Elderly people experience the strongest sense of loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic
- The campaign “We have love to give” raises the alarm about the current needs of elderly people in Romania caused by the novel coronavirus
- The Margareta of Romania Royal Foundation supports elderly people across the country through a network of active social services in local communities
- 24% of people over 65 experienced the first month of isolation alone
Home isolation due to the COVID–19 pandemic and the social distancing imposed by the declaration of the state of emergency affect the living conditions and emotional well-being of elderly people in Romania. Many of them face new challenges and have no one to help them. In this context, The Margareta of Romania Royal Foundation raises the alarm about the current needs of elderly people in Romania caused by the novel coronavirus and launches the SMS donation campaign “We have love to give.” Anyone who wishes to support the urgent needs of elderly people in Romania can do so with a simple SMS with the text SINGUR to 8844 to donate 2 euros per month.
In Romania, where 1 million elderly people are forced to face the pandemic without any assistance, any support provided to this vulnerable group is welcome. Through the campaign “We have love to give to those who built our future,” The Margareta of Romania Royal Foundation aims to fund a network of active social services in communities across the country, by supporting NGOs and civic initiatives dedicated to elderly people and by carrying out its own projects, to assist 20,000 elderly people during the crisis. The support focuses especially on those affected by loneliness, physical immobility, chronic illnesses, precarious living conditions, or advanced age, offering various types of assistance—material, practical, or emotional—with the number of beneficiaries increasing as the Foundation gathers the necessary resources from donations and sponsorships.
According to a recent study conducted by IRES on how Romanians spent the first month of home isolation, 24% of elderly people over 65 experienced the first month of isolation alone. The study, published in April 2020, reveals that elderly people are also facing greater health problems than before the COVID–19 pandemic, experiencing high levels of loneliness and fear of death caused by infection, as well as fear generated by a potential food crisis. Meanwhile, Elderly Helpline, the national support line, identified and mapped in real time the urgent needs expressed by elderly people across the country in recent weeks, which include grocery shopping, material assistance, access to public services during the pandemic, practical support at home, and emotional and psychological counseling.
“The measures imposed in good faith by the authorities deeply affect elderly people. They were implemented without support mechanisms for those who need assistance. Limiting the possibility of leaving their homes to only a few hours per day also restricted their access to food, medicine, and medical care. Additionally, there are the cases of immobile elderly people, those facing material shortages, or those suffering from depression in solitude. Even elderly people who receive moral and material support from their families or social circles can experience anxiety in the context of isolation and pandemic risks. Elderly people, now more than ever, need us!,” said Mugurel Mărgărit, Executive Director of The Margareta of Romania Royal Foundation
The public can get involved in supporting elderly people by sending an SMS with the text SINGUR to 8844, thereby donating 2 euros per month. From essential goods to emotional support, elderly people need the help of those around them to get through this unexpected crisis.
