We continue the series of meetings to present and debate the White Charter on the Rights of Elderly People In Romania

On Monday 17 October, the Resource HUB Centre organized a Round Table Consultation on the White Paper, event attended by 25 seniors and Caritas Blaj volunteers.

The people there received information about the project, the Federation and its objectives, as well as about the work of the Centre HUB.

At the same time, the content of the Charter and the reasons behind its elaboration were presented. Each participant received a printed copy of the document and a feedback form to be collected at the end of November.

The main ideas that emerged:

• • Lack of trust in the political class/government – “promise much, forget quickly, do little”.
• • Increasing discrepancies between the pensions of the elderly and basic monthly expenses (administration, food, medicines, medical visits/ tests etc), which puts a lot of pressure on this category, especially now, in the run-up to winter, when many are stressed and scared by gas and electricity costs.
• • Reduced access to cultural activities (theatre, symphony concerts, performances, art exhibitions), sports activities (swimming, age-appropriate gymnastics, hiking, etc.) and personal care, beauty activities (manicure, hairdressing, cosmetics, massage, etc.), mainly due to lack of financial resources.
• • The need to prioritise the issue of an ageing population on the public agenda and to create a system of social and medical protection/assistance that is constantly updated and linked to the real problems of the elderly.