Facing Growing Pressures: Examining Elderly Vulnerabilities, Resilience, and Support Arrangements in Romania

This study examines the caregiving arrangements and unmet needs of elderly adults in Romania, focusing on vulnerable groups, including those with functional impairments, individuals living alone, and residents in impoverished areas. Using fresh data from a nationwide survey of 900 adults aged 65 and older, this study examines the caregiving arrangements and unmet needs of Romania’s elderly population. The study assesses key components of senior care, including health status, care needs, familial support, formal care services, and informal care networks. The aim is to identify care gaps, particularly in underdeveloped areas with limited public resources, and to understand how these gaps are managed—or left unmanaged—by various care arrangements.

This research contributes to the literature by highlighting the resilience of family structures and informal networks in supporting vulnerable elderly subgroups, especially in regions where public services are underdeveloped. In the context of Romania’s inadequate public care system, reliance on family and neighbours becomes essential for managing the growing pressures of an aging population. The study will also explore regional disparities, analysing differences in care provision between economically developed and underdeveloped areas, a chronic issue in Eastern and Central Europe. Romania’s socio-economic landscape, characterized by youth emigration, demographic aging, and limited formal care options, exacerbates challenges for elderly care, particularly in disadvantaged regions. This study will shed light on how families and communities adapt to these growing pressures, contributing to an understanding of resilience in the face of socio-economic change. The findings have broader implications for Eastern and Central Europe, where traditional family-based care systems are increasingly strained by demographic shifts, requiring new strategies for resilience and support.