Each second elderly person lives in poverty

A number of national NGOs that look after elderly persons say these persons live in the most deplorable conditions. Loneliness, poverty, the going of their children abroad and the need to take care of the grandchildren make them vulnerable, Info-Prim Neo reports. In a roundtable meeting themed “Age Requires Action”, Constantin Olteanu, the head of the Cahul-based public association “Atizana”, said many of the elderly persons living in southern Moldova act like guardians of grandchildren as their children work abroad. “We are 13 volunteers who help these persons solve their problems, but the situation can be remedied only if the parents of these children return home,” he said. One of the members of the Cimislia-based organization “Pro Democraţte”, Ana Postovanu said the association consists of 18 female pensioners who help elderly persons. “We pay home visits, pay the bills, purchase drugs for them, etc. These persons remained home alone and nobody can help them,” she said. Larisa Vahnovich, the head of “Demnitate” NGO based in Orhei, said the organization is involved in a project to support families with children who remained in the care of their grandparents. “We organize different activities, have the grandparents' school, teach handicrafts. We try to resolve the conflict between generations with the help of psychologists,” said Larisa Vahnovich. Project coordinator with HelpAge International Dina Sava, organizer of the meeting “Age Requires Action”, said the aim of the event is to sensitize the people to the problems faced by the elderly persons. “Every second person aged over 60 lives in poverty in Moldova,” said Dina Sava. Minister of Labor, Social Protection and Family Valentina Buliga said the proposals and problems discussed in the meeting will be analyzed and tackled. “I hope these proposals will be included in the agenda of the future Parliament and there will be taken decisions that will contribute to improved life expectancy for these persons,” she said. There are about 600,000 elderly persons in Moldova at present.