specific needs of children and elderly left behind as a ... - IOM Moldova

Psychological and social effects of migration
into contact with their old friends. Old age is an important phenomenon
in human life that can mark a terminus for their social dynamism or, on
the contrary, a starting point for a life dedicated to relaxation and all the
activities they could not perform before, as they did not have time or the
financial resources. Inter-individual peculiarities as different personalities
and age differences influence their relations with their peers.
According to the survey, some elderly people maintain positive interpersonal
relations with their peers, saying: “I have friends of my age
and ones who are a little younger... I get along very well with the priest and
the priestess... They visit me… I visit them for advice… They also ask for my
advice and I visit them when I need. We talk a lot…” (III_E_8).
Besides, the results prove that the problem of poor communication
with their peers in many communities is caused by:
- Migration: “Some of us still have neighbours, some don’t... There are
almost no neighbours left. All the young people left… and the old ones
are also gone” (FG_E_2_rural);
- Work schedule: “I don’t talk a lot to people because all of them are busy
with their jobs and all around there are helpless women, widows and
everybody has their problems and needs” (III_E_5);
- The lack of friends: “I don’t even know my neighbours, we just greet
them and that’s it. We don’t have many elderly in here. My neighbours
are young, there is only one person my age who lives one floor down and
that is all. I talk more to my colleagues at work, to her – she is in the
same situation as me, her daughter is also abroad. We have known each
other for so long and that’s why” (III_E_4).
The collected data shows that the problem of poor communication of the
elderly with their peers is more severe in the urban area than in the
countryside. The elderly from rural areas are better acquainted with
their community members, can communicate sometimes with other
villagers they see on the street, with a neighbour who digs in the garden
or with domestic animals they feed. In the urban area the elderly are
deprived of these possibilities.
Some of the elderly are pleased with the relationship they have with their
partner or neighbours, providing a satisfaction: “My husband lights the fire
in the morning. We eat something... We watch some TV... If the weather is
good we take a walk to the store... but most of all we stay in... Where could
I go? I talk to my neighbour when I see her, as we’re the same age... but only
when it’s warm outside, if not – I’m staying close to the stove” (III_E_15);
“My neighbours always visit me, and I visit them so I’m never lonely or bored”
(III_E_16).
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