Romania faces rising elderly loneliness and poverty

Elderly loneliness and poverty are rising in Romania, creating a growing demand for social services. In Sălaj county, authorities report an increase in requests for care center housing, though available spots are becoming increasingly difficult to find. Many seniors are living without family support, often because children have moved abroad, leaving no one to provide care.

A report titled ‘Barometrul ABC – Bătrânii singuri’ highlights that loneliness is deeply linked to economic hardship. In 2024, approximately 29.3% of Romanians aged 65 and over were at risk of poverty or social exclusion, significantly higher than the European average of 19.5%. Furthermore, 19.6% of Romanian seniors faced severe material and social deprivation, nearly four times the EU average of 5.1%.

Financial vulnerability often leads to social isolation. The inability to afford basic costs—such as transportation, heating, medical devices like hearing aids, or domestic help—forces many seniors to withdraw from community life. Single-person households without dependent children face a higher incidence of poverty, as fixed household costs must be covered by a single income.