Elderly Helpline signals that social isolation of elderly people is becoming increasingly pronounced
Bucharest, January 27, 2020
Elderly Helpline, the first national, free, and confidential telephone line dedicated to seniors in Romania, recorded nearly 10,000 calls throughout 2019, with over 1,200 elderly individuals benefiting as unique recipients of information, counseling, or socialization services. Operated by the Margareta of Romania Royal Foundation for four years, the Elderly Helpline is a solution to the aging population issue, aiming to improve the quality of life for individuals over the age of 65.
According to the analysis of telephone interactions, it appears that 43% of the elderly individuals calling the Elderly Helpline live alone, with the majority of callers (25%) being between the ages of 70 and 80. The largest portion of calls, around 70%, comes from individuals in urban areas across all regions of the country.
The main reason elderly individuals contact the Elderly Helpline is their need for practical and useful information about various services available to them (37%), closely followed by requests for home care or practical support from seniors with varying degrees of dependency (30%). Among the seniors who called the Elderly Helpline in 2019, 8% sought emotional support and socialization.
The social workers who provide this service guide callers towards specialized institutions in their communities or offer solutions to alleviate loneliness in an intergenerational manner. One of the conclusions drawn from interactions with elderly individuals is that the main factors limiting their access to information are isolation, social discrimination, the significant migration of young families, and difficulties in adapting to an increasingly advanced communicative society.
“Most of those who call the Elderly Helpline ask for various information. Most elderly people do not have access to or do not know how to use modern means of information, so they face a severe lack of knowledge that they need in everyday life. They do not know what types of services they are entitled to, they don’t know what to ask for and who to address. With the help of our database, elderly callers are directed to private or state institutions, depending on the case. Furthermore, because as people age, their ability to care for themselves diminishes, callers to the Elderly Helpline request practical support, assistance with household chores, specialized supervision, accompaniment to various activities, medical information, information about nursing homes and the institutionalization procedure.” – Roxana Molocea, coordinator of the Elderly Helpline.
Over 600 people have used the weekly callback service offered by Elderly Helpline in the last four years. The service is operated by 25 specialized volunteers and provides elderly individuals affected by loneliness with a constant conversation partner, thus fulfilling their need for socialization. Another complementary service is the Senior TeleClub, dedicated to those who are unable to attend a senior club in their local community, either because it does not exist or because they cannot travel. Through the Senior TeleClub, they can connect and chat with other elderly individuals. Over 50 discussion sessions have been organized on various topics, encouraging seniors to participate in conversations, interact, and share impressions.
“Elderly Helpline appeared to me as a gift (...). I was going through a very difficult time, and Telefonul Vârstnicului was of great help to me and contributed to my mental and physical rehabilitation. It gave me the strength to fight. I was very happy when I saw that I was being called back, and especially, every week.” – Mrs. Maria, beneficiary of Elderly Helpline.
The Elderly Helpline – 0800 460 001 – can be called free of charge from Monday to Friday between 08:00 – 20:00 and on Saturdays between 08:00 – 16:00. The line is also available for people who wish to report abuse or a difficult situation involving an elderly person. Since the launch of the project in October 2015, over 40,000 phone interactions have been recorded, initiated by nearly 7,100 unique callers.
The Elderly Helpline was designated the best Social Assistance Services project in Romania at the 2019 Civil Society Gala.
Over 3.6 million people in Romania are over the age of 65, according to the INSSE report from January 1, 2019, and the accelerated aging of the population is a major global phenomenon. The pace of population aging is alarming, placing our country second in the European countries' rankings.
About The Margareta of Romania Royal Foundation
The Margareta of Romania Royal Foundation is one of the leading non-governmental organizations in Romania, contributing to the development of civil society through social and educational programs. With over 30 years of activity, the Foundation supports children, young people, and elderly individuals through sustainable interventions, based on the exchange of experience and values between generations. The Margareta of Romania Royal Foundation is one of the few organizations that highlights the phenomenon of population aging and its imminent effects on society, proposing practical solutions to improve the quality of life for elderly people. More details are available on fundatiaregala.ro/ and www.telefonulvarstnicului.ro.
