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

CHAPTER I
tinuing to ask of them to perform the role of the supportive parent:
“Another child will come to see me and how will I treat him?”
In the case of the institutionalized elderly money management is
the responsibility of caregiver or residential institution according
to the contract: “My girl said that now the manager (of the asylum)
will receive my money...” (FG_E_3_urban_asylum).
The situation of elderly who were abandoned or whose children disappeared,
while not having any other relatives, is extremely difficult.
They are forced to survive on their pension, other forms of social
protection or charity: “I do not know where my daughter is now... I
take care of my granddaughter and I can say that from the financial
aspect it is just harder to live” (III_E_3).
The study indicates there is a chance that conflicts may appear within
the family because of remittances. For example when children send
remittances to their own parents and the grandchildren are cared for
by the husband or parents-in-law: “When mother was abroad she used
to send parcels to her parents but her husband who looked after the
children did not receive anything…He was fighting with her parents…
and as a result of this conflict they are divorcing now as he asks to
deprive his wife of parental rights...The father’s relatives are quarrelling
with the mother’s relatives...” (FG_EE_urban_rural). Respectively,
tense situations caused by the difficulties in spending remittances can
cause the family to break up.
In conclusion it should be said that remittances significantly contribute
to improving the quality of life of the elderly regardless of where
they are staying, their autonomy, health condition or whether they
are taking care of grandchildren.
• Strategies of spending money used by the elderly
Within the study it has been discovered that the elderly often minimize
their needs: “I learned to save money since my youth and I always
spend it only on what we need, but not in vain. You see I have been
wearing this blouse for 10 years” (III_E_5). However, the children’s
demands prevail: “I had never told her to send anything and when
she came home she bought a lot of things and it is important for us.
She bought more for my granddaughter, but I do not need anything.
She asked me if I need anything and I said I had everything including
clothes” (III_E_3).
Life experiences combined with tough reality makes them apply very
pragmatic strategies to save money, paying for utilities, food, medi-
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