Cuidar de Quem Cuida

What Cuidar de Quem Cuida does

Cuidar de Quem Cuida (CQC) is a Portuguese social initiative promoted by CASTIIS, a Private Institution of Social Solidarity (IPSS) headquartered in Santa Maria da Feira, Portugal. Founded in 2009, CQC designs and delivers support services for informal caregivers — primarily family members caring for people with dementia or other conditions requiring ongoing dependence. The core offering is a cascade replication methodology comprising three intervention layers: structured psychoeducational programs delivered in 9–10 weekly sessions (in-person or online), ongoing Mutual Help Groups (GAM), and Individual consultations covering psychology, social support, and legal advice. The Entrelaça sub-brand, launched in 2023, extends the model to post-caregivers via the Casulo support group, Loja dos Cuidadores community services, and Laboratório 50+ active aging program. There is no proprietary technology platform; service delivery runs through physical Gabinetes de Apoio ao Cuidador hosted inside CASTIIS and partner hospital CHEDV, telephone support, online group sessions, and trained municipal implementation teams.

The organization does not operate as a commercial enterprise. Services to caregivers are free at point of use, and the program is funded primarily through social impact investment — most notably the Título de Impacto Social (TIS) granted in January 2019 under Portugal Inovação Social, with social investors Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian and CUF. Additional support comes from institutional partner ACSS (the central health system administration), municipalities implementing local responses, and impact monitor CINTESIS. CQC reaches caregivers through three channels: municipal partnerships and healthcare system referrals (CHEDV Hospital São Sebastião and ACES primary care) at the top of the funnel, a monthly email newsletter at mid-funnel, and community events such as the 2019 Alzheimer Portugal conference. Between April 2019 and August 2022, the model was replicated in 28 municipalities across northern Portugal, reaching more than 1,000 caregivers and involving more than 300 community organizations, with formal evaluations covering three phases (2009–2013, 2014–2016, 2019–2022) monitored by CINTESIS.

Name

Cuidar de Quem Cuida

Legal name

Cuidar de Quem Cuida

Website

https://cuidardequemcuida.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Cuidar de Quem Cuida is a Portuguese social initiative, promoted by IPSS CASTIIS since 2009, that delivers psychoeducational programs, mutual help groups, and individual consultations to informal caregivers of dependent persons across northern Portugal.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Caregiver Support Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Individual and Family Services (6241)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Home Health Care Services (8082)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYHLADAGAK

Family Caregiver Support, Training & Coaching

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Elder Care & Long-Term Care/Non-Medical In-Home Care & Personal Care

SECONDARYHLADALAG

Caregiver Support, Coaching & Training

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Elder Care & Long-Term Care/Senior Care Coordination & Case Management (Geriatric Care Management)

SECONDARYHSABAIAI

Family Caregiver Coaching, Education & Support

Home & Personal Services/Elder Care & In-Home Care Services/Care Coordination & Geriatric Care Management

SECONDARYHLADAKAJ

Caregiver Support & Respite Coordination (Assessment/Scheduling/Voucher Navigation)

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Elder Care & Long-Term Care/Respite Care Services (Short-Term Elder Care)

Keywords

• Caregiver support services
• Psychoeducational programs
• Mutual aid groups
• Post-caregiver support
• Social impact programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Santa Maria

HQ country

Portugal

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Social Impact Financing (TIS): CQC is funded through social impact financing instruments. As a Título de Impacto Social (TIS), the program received investment from social investors including Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian and CUF, with program implementation between April 2019 and August 2022. Additional funding from municipalities for local implementation. Services to caregivers appear to be free at point of use.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Cuidar de Quem Cuida provides structured support services to informal caregivers through 9-10 week psychoeducational group programs, ongoing mutual aid groups, and individual consultations covering psychology, social support, and legal advice. The Entrelaça sub-brand extends these services to post-caregivers (those who have lost the person they cared for) via support groups, community services, and active-aging programs. Services are delivered free of charge through a cascade model that trains local institutions and municipalities to implement caregiver support across northern Portugal.

Product overview

Cuidar de Quem Cuida (CQC) is a social entrepreneurship initiative offering a portfolio of support services for informal caregivers. The core offerings include Psychoeducational Programs (9/10 weekly sessions), Mutual Help Groups (GAM) for ongoing psychosocial support, and Individual Support services (psychology, social, and legal consultations). The Entrelaça sub-brand specifically addresses post-caregivers who have lost the person they were caring for, offering support groups (Casulo), community services (Loja dos Cuidadores), and activities for people over 50 (Laboratório 50+). Physical support offices (Gabinetes de Apoio ao Cuidador) provide localized face-to-face assistance. The program uses a cascade replication model that can be implemented across municipalities using existing community resources.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Entrelaça: A Cuidar de Quem Cuida – CASTIIS initiative, awarded the BPI Fundação La Caixa 2023 prize, designed to support post-caregivers (cuidadores who have lost the person they were caring for). It focuses on active aging, reducing social isolation, and intergenerational community involvement. Key programs include Casulo (support group for post-caregivers), Loja dos Cuidadores (community services provided by caregivers, including caregiver respite), and Laboratório 50+ (specialized activity program for people over 50).

Products and services

• Programas Psicoeducativos CQC

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ACSS (Administração Central do Sistema de Saúde)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstitutional partner providing support and validation. In 2023, partnered with CQC-CASTIIS to train palliative care teams in intervention with caregivers in 4 locations.
• CINTESIScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch center responsible for monitoring and evaluation of impact during the TIS phase.
• MAZEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerImpact organization that worked with CASTIIS on TIS implementation and program scaling.
• CASTIIS (Centro de Assistência Social à terceira Idade e Infância de Sanguêdo)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe promoting institution (IPSS) behind CQC. Since 2009, CASTIIS has dedicated itself to informal caregiver support. Hosts the main Gabinete de Apoio ao Cuidador.
• CHEDV (Centro Hospitalar Entre Douro e Vouga)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerHospital partner hosting a Gabinete de Apoio ao Cuidador and where the CQC project was launched in 2014. Collaborates on caregiver identification and referral.
• Alzheimer PortugalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCQC was presented at an Alzheimer Portugal conference 'Viver Melhor com Demência, em nossa casa' in November 2019, sharing best practices.
• Municípios (28 municipalities)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMunicipal governments including Santa Maria da Feira, Castelo de Paiva, Fafe, Matosinhos, Vila Verde, Amarante, Santo Tirso, and others that implemented CQC responses locally with trained teams.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Carers UK: UK national membership charity providing information, training, and advocacy for unpaid family caregivers — directly comparable to CQC's mission of supporting informal caregivers through structured programs and policy engagement.
• Family Caregiver Alliance: US national caregiver support organization offering caregiver resource centers, training, and policy advocacy — directly comparable mission and service mix to CQC's caregiver coaching and case-management orientation.
• Eurocarers: European network representing informal carers and carer organizations across EU member states — comparable as the umbrella body for caregiver advocacy and policy work that CQC engages with at the national level.
• Carers Trust: UK-based charity operating a network of local carer services delivering group programs, individual support, and respite — matches CQC's model of psychoeducational programs, mutual aid groups, and local support offices.

Emerging players

• Cariloop: US digital care-coaching platform supporting families caring for aging or special-needs loved ones — overlapping caregiver support services but commercially delivered via employer and insurance channels.
• Wellthy: Tech-enabled care concierge platform helping working family caregivers coordinate care for aging relatives — comparable use case (caregiver support and coordination) but with a digital-first delivery model versus CQC's in-person cascade.

Broad incumbents

• Fundación La Caixa — Programa de Personas Mayores: Large Spanish foundation running senior caregiver support and active aging programs — comparable peer as a regional incumbent that funded caregiver initiatives and won awards similar to CQC's BPI Fundação La Caixa recognition.
• HelpAge International: Global network focused on rights and wellbeing of older people, including caregiver support — comparable mission and policy advocacy role in elder care and informal caregiver issues across multiple geographies.
• Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa: Major Portuguese IPSS delivering elder care, social support, and community services nationwide — comparable as a large Portuguese social solidarity institution with overlapping caregiver and elderly support services.

Others

• Alzheimer Portugal: Portuguese dementia-focused NGO and CQC partner that advocates for people with dementia and their families — comparable target population and overlapping caregiver advocacy work, cited as a CQC partner at their 2019 conference.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Cuidar-de-Quem-Cuida-1498545193706762

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Cuidar de Quem Cuida