"A Greater Life" is What You Can Expect in This Residence

Vida Maior’s main goal is to promote the quality of life of elderly individuals. They follow the World Health Organization’s (WHO) quality of life guidelines, which have been scientifically validated for the Portuguese population.

Vida Maior’s mission is to develop Residential Facilities and Cognitive Stimulation Centers, offering support, assistance, and rehabilitation services for elderly people in situations of dependency or dementia, regardless of their level of autonomy. The organization promotes quality of life for seniors according to their needs and interests, ensuring comfort and safety, and providing personalized and comprehensive health and personal care services.

PME Mag – How many residents do you currently have?

Juvenal Baltazar (J.B) – The Residential Facility for Elderly People (ERPI) welcomed its first residents on January 2, 2020. The Vida Maior Maceira facility has the capacity to accommodate 30 clients in ERPI and 40 in the Day Center. Since our opening, we have been operating both social care services.

PME Mag – How many beds are still available??

J.B – Currently, we have six available beds in individual and double rooms. We can admit more residents under strict safety conditions, maintaining a 14-day quarantine period, in accordance with General Directorate of Health (DGS) recommendations.

PME Mag – How do you ensure residents’ safety during the pandemic (contingency measures)??

J.B – As soon as the first reports of a potential pandemic surfaced, we developed a contingency plan. Regarding external visits, we restricted family visits in both number and duration starting on March 9. From March 14 onward, visits were completely prohibited.

All deliveries are made outside the premises and are disinfected before entering the building. Staff do not take their uniforms home, and their shoes are disinfected upon entering the facility. All external personnel (staff) wear masks, and we have increased the use of disposable gloves and hand sanitization with alcohol gel.

Additionally, we have set up three isolation areas in accordance with DGS guidelines.

Chairs and armchairs in common areas have been spaced apart, and in the dining room, only two people are seated per table. Residents’ and staff members’ temperatures are monitored twice daily.

PME Mag – How do you accommodate new residents?

J.B – We only admit new residents who have tested negative for COVID-19. From March 15 onward, new residents have been accommodated in an isolation room for 14 days.

During this preventive isolation period, we provide daily individual physical activity sessions and personalized support, ensuring their physical, psychological, and emotional well-being.

Multidisciplinary Team and Personal Development

PME. Mag – How many geriatric care professionals do you have, and how do they support elderly individuals during this phase of the pandemic?

J.B – At the moment, we have maintained our staff numbers, with two employees being replaced as they are at home under the child support measure.

We have 10 geriatric care professionals, one cook, two general service assistants, the technical director, one nurse, one sociocultural animator, one occupational therapist, one psychomotor therapist, one physiotherapist (12 hours per week), and one general practitioner (4 hours per week).

Support for clients, as well as the activity plan, has remained as usual. We continue with all scheduled activities, including physiotherapy sessions, painting classes, literacy lessons, cognitive and sensory stimulation sessions, reading, and the interpretation of stories and legends, among others.

In the current context, we have strengthened group meetings for sharing emotions and managing feelings, as well as individual support sessions.

Vida Maior’s intervention model has always been highly focused on promoting the individual skills of our clients through a multidisciplinary team. Creating programs and life projects tailored to each of our clients.

Here are just a few examples of these individualized life projects, which have now been intensified during quarantine.

Mrs. A. – A former painting teacher, she has intensified her artistic work, refining her technique and preparing an art exhibition.

Mr. L. – A man with a background in agriculture and nature, responsible for the vertical garden project (completed last week). This initiative encourages hope and daily care through planting and harvesting.

Mr. T. – A former service worker with a passion for music, he is currently focusing on fine motor skill training and providing musical entertainment for his peers.

Mrs. G. and Mrs. L. – Formerly engaged in sewing and embroidery, they are now producing masks to support the ERPI's operations.

Technology in Favor of Communication

PME. Mag – How do you manage isolation?

J.B – To overcome isolation, we use digital tools for communication, both internally and externally.

Every day, an email is sent to families, and each family is contacted every two days by a Vida Maior staff member. We regularly publish videos and photos of activities and receive videos and photos from families, which are shared with residents on the facility's screens.

We have also introduced video conferencing with families and video calls using multiple online platforms.

PME Magazine – What is the general emotional state of the Vida Maior community during these times?.

J.B J.B. – So far, the overall emotional state among residents, staff, and families has been quite positive, despite the challenges we are facing.

Generally, people are calm but understandably apprehensive about the future. We pay close attention to every detail, supporting and encouraging one another.

Our clients miss their regular visits, which were a fundamental part of our ERPI routine. However, both families and residents have adapted well to these restrictions, as they understand the importance of these protective measures.

The staff has been exceptional, demonstrating creativity, enthusiasm, dedication, and professionalism in caring for our residents.

We would love to enjoy the sunshine, the beach, the sea, and the countryside nearby more often... but for now, we remain hopeful that "Everything will be okay."

By Mafalda Marques

Source: PMEMagazine