Addressing Challenges Faced by the Elderly in Bulgaria Through Youth Initiatives

Bulgaria faces significant challenges related to its aging population, including high rates of elderly people at risk of poverty and social exclusion. Factors contributing to this situation include low fertility rates, increasing life expectancy, and emigration numbers. Youth initiatives like "SOS Hour Attention" and "Baba Residence" are making a positive impact by providing companionship, organizing activities, and bridging generational gaps. The "Artless-Age" campaign focuses on cultural access and social inclusion for post-retirement individuals, helping combat feelings of isolation. These initiatives exemplify the positive impact of intergenerational connections in addressing the needs of the elderly population in Bulgaria.

• Elderly
• Bulgaria
• Youth Initiatives
• Social Inclusion
• Intergenerational Connections

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Uploaded on Sep 13, 2024 | 1 Views

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1. SENIORS INVOLVED BULGARIA

2. THE ELDERLY IN BULGARIA AN OVERVIEW Ranks 5thin the world by the share of elderly over 25% are over 60 years old Lowest average life expectancy vs. One of the highest rates of aging - 71 years for men and 78 for women (2013 data) Highest rate of elderly people at risk of poverty, isolation and social exclusion 51% of Bulgarian citizens over 65 face serious material difficulties.

3. FACTORS: Low current numbers of the total fertility ratio (1.46 as per 2017) Baby-boom generation Relatively increasing life expectancy Emigration numbers - 1.85 million in the past 3 decades Loneliness is deepening the social aspect of the issue, altogether with the financial and demographic ones.

4. YOUTH INITIATIVES AND ORGANIZATIONS 1."SOS Hour Attention 30 young people help in organizing the disaster store at the Bulgarian Red Cross They visit lonely old people in their homes, chat with them and give them presents Voluntary work to help people by giving them attention to tell about themselves and to feel alive

5. YOUTH INITIATIVES AND ORGANIZATIONS 2. Baba residence Original format of Ideas Factory which connects young urban people with elderly people in rural areas A steady bridge between the diverse cultural and generational islands of Bulgaria They spend one month living together, after which the young people start working on individual or group ideas which have the potential to bring human, financial or other resources back to those Bulgarian depopulating rural areas

6. YOUTH INITIATIVES AND ORGANIZATIONS 2. Baba residence

7. YOUTH INITIATIVES AND ORGANIZATIONS 3. Artless-Age campaign /Credo Bonum Foundation/ A program for active cultural access and social inclusion of people in post-retirement age Identifying that anxiety from new and unknown places is a cause for social and cultural isolation among the elderly Organizes free concerts and exhibitions in Sofia for 65+ citizens - young volunteers accompany them to the place of the event

8. YOUTH INITIATIVES AND ORGANIZATIONS 4. Accept me in the village Main goal is to explore, preserve and promote the Bulgarian cultural heritage Promotes communication between representatives of different ages, stimulates tolerance, understanding, interaction and intercultural dialogue A model village of Primorsko was developed where young people can live with grandparents for rent and to be actively involved in rural life

9. WHAT IF YOU WERE SUDDENLY OLD! Communication and inclusion is the key

10. THANK YOU! Team BULGARIA Radostina Shivikova Kristina Mincheva Alexandra Yanakieva Donika Boneva