The 55+ project has enabled more than 5,400 people aged 55 or over, between unemployed and retired, to return to the labor market in several regions of the country, including the Metropolitan Areas of Lisbon and Porto, Aveiro, and the Algarve. The services provided are varied and include small home repairs, accompanying elderly people to the doctor, childcare and pet care, English and music lessons, home chef services, gardening, cleaning, and sewing.
The platform was created in 2018 by Elena Durán, from Jaén, in southern Spain, initially in five parishes of Greater Lisbon. The project has already exceeded 60,300 hours of services carried out by the so-called "55+ Talents" and has expanded to Barcelona, now intending to replicate the model in other cities across the country.
The 55+ operates through two models: one aimed at those seeking and able to pay for services, and another of "double impact" for those without financial capacity, with support from municipalities and partner organizations that cover payment for hours worked. In Leiria, the project is supported by the Social Security Institute, while in the Algarve it has the collaboration of the Auchan Foundation, the Municipality of Loulé, and European funds for social innovation. In Porto, the platform is part of the local social network and maintains proximity with the municipal council.
