The Home of the Poor St Vincent de Paul welcomes the elderly, who are interested in living in a long-term home care. It has dormitories with bathrooms, physiotherapy room, a social room, an aquatic physiotherapy space, an indoor court, a chapel, an educational space, and a soccer field.
The institution was founded in 1933, in Nova Friburgo, located up to the mountains, next to Rio de Janeiro city.
It has the purpose of serving elderly people of both sexes and disabled adults. Later, in 1943, due to the side effects of the Thalidomide medication, which caused the birth of children with severe physical disabilities, the institution opened its doors to welcome them. Some of these kids have become adults and remain in the institution to this day.
Care under the Vincentian Charisma
Besides offering shelter and facilities according to the norms of the Brazilian Health Surveillance, the institution guarantees a balanced diet with a nutritionist orientation, and also provides, when necessary, medical care in a hospital unit. It promotes educational, cultural, recreational, and religious activities and offers permanent care by social service staff, moreover it develops activities that encourage autonomy and work on self-esteem.
The St Vincent de Paul Home of the Poor) also works towards to prevent any kind of violence and discrimination against the elderly, involving family members and/or third parties, who have a bond with the elderly, facilitating their visits, as well as providing understanding of the aging process. Finally, the institution reports to the Brazilian Public Ministry any abuse or case of moral or material abandonment by family members or third parties involved.
Among the activities there offered:
Memory Workshops – works on the social memory of the elderly, through tales and daily life stories, enabling the development of exchanges among different generations;
Hydrotherapy – seeks to fully develop the psychophysical potential of the disabled and elderly;
Sweet Solidarity Workshops – stimulates the social interaction of the elderly, through the weekly production of sweets, establishing an affective bond among the participants.
Diaper Workshops – It has the participation of volunteers and enables the institutional self-sufficiency through the manufacturing production of diapers for the users of the The Home of the Poor.
Beauty Workshop – works with the help of volunteers to do haircuts and manicuring and also develops activities that stimulate personal hygiene.
Events Workshop – Plans and develops commemorative activities, tours, other general events, and exhibitions.
Home of the Poor St Vincent de Paul
Address: Rua General Osório, 377, Zipcode 28625-630,
Nova Friburgo – RJ
Phone: +55 (22) 2522-4646
To learn more about this work, visit the website