The International Day of Older Persons marked on October 1 this year will be celebrated in Moldova by a series of activities aimed at strengthening society and respect between generations. A sum of 6 million lei will be allocated from the national social support fund for providing allowances to elderly people.

Interviewed by IPN, the fund’s director Nadejda Boboc said the persons who will receive allowances will be selected according to the criterion of vulnerability, which is their incomes and financial situation, by public commissions of mayor’s offices. The lists of recipients will be approved by the administration boards of the local social support funds. The selected persons will be informed by the community worker. Last year, there was allocated a sum of 5.8 million lei and allowances were given to about 19,500 elderly people.

One of the activities – the National Gathering of Elderly People – will be staged on October 1 within the nationwide campaign “Age Demands Action”. The event starts at 10 am at the Triumphal Arch in central Chisinau. It will be an interactive platform for discussions that will include the presentation of customs and traditions, plays, concerts and sports competitions.

The campaign “Age Demands Action”, whose goal is to contribute to the creation of a positive image of the elderly people, is carried out by HelpAge International in partnership with the Ministry of Labor, Social Protection and Family. Starting with 2012, the campaign has been also held on the World Health Day (April 7) and the World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (June 15).

According to estimates of December 2013, in Moldova there are about 495,000 pensioners.