What are the elderly Romanians’ main problems?

The financial situation is the main problem of the elderly in Romania, followed by health problems, their dependence on others, the lack of usefulness, and the loneliness. Some 1.5 million elderly Romanians are currently affected by loneliness, according to a study conducted by GfK for the Princess Margareta of Romania Foundation. They associate loneliness with the absence of the loved ones, living alone, not having somebody to talk to, or the lack of a practical help. The study also shows that the number of women affected by loneliness is much higher than that of men. Moreover, those living in urban areas are significantly more affected by the feeling of being alone, a feeling that gets even more oppressive as they get older. “In Romania, the elderly are not only facing the disease and the low incomes, but also the painful indifference of people doubled by the absence of effective social services adapted to them,” said Mugurel Margarit Enescu, the executive manager of Princess Margareta of Romania Foundation. According to the study, if the elderly could improve one thing in their lives, three out of ten respondents would choose communion / communication with other people. The elderly who are part of extended families have an active life considering the activities they do to help the family. This makes them feel useful. In the case of institutionalized elderly, the active life is restricted as the activities they can carry out are closely related to the possibilities offered by the institution in which they reside. The aging population is a phenomenon that not only affects Romania, but the entire Europe. According to data from the National Statistics Institute, 3.27 million people in Romania are aged over 65. Moreover, Romania also faces the emigration of the young people, modern diseases, insufficient financial and specialized human resources, and the lack of an integrated support system. All these issues make elderly Romanians live alone, without social contact. How happy are the elderly Romanians? EY study: Over a third of Romanian elderly face poverty risk Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com