“In many homes, we’re the only people who come in for a long time.” Elisabete Veloso is a nurse and the closeness she has built up over the years with many of her patients is obvious. As well as taking their blood pressure and checking their medication, she organises appointments and check-ups via the SNS 24 service, buys them medication, listens to them and chats with them. In the end, it’s like family.

Elisabete is not the only one. The team includes Vânia Miranda and João Carneiro, who look after the physical and mental health of Mr Teixeira, Piedade and Augusto Coelho, Glória Silva and many others. Arminda Barbosa “was losing her mind” and João Carneiro’s conversation and cognitive stimulation have made a difference, she says. José Martins is moved when he sees his daughter through Vânia Miranda’s mobile phone.

Many members of this team – from the Uma Casa con’Vida project, promoted by the Lavradas Parish and Social Centre – travel kilometres, summer and winter, and work after hours, but Vânia Miranda couldn’t see herself doing anything else. “It’s very gratifying work!”