I think some of this is down to infrastructure too. If you live in a walkable, dense environment you can keep up with your day-to-day more so than if you are stranded in sprawl somewhere and no longer able to drive. And, I've also noticed part of the infrastructure here is the existence of non-emergency ambulances (more like vans) that pick up elderly people for their doctors' appointments.
Thanks so much, Megan! You're absolutely right. One of the many reasons I'm such an advocate for walkable neighborhoods. They exist in the U.S., but are far too rare and usually way too expensive. Sprawl that strands people exists here as well, but not on the same scale.
From the moment we draw our first breaths we are aging. We all come with expiration dates, yet we can rarely know precisely when they will arrive. So in the meantime, what will we choose to do with this opportunity of consciousness in human form? You have chosen to live in a place where you get to see how some are going about living out those choices. In ways that sometimes are quite different from whence you came. It’s so cool to see, through your eyes, how you are processing that!
Happy birthday! It's all downhill from here . . . she says, laughing, at 74. BTW, people 65 and over have priority in grocery store lines by law in Portugal. So all that line-cutting is legal. I feel younger than my stated years so I haven't claimed the privilege yet.
Hahaha, thanks so much, Justine! I had no idea that was actually written into law. It took me off guard initially, but I actually love it. That's understandable, not wanting or needing to claim the privilege, but it could come in handy if you're ever in a rush.
The housing crisis is not a problem for the elderly, far from it. It's for their Grandchildren, not for them.
According to the 2021 census, there are 922,810 rental contracts in Portugal.
84,000 are less than €50
64,000 are between €50 and €100
130,000 are between €100 and €200
Approximately one third of contracts are less than €200 and no one over the age of 65 can have their contract terminated. In addition, rents cannot increase by more than the rate of inflation. Until death, their situation will always be guaranteed. The price of this situation is paid by their grandchildren, but that's is one of the tabus of the Portuguese society.
Deaths from excessive temperatures must be viewed differently. We have the fourth oldest population in the world. The number of people over 85 is staggering. These are already very frail people; we cannot expect them to be here forever. If it weren't for the heatwave in August, it would be the cold spell in January. Or the flu. Whatever the reason, the time has come.
Thanks so much for this info, Paulo. I didn’t realize no one over 65 can have their rental contract terminated. I still have so much to learn coming from the U.S. context.
Nothing is as humbling as trudging up an Alfama or Graça hill and having an Avó power-walk past you carrying two grocery bags, wearing a dress and sensible heels.
Usually, people on the Metro offer a seat to the Avós but sometimes, if people are distracted, the Avós have no problem tapping them on the shoulder to remind them 🙂
I think some of this is down to infrastructure too. If you live in a walkable, dense environment you can keep up with your day-to-day more so than if you are stranded in sprawl somewhere and no longer able to drive. And, I've also noticed part of the infrastructure here is the existence of non-emergency ambulances (more like vans) that pick up elderly people for their doctors' appointments.
Oh, and happy birthday.
Thanks so much, Megan! You're absolutely right. One of the many reasons I'm such an advocate for walkable neighborhoods. They exist in the U.S., but are far too rare and usually way too expensive. Sprawl that strands people exists here as well, but not on the same scale.
From the moment we draw our first breaths we are aging. We all come with expiration dates, yet we can rarely know precisely when they will arrive. So in the meantime, what will we choose to do with this opportunity of consciousness in human form? You have chosen to live in a place where you get to see how some are going about living out those choices. In ways that sometimes are quite different from whence you came. It’s so cool to see, through your eyes, how you are processing that!
Thanks so much, Eric! Really appreciate you following along on this journey and for your thoughtful replies.
Happy birthday! It's all downhill from here . . . she says, laughing, at 74. BTW, people 65 and over have priority in grocery store lines by law in Portugal. So all that line-cutting is legal. I feel younger than my stated years so I haven't claimed the privilege yet.
Hahaha, thanks so much, Justine! I had no idea that was actually written into law. It took me off guard initially, but I actually love it. That's understandable, not wanting or needing to claim the privilege, but it could come in handy if you're ever in a rush.
Still wouldn't use the privilege--karma!
The housing crisis is not a problem for the elderly, far from it. It's for their Grandchildren, not for them.
According to the 2021 census, there are 922,810 rental contracts in Portugal.
84,000 are less than €50
64,000 are between €50 and €100
130,000 are between €100 and €200
Approximately one third of contracts are less than €200 and no one over the age of 65 can have their contract terminated. In addition, rents cannot increase by more than the rate of inflation. Until death, their situation will always be guaranteed. The price of this situation is paid by their grandchildren, but that's is one of the tabus of the Portuguese society.
Deaths from excessive temperatures must be viewed differently. We have the fourth oldest population in the world. The number of people over 85 is staggering. These are already very frail people; we cannot expect them to be here forever. If it weren't for the heatwave in August, it would be the cold spell in January. Or the flu. Whatever the reason, the time has come.
Thanks so much for this info, Paulo. I didn’t realize no one over 65 can have their rental contract terminated. I still have so much to learn coming from the U.S. context.
Nothing is as humbling as trudging up an Alfama or Graça hill and having an Avó power-walk past you carrying two grocery bags, wearing a dress and sensible heels.
Usually, people on the Metro offer a seat to the Avós but sometimes, if people are distracted, the Avós have no problem tapping them on the shoulder to remind them 🙂
Haha so true! Also thanks for teaching me the term Avós. I hadn’t learned that in my Portuguese lessons yet.