Portugal launches eGuard and GuardAfetos teleassistance for vulnerable seniors

The eGuard project, a tele‑assistance and monitoring system designed for vulnerable people, was presented on 16 July to the municipalities of Alto Alentejo. Developed by the Agency for Development of Information Society and Knowledge (ADSI) together with the National Republican Guard (GNR), the platform lets users send SOS requests and transmit location data to a 24‑hour GNR‑monitored centre. eGuard is already operating in the districts of Viseu, Castelo Branco and Bragança and aims to reduce isolation risks for the elderly and dependent citizens.

In the Guarda district, a separate initiative called GuardAfetos is being piloted at the Lar dos Afetos residential centre. The project adds health‑care professionals to home‑support teams, gathers data on seniors’ conditions, and seeks coordinated recommendations for regional authorities. Backed by the Federation of Third‑Age Institutions (FITI) and local authorities, GuardAfetos targets the growing number of older adults living alone, aiming to improve their care and social integration.