Svishtov celebrates International Day of Older Persons

On October 1, International Day of Older Persons, celebrations were held in Svishtov, Bulgaria, where local students honored residents of the ‘Maria Luiza’ Home for the Elderly. Svishtov Mayor Gencho Genchev attended the event, emphasizing the importance of continuous care for the elderly and expressing gratitude for their contributions to the community.

The celebration coincides with the upcoming reopening of the ‘Maria Luiza’ facility. Following a major renovation costing approximately 6.46 million euros—funded by the European Union through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan—residents are expected to move back into the updated building on October 15. During the construction, which began in March 2025, residents were temporarily housed at the University of Economics ‘Dimitar A. Tsenov’.

Globally, the United Nations established this day to raise awareness regarding the challenges faced by the elderly, including poverty, discrimination, and violence. While the global population aged 60 and over is projected to reach 2 billion by 2050, Bulgaria is also experiencing a significant demographic shift characterized by an aging population and declining birth rates.