Portugal, one of the world’s most rapidly aging nations, is grappling with a deeply concerning practice: the physical containment‍ of elderly⁢ residents in care facilities. What began as a seemingly pragmatic ‍solution to prevent falls‍ or manage medical devices has, according to advocates, become normalized‍ to a disturbing degree – a practice that strips individuals of their fundamental rights and inflicts significant harm.

The issue ⁤has gained momentum thanks to a growing public outcry, fueled by⁣ a petition delivered to Parliament that has already surpassed the