Bucharest, February 28, 2019 – The Elderly Phone, the first free and confidential national phone line, dedicated to people over 65, has recorded more than 30,000 calls since its launch in October 2015. The Elderly Phone, accredited as a social counseling service, is a project of the Princess Margarita of Romania Foundation, funded by the Vodafone Romania Foundation, through the Connecting for Good program, with a total allocation of over 600,000 lei.
According to the analysis of the 30,000 phone interactions, which were initiated by nearly 6,000 people, it appears that 45% of the elderly who use this service live alone. More than 70% of calls come from people living in urban areas from all regions of the country. In addition, 47% of the callers asked for useful information, and 35% were interested in home care or emotional support and socialization. The social counselors operating the Elderly Phone offer practical advice recommend the help of specialized institutions in the community of the caller or offer emotional support to those who are feeling lonley. One of the conclusions drawn from the interactions with people aged over 65 is that the main causes limiting their access to information are isolation and social discrimination, the increased migration of young families and the difficulties of adapting to modern means of communication.
Of those who frequently use the Elderly Phone, over 500 people needed to socialize and signed up for the Weekly Redial Service, operated by 50 specialized volunteers. Another complementary service is the Seniors’ TeleClub, dedicated to those who cannot participate in a seniors’ club in the local community either because such a club does not exist or because they seniors are unable to move. The Seniors’ Teleclub, enables the elderly to connect and talk to other people of their age.
The Elder’s Phone – 0800 460 001 – can be reached free of charge from Monday to Friday from 08.00 to 20.00 and on Saturdays between 08.00 – 16.00 hours. People who want to report an abuse or a difficult situation in which an elderly person is can also access the line.
According to the National Institute of Statistics, Romania’s senior population is currently of 3.6 million and the aging rhythm of the population places our country second in the European rankings.
The Elder’s Phone has been designated the best Social Assistance Project in Romania and has been awarded the Prize for Originality at the Civil Society Gala.
The Princess Margarita of Romania Foundation is one of the elite nongovernmental organizations in Romania and contributes to the development of civil society, with social and educational programs that support people. With over 29 years of activity, Princess Margarita of Romania Foundation is among the few organizations that signal the aging of the population and the imminent effects on society. More details about the Foundation’s programs are available at www.fpmr.ro and www.telefonulvarstnicului.ro
The Vodafone Romania Foundation is a Romanian nongovernmental charitable organization, established in 1998, which operates separately and independently from the Vodafone Romania SA’s business. During its 20 years of activity, Vodafone Romania Foundation has funded 1,132 programs run by 730 NGOs throughout the country, in the fields of healthcare, education and social services. These projects had 3 million beneficiaries – children, young and old people, physically, socially or economically disadvantaged. So far, the Vodafone Romania Foundation has invested over 30 million euros in projects run by nonprofit partner organizations. More details about the Foundation’s programs are available at fundatia-vodafone.ro, http://jurnaldebine.fundatia-vodafone.ro/ and www.facebook.com/fundatiavodafone.
