Social Security has closed 43 daycare centers and 307 nursing homes due to lack of conditions since 2023

In the two and a half year period, between 2023 and the first half of 2025, the Social Security Institute (ISS) inspected 1,608 Residential Structures for the Elderly and 363 daycare centers.

In both cases, according to a report sent to the Lusa news agency, more than a third of the establishments inspected were not licensed, with 637 illegal homes and 129 illegal daycare centers being identified.

Social Security does not specify what was decreed in these cases, which in the most serious situations can result in closure, but states that, following the inspection processes, 350 more establishments were ordered to close.

The majority of the establishments closed are homes: 307 in total, 56 of which were urgent, due to lack of conditions with imminent danger to the rights and quality of life of users.

In urgent closure situations, the ISS immediately removes users, who are then sent to their families or suitable alternative social responses.

This year alone, during the first half of the year, nine urgent closures of homes and 50 administrative closures were decreed, in these cases due to a lack of conditions that do not pose a danger to users.

Regarding daycare centers, Social Security ordered the closure of 43 establishments, nearly half in 2023, a year in which two urgent closures and 31 administrative closures were decreed.

In the first six months of 2025, two daycare centers were urgently closed and another five were administratively closed.

In the report sent to Lusa, the ISS also states that during the first half of the year it received 52 requests for operating authorization for new daycare centers and 22 began operating.

“According to the Social Charter, in December 2024 there were 2,594 registered daycare centers,” says Social Security, specifying that the installed capacity reached 133,691 places.

"More daycare centers are planned to open. Updating coverage rates and launching a digital platform for managing and monitoring social response vacancies will enable planning and increasing the number of vacancies based on a more accurate assessment of the region's needs," he adds.

Since 2023, the number of cooperation agreements has increased from 1,875 to 1,889 in 2025, with an increase of 46.10 euros in the contribution amount per user per month, which increased from 473.80 euros to 519.90 euros.

As for nursing homes, Social Security received 65 requests for operating authorization during the first half of the year and 26 new establishments began operating.

In December 2024, there were 105,316 places in nursing homes, of which 74,424 (71%) had a cooperation agreement with the ISS.

By institution, Social Security established 1,721 cooperation agreements (12 more than in 2023) and increased the contribution amount per user per month from 523.29 euros to 666.90 euros.