Do not grow old in Kosovo

In the report, called “, do not age” which today has published the Kosovar Initiative for Stability has proved that homes of the elderly in Kosovo do not have adequate housing conditions, as well as social services are not developed.

In this case in Cinema ABC, a documentary has been shown showing the lives of Kosovo pensioners.

The elderly who were part of the documentary showed that prior to the war there had been better conditions and pensions than they have now.

Florina Duli éfaj, executive director of the IKS, said they have found it reasonable to do such research, taking into account that this age group of people in Kosovo is overlooked.

Researcher Brikee Hoxha presented the data of this research, showing that the survey was conducted with 600 seniors.

She showed that of those surveyed, only 4 per cent of them are active in the labour market, while only 9 per cent have claimed that they would work if such an opportunity was offered.

Out of 1.7 million people in Kosovo, only 6.2 per cent are over 65 years. With small participation in electorates, they have long been ignored by politicians, civil society and also society in general. Neither the government nor the private sector turns out to have great interest or the will to create special care vessels for the elderly, and in terms of access and health services, there are high levels that leave much to be desired”, Hoxha said.

The research report has also stressed the lack of activities for Kosovo's third age group. Asked what activities they are engaged in, 43.9 per cent of them have claimed not to handle anything.

Deputy Labour and Social Management Minister Cerkin Dukoli said that all society must mobilise to create elderly activities.

He suggested that written media that print newspapers, but even publishing houses, to send out House of the Non-Solds publications so they can spend any time reading.

“The Ministry of Labour and Social Management in its daily commitments, to fulfil all the obligations that come out of the Social Services and Family Law, has licensed over 800 social workers and now, when we're talking, we have 25 NGOs licensed as social services and family providers. However, we also approved 22 minimum standards for providing these social services to the family”, Dukoli said.

While Sylejman Meta, representative of the Kosovo Pensioners Union, has said that in spite of the possibilities Kosovo has by following models of foreign states, the social issue for all age groups has not yet been resolved properly.

So far, too little has been done to be told at all. By 2004 we received only 28 euros, once a brand, now turned into euros. Then, 80 euros we've received by 2010, to be able to move to 140 in a stereotype and we've been following with the utmost care of drafting the pension scheme law that's now in effect, which we've filed with petition before it's approved. On the day of approval we have staged protests, unions from all cities in Kosovo have come and we have protested”, Meta said.

There are currently four homes in Kosovo to care for elderly persons.

Pristina House of Elders with 130 beds, in Skenderaj with 20 beds, in 20-bed Istog, and in Gracanica with 10 beds