Practical guide for informal carers

This guide contains useful information about both the person providing care (the carer) and the person being cared for, highlighting their rights and the benefits, support measures and services available, as well as responses at various levels designed to improve their quality of life. The information published on this website is also intended for professionals who work alongside carers, and for those receiving care.

You can find information related to healthcare and social support here. Find out how to request these services, where they are provided and how they can be adapted to the different situations applying to carers and those receiving care.

The Informal Carer Statute was adopted by Law No 100/2019 of 6 September.

The information in this guide is organised into the following sections:

Practical guide – Guide for carers (PDF file, 1.12 MB)

Skills and training

In the list below you will find various training opportunities, courses, videos, manuals, reports and mobile apps that help to make caring for the carer and the person receiving care easier.

Social benefits and protection

If the person receiving care has a disability, is dependent or is incapacitated to the extent that they need to be cared for by another person, they may be entitled to receive benefits or support aids through the Social Security system if they meet the conditions.

Find out more about social benefits and protection.

Rights of the carer (non-primary informal carer)

Carers, i.e. persons with non-primary informal carer status and who exercise another profession, have the following rights:

  • annual leave of five consecutive days to assist the person in need of care;
  • teleworking, flexible working time or part-time;
  • 15 days of justified absences to assist the person receiving care;
  • protection against dismissal and discrimination;
  • exemption from having to work overtime.

Find out more about the rights of carers.

Health and social support services and measures

Existing social and health bodies

Research of Public, Social and Private Health Care Providers

Support Measures

Helplines and other support

Contacts and Support Lines

  • In case of emergency: 112
  • National Social Emergency Line: 144
  • SNS 24: 808 24 24 24
  • Line Intoxications/INEM: 808 250 143
  • Social Security Line: 300 502 502
  • Citizen Line: 300 003 990
  • Citizen with Disabilities Line: 800 20 84 62
  • Senior Citizen Line: 800 20 35 31
  • Children Line: 800 20 66 56
  • APAV line - Portuguese Association for Victim Support: 116 006
     

Other Lines and Contacts that may be useful to you

Frequently asked questions

  1. What is Informed Consent?
  2. What is the Scheme of the Adult Accompanied?
  3. What is the National Integrated Continued Care Network (RNCCI)?
  4. What is Caregiver Rest and how do I access it?
  5. What to do in case of death?
  6. Who is the Priority Service for?
  7. How do I report an adverse medicine reaction?
  8. What to do in a Bad Treatment situation?
  9. What is the Rare Disease Card?
  10. Where can I get more information about health promotion and disease prevention activities?
  11. How many absences can I give at work to care for relatives?
  12. Where can I get information about employment?
  13. What is the Social Emergency Line?
  14. How can I make a compliment, complaint or suggestion?
  15. Other information

Legislation

Health, social, labour and other legislation that can be useful

Know more

Related services

Information updated on August 9, 2023