We continue the series of consultations on the White Charta on the Rights of Older People in Romania at the NE hub managed by FSC Bacau.

With those present at the event, we debated the concept of a dignified, autonomous, active and useful old age. Thus, we concluded that a dignified old age means:

• – maintaining control over one’s own life;
• – retaining the ability to make one’s own decisions;
• – control over the social protection measures he needs and wants to benefit from.

At the same time, the discussions revealed that valuing and appreciating older people has a positive impact both on their physical and mental health and on their confidence and self-esteem.

Regarding the perception of the portrait of the elderly in Romania, we concluded that:

• – difficult living due to low or insufficient income
• – poor physical and/or mental health
• – loneliness

A number of recommendations were made to improve policies for the protection of older people, including:

– Creating of funding programmes for poor rural communities with ageing populations through which to develop care services for the elderly.

– Designing and supporting benefit packages for social workers in disadvantaged communities.

– Taking measures to reduce the massive out-migration of skilled home care workers by creating an institutional framework for their employment, motivation and professional development.