Government advances project to transform former São Jorge school into elderly care home

The Regional Government Council has determined, through Resolution No. 708/2026, that the Regional Secretariat for Inclusion, Work and Youth ensures all necessary procedures to adapt the former São Jorge School into a Residential Structure for the Elderly.

The decision comes in the context of increasing pressure on the network of residential social care responses for the elderly in Madeira. Currently, it is estimated that there are about 1,300 people on a waiting list and approximately 400 in a clinical discharge situation awaiting an adequate social response, for an installed capacity of about 1,590 places.

The project aims to give a new use to existing public heritage and strengthen the region's reception capacity. The Regional Secretariat for Inclusion, Work and Youth will be responsible for consolidating the technical elements already produced by the Madeira Institute of Social Security (ISSM, IP-RAM), assessing the feasibility of adapting the building, obtaining the necessary opinions, and promoting the legally appropriate public procurement procedure.

The resolution establishes that the solution to be developed must fully respect the legislation applicable to Residential Structures for the Elderly, namely regarding accessibility, fire safety, urbanization and building, works licensing, and operating authorization.