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