Ageing and Quality of Life - New Responses from the Real Estate Sector in Portugal

Abstract

In the second half of the 20^th century, the history of European demography is associated with a pronounced and widespread process of ageing. The 21^st century will have to cater to the needs of an elderly population in transformation. Portugal is also part of this process and in efforts to improve the quality of life of the elderly, a wide range of facilities, services and social responses have been established by a variety of promoters, targeting several social levels. This paper will analyze a specific segment directed at an exclusive niche of the elderly population, the Senior Residential Condominiums. This is a very recent segment of the housing market, with high levels of comfort, quality, sanitation, health, and recreation, essential to full well-being. The paper intends to characterize this real estate market niche so as to identify its distinctive features, the promoting agents and how they can contribute to residents' quality of life.