Romania's population is steadily shrinking and ageing. Estimates show that in 2050, one in four Romanians will be over 65, which could make us one of the oldest societies in the European Union.

Asociația Niciodată Singur – Prietenii Vârstnicilor a realizat în 2021 cel mai amplu studiu din România despre singurătatea vârstnicilor. Acesta arată că 1 din 4 vârstnici din mediul urban, adică peste 450.000 de seniori, se confruntă cu un grad ridicat de singurătate.

The study also shows that for 64% of seniors, a typical day means indoor activities. Half of them have no support from loved ones or the community, more than a third have no one to talk to or rely on when they need it.

Cum se simte singurătatea pentru vârstnici?

According to the beneficiaries of the association loneliness - "It's like a desert", "like a deep hole", "like someone has clipped your wings". "I constantly feel that I have to kill my time with something, but time should be lived, not killed."

The effects of loneliness on health among older people

Loneliness and poor social connections are as damaging to health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

Loneliness increases the risk of stroke, coronary heart disease and high blood pressure. Prolonged loneliness also has potential effects on mental health, such as anxiety and depression.

 Intervention of the Never Alone Association - Friends of the Elderly

The Never Alone - Friends of the Elderly Association has assumed the mission to alleviate the feeling of isolation and loneliness of the elderly and is present in the lives of 300 elderly people living alone and another 600 in old people's homes in Bucharest, Pitesti, Ploiesti, Braila, Iasi, Constanta, Cluj-Napoca, Brasov and Targoviste. In concrete terms, each elderly person enrolled in the program is assigned a volunteer who visits, listens and supports them. In addition, Never Alone offers each elderly person enrolled in the program a free trip, holiday meals (Easter, Christmas, Senior's Day), outings to theatres, museums and other activities. Seniors are celebrated every birthday and receive a gift, and low-income seniors also receive monthly material support.

In 2022, for the elderly in Bucharest, we also opened the Socialization Center for Seniors, where people over 65 can participate daily, free of charge, in socialization, cultural, educational, fun or skill activities that make their lives more beautiful and their days more serene. You can find more information about us at https://niciodatasingur.ro/