Aging in Romania: research and public policy

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Health
• Social Policy

Background:

• Romania is experiencing significant population aging, with the elderly projected to constitute over 30% of the population by 2050.
• Existing gerontological research in Romania is limited and underutilized by policymakers.
• There is a notable development lag in Romania's social protection systems compared to the European Union.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the sparse gerontological research in Romania.
• To identify inadequacies in social services and policy implementation for the aging population.
• To compare Romania's social protection systems with those in the EU.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing gerontological research and policy documents.
• Comparative analysis of social protection systems (EU vs. Romania).
• Assessment of social service organization and implementation.

Main Results:

• Gerontological research is sparse, often descriptive, and not widely used.
• Romania's social protection systems show a development lag compared to the EU.
• Significant inadequacies exist in social services, including insufficient public services, funding, and collaboration.

Conclusions:

• Urgent need for increased gerontological research and data accessibility in Romania.
• Policy and legislative frameworks require improved implementation for effective social services.
• Addressing service gaps is critical to support Romania's rapidly aging population.