The idea of creating this establishment dates back to the 1980s, when the Portuguese Province of the Hospitaller Order of St. John of God felt the need to move the headquarters of the St. John of God Institute and the Provincial Curia from the Telhal Health Centre to Lisbon. The facility includees a "Residential Space" in the building, intended mainly for the elderly Brothers of St. John of God and their relatives. Thus, in 1994, the first stone was laid for the construction of the building, at number 20, Rua S. Tomás de Aquino.
Opened on 1 June 1998 during the Provincial Chapter, the population of this first residential community consisted of only seven residents. Its first director was the Provincial Superior, Brother António Matos Matias. At the end of this Provincial Chapter, Brother José Paulo Pereira will succeed him as Director of this establishment.
The three years that followed were of definition of the profile that was intended for the newly formed St. John of Avila Residence, and the charismatic and quality standards established marked it in such a way as to become the main pillars, which allow us to be proud of the care provided therein.
In addition, it was marked by a change in the nature of the care, the services available and an increased staff.
The investment in more differentiated Human Resources and constant presence, allowed the opening of this establishment to the National Continued Care Plan. Thus, in April 2002, the first Continued Care Unit was created in the country, as a non-profit charitable entity, designated as an Integrated Care Unit.
At that time, the Senior Management decided to close the admission of new patients for a prolonged stay (Home), and to allocate it only to temporary stays with the purpose of Physical and Functional Rehabilitation.
In December 2006, RSJA signed a contract with the National Integrated Continued Care Network (RNCCI) to open a Medium-Term Care Unit with 26 beds. Later, in 2007, this protocol was changed to a Convalescence Unit that can accommodate 25 patients, which is maintained until to this day.
In 2011, the welfare nature of this Establishment was definitely established: the St. John of Avila Residence is a Physical Rehabilitation Centre specialising in Intensive Rehabilitation Programmes, mainly for people with light or moderate temporary dependence and with a clear rehabilitation potential.
This establishment offers therapeutic rehabilitation activities to patients defined through a personalised plan (Individual Intervention Plan).
It has five different modalities:
- Convalescence Unit
- Physical Rehabilitation Inpatient Unit
- Daytime Rehabilitation - Outpatient
- Home care
The physical rehabilitation services existing in the RSJA, allow an adequate service to Patients/Caregivers, promoting the transition and the follow-up in the different stages of the evolution of the rehabilitation process.
