The retirements of those who spent decades working in health care continue to raise doubts about the recognition given to professions marked by physical exhaustion, heavy hours and great responsibility. Between hospitals, nursing homes and demanding shifts, many professionals reach retirement with the feeling that the amount received falls short of a lifetime dedicated to others, as is the case of this retired nursing assistant, who considers the value of her retirement “unfair”.
Sylvie, now 67 years old, after more than two decades caring for patients in hospitals and nursing homes in France, retired at 62 after a career made up of long shifts, physical exertion and constant moving to another city as a nursing assistant. Currently, he receives 1,625 euros net per month and understands that this amount does not reflect the demands of so many years of work.
Over the course of 25 years, he visited several hospitals and homes in western France. To the French newspaper, she recalled that she followed her husband’s professional changes, who worked as a salesman and changed companies frequently. This led her to work in different units, mainly in public hospitals, sometimes also private ones, as well as homes for the elderly.
A career dedicated to intensive care
Born in Sarthe, he worked in hospitals in Le Mans, Laval, Angers and Rennes. Despite the instability, he guarantees that this mobility brought him experience and renewal. He also says that, if he had spent his entire professional life in the same place, he would probably have gotten tired faster, while the changes allowed him to learn about other methods and learn continuously.
For three years, Sylvie joined a neonatology unit at a private hospital in Rennes. It was there, he says, that he felt the impact of his work most intensely, as he accompanied premature babies at a particularly delicate stage. She remembers this period as one of the most memorable of her career.
Despite successive contracts and changes, he never lacked work. She often joined teams with a lack of staff and was well received, precisely because they knew they could count on her experience and ability to adapt.
In his last position, in a public residence for the elderly in Angers, he earned around 2,300 euros gross per month, equivalent to approximately 1,900 euros net. He retired in October 2020, just before the latest reform of the French pension system. At that time, she says she welcomed her retirement with enthusiasm, finally being able to dedicate time to herself.
“My pension is insufficient”
Currently, Sylvie receives 1,790 euros gross per month, that is, around 1,625 euros net. He is a multi-pensioner, receiving benefits from different funds, namely AGIRC-ARRCO and the National Pension Fund for Local Government Employees, CNRACL.
Still, he feels that the value is below what would be fair for the toughness of the profession. The retired woman regrets that, after so many years of long hours, physical work, sleepless nights and lack of recognition, the pension does not truly reflect the weight of this career.
Despite this, he faces this phase with serenity, according to Le Figaro. He says he wants to make better use of his free time, travel and take care of himself, after many years spent taking care of others.
How much do nursing assistants earn in Portugal?
In Portugal, the situation is no longer exactly the same as it was a few years ago. In the National Health Service, the equivalent today is the health assistant technician, integrated into a special career created at the end of 2023, replacing the previous classification of many professionals who performed these functions as operational assistants. In 2026, the base entry salary is R$934.99 gross monthly.
The recruitment notices published in 2026 by the SUS itself point to this same base value, which shows that, despite the creation of the new career, the entry salary remains relatively low for such a demanding role.
Just as in France, in Portugal this profession continues to be associated with physical effort, rotating schedules and permanent contact with demanding situations in the daily routine of healthcare services. Even though it is an essential role in supporting patients and clinical teams, the discussion about salary recognition and future retirement value remains far from closed.
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