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The book Quality of Life of Old Dependent People in Romania presents a part of the research results obtained during 2018-2020 in the research project with the same name. In the context of a pronounced process of population ageing and raising needs of social services for old people, the publication of this volume becomes very important. The book contains a comprehensive review of the literature regarding quality of life in old age, the results obtained during the research on old dependent people in Romania and measures of social policy developed in the process of consultation of experts in the field using the Policy Delphi method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hit by the Covid-19 virus Romania imposed self-isolation to the elderly population, for longer periods of time, aiming to protect them as well as to prevent and reduce the spreading of this acute respiratory syndrome known as SARS-Cov-2. Trapped between a constant worry of the unknown and the necessity to acquire the household essentials the elder population was faced with a dilemma in identifying the boundaries between influence, coercion and limitation of civil rights. We have analysed the way old people have succeeded to tackle the crisis, the coping methods used to surpass the hardships and the techniques employed to withstand the everyday routine in pandemic times. The qualitative study of the present paper focuses on the responses of the old people to these new circumstances. The strategies adopted by our state when dealing with the third age group should be specifically targeted in order to improve and alleviate the reactions to future disastrous occurrences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Romanian pensioners are among the poorest in the European Union, making them a vulnerable group in terms of health and well-being. Social capital could act as a buffer and protect old people from health inequalities. Although the percentage of old persons has increased in Romania, little is known about their social capital, namely their social networks, their engagement in the community, their perceptions of residential areas and norms of trust and reciprocity. The present study set out to explore the structure and meanings of social capital in Romanian old people, namely the structural, cognitive and behavioural aspects of social capital in old Romanians, as well as the linking, bonding and bridging dimensions of social capital. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 8 men and 6 women, aged 60 to 69. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. All in all, Romanian pensioners display a lack of linking and bridging social capital. The most important social structure is the family, which provides both emotional and financial support. Norms of trust and reciprocity function only within the family but not the community. One of the main themes was lack of trust in the community and state institutions and reluctance to engage in community affairs as this is perceived to be the role of younger people. Rural areas are perceived as friendlier and more trustworthy and seen as an ideal residential area. Starting from these findings, interventions can be designed to increase linking, bridging and bonding social capital in old persons and create age-friendly environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents some elements that individualize the romanian family. Its objective is to emphasise some of the most relevant aspects of the relationhship young-old people and the way that they were used to foster adult learning in family. Strenghts and weakness of the Romanian family are analyzed in order to evaluate their educative potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]