Portugal is one of the most aged countries in the world, but it faces a serious shortage of resources to care for the elderly. According to the OECD's Health at a Glance 2025 report, by 2050, one-third of the population will be 65 years or older, and more than one in eight people will be 80 years or older.

Despite this accelerated aging, the country has only 3.9 beds for every 1,000 people aged 65 or older and 0.8 workers for every 100 elderly people, values ​​well below the OECD average and close to the lowest extreme recorded in Greece.

The OECD report, cited by Público, also highlights that the long-term care sector faces structural difficulties, such as low wages, high physical and mental risks, atypical contracts, and scarce recognition. The percentage of foreign workers in the sector doubled in Portugal between 2014 and 2024, rising from 11% to 23%, reflecting the growing importance of these professionals in addressing the shortage of caregivers. Despite the desire of most elderly people to remain at home, the country has few formal resources and hospital beds, well below the average of the 34 OECD countries.

The health of elderly Portuguese people is also a concern: more years of life do not always mean a better quality of life. The report indicates that more than 30% of Portuguese people aged 65 or over face limitations in daily activities, and 74% of those over 75 take at least five medications. Furthermore, Portugal has one of the highest prevalences of infections in long-term care facilities, with 6% of the elderly affected, above the average of 3.2% in the 16 countries evaluated.