In a message on Monday to the participants of the 3rd edition of the National Congress for Active Aging, Senate Chairman Mircea Abrudean said that a country’s respect for its elderly shows exactly how much they respect their country and history.

„The elderly are a landmark of wisdom, tradition, culture, values of a people. And without all this, there is no future. Respect for the elderly must be a projection of our future as a nation. How is this respect reflected at the level of state bodies? Healthcare services, integrative, quality support and legislation that keeps up with reality. The European Union and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) have built clear benchmarks for active ageing. These benchmarks show what works, what doesn’t work and where a state gets stuck when it doesn’t have consistent policies. Romania does not start from scratch in this area, but it is still below the European average in terms of social participation, employment after 55 and access to long-term care. We therefore need a modern legislative framework that gaps these differences,” Abrudean said in his message read out by Senate Deputy Chairman Mihai Cotet.

Abrudean mentioned that each elderly person must be helped to remain active and independent for as long as possible.

„When you compare Romania with the European average, you quickly see the gaps. The employment rate for the 55-64-year age class is lower. The social participation of the elderly is low. Care services are insufficient. The system depends too much on the family. We therefore need to transform these directions into policies with a very clear budget, indicators and responsibilities. (…) The OECD makes it clear that countries that invest in lifelong learning, protection against discrimination and job adaptation increase the employment rate for the elderly. The elderly need access to cultural activities, volunteering and meeting spaces.”

The Senate chairman added that Romania has a strategy for active aging valid until 2030, but for it to work „there must be clear standards, dedicated staff and funding.”

„Romania has the chance to use this moment of accession to the OECD as an opportunity. It can stabilise its legislative framework, accelerate the implementation of the 2023-2030 strategy, integrate European indicators into all relevant policies. We are therefore faced with a reality that puts us in the situation of deciding. If we do not modernise the legislation, the gaps will widen. If we modernise it based on the aforementioned principles, we create conditions for every elderly person to lead a dignified, active and healthy life. That is the duty of a mature society. That is the direction we must go. I believe that Romania has the resources and expertise to make such change. The congress organised these two days shows that. I suggest you to be firm, courageous and consistent. This is where the change begins,” Abrudean said.

In his turn, Senator Cotet said „it is our duty to build for the elderly an environment in which they can live with dignity, with support and with real opportunities to remain active in the community.”

„I will support all initiatives that bring real benefits to seniors, the development of care services, access to lifelong training, incentives for prolonging active life, as well as the creation of community and cultural programmes adjusted for their needs,” said Cotet.

The National Congress for Active Aging is organised by the Romanian Institute for Active Aging Association and takes place on Monday and Tuesday, at the Palace of Parliament in Bucharest. AGERPRES