Each fourth elderly person in Moldova is the victim of violence and abuse. When the number of older persons grows faster than of other age categories, public policies must ensure conditions and opportunities for active aging as soon as possible, said participants in a roundtable meeting held in Chisinau, IPN reports.

HelpAge International director Tatiana Sorocan said the event was staged within the Age Demands Action week that is held by HelpAge International at global level and marks the International Day of Older Persons. As a result of an analysis of the national legislation and regulations, it was established that these do not clearly ban violence against elderly persons, which is the age variable is not explored.

Minister of Labor, Social Protection and Family Stela Grigoras said a cultural revolution is needed in Moldovan society to change the behavior towards older persons. “We must have a dialogue with decision makers and bring value added to aging. We should admit that aging is a natural process and we are not very different from other states in this regard. This phenomenon is often treated as something negative, not as advance in medicine, which made the increase in life expectancy possible. This phenomenon should be transformed into an opportunity because we can use the experience of the elderly people,” she stated.

UNFPA Moldova Representative Rita Columbia said for population ageing not to have negative effects, the welfare of people must be ensured. “We must realize that we cannot fight the negative effects only at the age of 60 and up. This thing must be integrated at all the ages, starting from childhood. We must ensure healthy nutrition and the reproductive health of young people. Such actions will make ageing to stop being a negative phenomenon,” she said.

Among specialists’ recommendations for preventing and combating domestic violence are to extend the existing social services so that these cover the older persons who are victims of abuse, to ensure psychological, legal and financial counseling for these as well as shelter, if necessary.