Priorities and Solutions for a Decent and Dignified Life for Elderly People, at the National Conference “Best Practices for Ageing Beautifully”
- World Bank recommendations on long-term care for elderly people in Romania
- Top needs of elderly people in Romania and the solutions provided through the licensed social service Elderly Helpline – 8 years of activity, 90,674 calls received, 16,765 unique callers
The 7th edition of the National Conference “Best Practices for Ageing Beautifully,” organized by The Margareta of Romania Royal Foundation, brought together on Friday, September 29, at the “I. L. Caragiale” National Theatre in Bucharest, specialists from the public, private and non-profit sectors. Participants presented the current situation, identified emerging trends, and proposed innovative and effective solutions to improve the lives of elderly people in Romania.
The event gathered over 120 participants involved in projects supporting elderly people, including representatives of the public and private sectors, NGOs and national or international platforms working with elderly people, corporate social responsibility professionals, as well as elderly individuals who serve as a source of inspiration through their positive mindset and attitude.
During the opening of the event, Her Royal Highness Princess Sofia, member of the Foundation’s Board, recalled that more than 3.7 million elderly people live in Romania, and over a quarter of them live alone.
“Today, I wish to express my appreciation and respect for these people whose valuable experience benefits both the current generation and those to come. Understanding the value of elderly people, recognizing their needs, and offering them opportunities to remain active and to reduce loneliness is our duty towards them.
Suffering and abuse against elderly people in residential homes are completely unacceptable and intolerable. This must stop. It is time for a new beginning, to ensure that such situations never happen again.
I wholeheartedly congratulate you for the strength with which you adapt to constantly changing times. I am deeply grateful and thank you for everything you do for the elderly people of our country, so that they may live with dignity,” Her Royal Highness conveyed.
Elderly People in Romania – Statistics and Ways Forward
Anna Akhalkatsi, World Bank Country Manager for Romania and Hungary, spoke about the path Romania should follow in the field of long-term care for elderly people:
“How can we ensure that all elderly people in Romania enjoy a decent and dignified life, exercising their autonomy and freedom of choice? This is what the National Long-Term Care Strategy for 2023–2030 aims to address. We are pleased that the World Bank was able to support the development of this strategy through analysis and technical assistance. To turn the Strategy into reality, measures are needed in five priority areas: (I) greater and better-targeted financial allocation according to needs; (II) development of community-based and center-based services; (III) a larger and better-trained workforce; (IV) improvement and expansion of recovery and rehabilitation infrastructure; and (V) introduction and enforcement of quality standards, along with evaluation and quality control measures, to increase accountability and prevent abuse and neglect.”
Elena Dobre, Director of the Social Services Policy Department within the Ministry of Labour and Social Solidarity, presented the current situation of elderly people in need of care, the Ministry’s priorities and main directions for action to meet care needs and improve social services for elderly people, as well as funding opportunities and sector challenges.
“The need for care among elderly people is very high, while social services for elderly people are insufficient and sometimes of questionable quality, as we have all seen. One of the Ministry’s priorities is to improve this situation and implement measures that support elderly people, given that studies and analyses conducted at ministerial level show they need appropriate social services tailored to their needs. Therefore, improving Romania’s elderly care system is a key priority. In this regard, the Ministry has collaborated and continues to collaborate with the World Bank under an agreement to complete this reform dedicated to elderly people, focusing on long-term care and promoting active ageing,” she stated.
Doru Buzducea, Dean of the Faculty of Sociology and Social Work, addressed the role of social workers in services for elderly people:
“Statistics show that social work is the fastest-growing profession worldwide. Governments and international organizations speak about the economic return of social work – reducing violence, crime, unemployment and school dropout – about the need for social workers, the dedication of those who choose this profession, and the positive impact they have on the lives of those they serve. Social work is expanding because it has proven its effectiveness. It is not a consumer of resources; on the contrary, it brings social and economic benefits to local communities that understand this and invest in developing human resources in social services.”
Mariana Oancea, Coordinator of the 4Change Association and the SenioriNET Federation, spoke about the rights of elderly people – between discourse and reality., a menționat Mariana Oancea, Coordonator al Asociației 4Change și al Federației SenioriNET.
A Better Life for Vulnerable Elderly People
Father Ionuț Tutea, Diocesan Counselor for the Social-Philanthropic and Missionary Sector of the Archdiocese of Bucharest, discussed the Romanian Orthodox Church’s efforts to provide specialized services to elderly people and to develop new pastoral approaches that better respond to their needs and expectations.
“We believe that the most important aspect when discussing care for elderly people is that they continue to be valued, cared for and supported within their community, in the space where they have lived their lives. Home care is our top priority, because institutional care, although we have developed several such centers, is a less desired alternative. This year we have begun systematically building such a network,” Father Tutea stated.
Psychologist Iuliana Bucelea, specialist at the Constanța Center for Elderly People, presented the psychologist’s perspective on challenges and resources in residential care. Nicoleta Palcu, Director of the Department for Elderly People at Caritas Blaj Association, addressed ageing with dignity and home care. Sorin Marinescu, Coordinator of the Elderly Fund program run by the Foundation, shared best practices in assistance provided by NGOs at national level. Dr. Ioana Ioancio, Senior Consultant in Geriatrics and Gerontology at Enayati Hospital, provided insights into mild cognitive impairment (forgetfulness) in the context of brain ageing in elderly patients.
Opportunities for Active Ageing
In Panel 3, dedicated to opportunities for active ageing, the manager of the Digital Odyssey digital education program for seniors at Vodafone Foundation Czech Republic shared experiences of elderly people in the Czech Republic navigating the digital world. The audience learned about the importance of such initiatives in developing digital skills among elderly people, enabling them to better cope with today’s world, access essential services, and remain connected rather than isolated.
In this context, Mugurel Mărgărit, Executive Director of The Margareta of Romania Royal Foundation and moderator of the event, announced for the first time that a similar digital education program for elderly people in Romania is currently being developed by the Foundation together with Vodafone Romania Foundation, a partner of the Elderly Helpline program for over eight years.
The panel on active ageing initiatives also included a presentation by researcher Iuliana Precupețu on social exclusion among elderly people and its implications for social policies; Gabriela Mateiu, Executive Director of Yana Foundation Bacău, highlighted intergenerational activities and best practices from the Generations Centres, a national program run by the Foundation; and Diana Rus Schupler, Coordinator of the Day Center for Elderly People in Satu Mare, presented social and recreational activities organized in day centers.
Relevant at Any Age
Mrs. Roza Budău, aged 71, a senior volunteer at the Generations Centre of Yana Foundation in Bacău, inspired the audience by proving through her example that we can remain relevant at any age:
”“I am Roza Budău, a ‘young’ woman of almost 71 (if you reverse the digits), mother of eleven children, grandmother of twelve grandchildren, and a volunteer at YANA Foundation for four years. In my youth, I rarely had a moment of rest; raising my children and providing for the next day occupied not only my time but also my thoughts. The children grew up and followed their dreams and ideals. They spread across the country and abroad, and moments of quiet and loneliness appeared. I missed my children and grandchildren and gradually discovered that there are other children around me who could learn from my life experience. When I was invited to become a volunteer at YANA Foundation, I thought it was a joke. Then the joke became serious, and suddenly I found myself surrounded by children, with the grandmother in me instantly coming to life. It felt as though my family had grown overnight. For me, it has been and continues to be extraordinary to pass on things that helped my family and me live with a certain decency. They may not seem like big things at first glance, but teaching a child how to sew on a button or use a sewing machine to make certain items can be very useful in life. As long as I go to volunteer with a heart full of emotion and love, my life gains much more meaning. Not only do I feel useful, but the mere thought that I might help open a horizon for a child to dream toward fills me with joy.”
Top Needs of Elderly People in Romania
În cadrul conferinței a fost lansat și prezentat audienței de Roxana Molocea, coordonatorul programului Elderly Helpline, “The Top Needs of the Elderly in Romania and the Solutions Available to Them” material realizat pe baza datelor colectate prin serviciul social licențiat Elderly Helpline în cei 8 ani de funcționare și a celor 90.674 de convorbiri telefonice.
Between October 2015 and September 2023, of the 16,765 unique elderly callers, 6,657 called for useful and updated information, most from Bucharest (2,203), and the fewest from Banat (264) and Dobrogea (272). For 5,144 elderly people calling for the first time, the need for care and support in relation to their level of dependency prompted them to contact the Helpline, most seeking home care solutions. Another 3,034 elderly callers expressed financial and material needs, most from Bucharest and the Moldova region. A total of 1,591 needed emotional support, and 942 expressed the need to remain active and socially engaged in later life.
Of all first-time callers over the years, 50% live alone, and 29% are aged between 70 and 80.
Solutions Offered through the Elderly Helpline
Elderly people who needed useful information received practical, relevant and up-to-date details, such as contact numbers, addresses, procedures, general information, as well as referrals to resources available in their local communities. Those requiring care and practical support received from the Elderly Helpline social work team information about available services, references for residential care homes, institutionalization procedures and community-based resources, along with recommendations regarding institutions that provide specialized home medical care. Elderly people facing material or financial difficulties were referred to community social assistance services operated by local public social welfare departments (DGAS) or NGOs, in order to receive tailored and ongoing support. Through the Elderly Helpline program, elderly people across the country with limited financial means received social vouchers. In response to loneliness, elderly callers were referred to the project’s weekly follow-up call service or to telephone-based psychological counseling, or directed to senior clubs in their community or to organizations and associations that facilitate social interaction. Elderly people who wish to remain active in later life were encouraged to participate in volunteer activities, take part in programs organized by senior clubs, or volunteer within the Generations Centres, a national program of The Margareta of Romania Royal Foundation.
The Elderly Helpline can be contacted free of charge at 0800 460 001, Monday to Friday between 08:00–20:00 and Saturday between 08:00–16:00.
Within the same venue, in the foyer and Media Hall, the visual arts collection Life Journal, created by young artists from the Young Talents program, was exhibited. The collection symbolically represents old age, inspired by the life stories of elderly people, alongside photographic snapshots from Generations Centres across the country, where elderly volunteers support children from disadvantaged families.
In the evening, in the presence of Her Royal Highness Princess Sofia, The Margareta of Romania Royal Foundation organized a classical music recital dedicated exclusively to elderly people supported through the Foundation’s social projects and those of five other Bucharest-based organizations. The recital was performed by Young Talents scholarship recipients together with violinist Rafael Butaru, mentor of the program. The Media Hall was filled to capacity.
This year, the conference was accredited as a continuing professional development program by the National College of Social Workers, and registered social workers receive two professional credits.
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Sponsors: Fundația Vodafone România, Hochland România, Raiffeisen Bank, Fundația Bosch România, Compania Națională Loteria Română, Alliance Healthcare, Johnson Wax
In-kind Sponsors: Editura Niculescu, Aqua Carpatica, City Grill, Lăptăria cu Caimac, Ecco Shoes, Mega Image, Boromir
Partner: The “I.L. Caragiale” National Theatre Bucharest
Media partners: AGERPRES, Radio Trinitas, Trinitas TV, TVR, Radio România, Zenith Media, MediaTRUST
Communication partners: 4Change Association, SenioriNET
