ABSTRACT
The distribution of the elderly population in Portugal is not homogeneous, reflecting the socioeconomic diversities of each region. At this time 17% of the Portuguese population lives to over 65 years old. The largest percentage of population over 65 years old resides in the centre and south of the country. According to a study of the National Institute of Statistics (2002) the population over 65 years old has doubled in the last 40 years, so that in about 30% of families there is at least one elderly person and around half of these are composed by elders.
