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

Policies and mechanisms existing on the protection of children and the elderly
be increased in this regard: ”it should be established by law that before
going abroad children should delegate a person who will act if necessary
and will look after the old person. The law stipulates that children should
take care of the old parents but the law is not always obeyed. In this regard
law amendments regarding increased responsibility should be operated”
(III_EE_8).
The study unveiled cases when migrant children required social services
of high specialization and when the elderly was in an extremely difficult
condition (experiencing health problems or issues related to mobility): “ I
had problems with my legs for 3 years, they cut one leg at the hospital and
brought me to the asylum...I could not go home as I don’t have a wife or anyone
to take care of me...” (FG_E_4_rural_asylum);”my daughter brought me
here and left. She talked once with the manager and he gave me this room. I
move around in a wheelchair...” (FG_E_3_urban_asylum), the decease of a
spouse or decreased mobility “my children brought me here when my husband
died” (FG_E_4_rural_asylum), impossibility to find a reliable person
to look after the elderly “there is no one to take care of me in the village... We
have decided with my daughter to stay in the asylum, as in the village there
isn’t anyone who could look after me as they are drinking...” (FG_E_4_rural_asylum).
The research allows us to conclude that an extremely small number of
children address social services before going abroad in order to explore
the possibilities of establishing caregivers for the parents staying behind.
More often it happens when parents’ health condition is very poor
(poor health, mobility and limited autonomy) and they look for social services
of high specialization. In this regard law amendments would be a
solution.
• Keeping a record and supervising at the local level
It is well known that a rigorous monitoring and record of the situation in a
field allows a proper analysis and strategic planning of actions. Keeping a
record and supervising the elderly left behind is the responsibility of local
public authorities 9 and in particular of community social workers 10
who in fact exist in all communities. Thus, social workers keep the record
of old people but to a less extent of the elderly left behind, but when they:
”find out that there is an old man/woman whose children left abroad, we start
looking for the relatives he/she has in the territory, we ask about his/her financial
situation, what is their source of income .....” (FG_EE_urban_rural).
The social worker interferes when it is necessary to register the case:
• They receive a call: “We keep the record of only those whose children are not
in Moldova, when they look for financial help. We go home and evalu-
NOTE
9
Law on social assistance
(no. 547 of 25.12.2003),
the article 14 specifies
that the authorities of local
public administration
analyze social issues, initiate
the assessment of
the situation in the social
sphere of the subordinated
territory.
NOTE
10
The community social
worker is an important
actor in the community
who comes into contact
with people in difficulty,
identifies their needs
and ensures their access
to social services existing
in the community or in
the district. According to
the job description (approved
by MLSPF order
no. 54 of June the 10th
2009) , the social worker
is in charge for identification
and evaluation of
the situation the beneficiary
and his family face;
visiting them at home,
identifying the needs of
groups of beneficiaries
from the community and
suggesting solutions to
resolve issues.
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