Senior citizens play a vital role in the family and community and they must be provided with the conditions necessary for a dignified and fulfilling life, Her Majesty Margareta, Custodian of the Romanian Crown, said at the opening of the 9th edition of the national conference 'Best Practices for a Beautiful Old Age,' held at the Atelier Hall of the 'I.L. Caragiale' National Theatre in Bucharest on Tuesday.

'It is a great pleasure to be together for this conference dedicated to the International Day of Older Persons. This occasion is a moment to acknowledge a generation that raised us and passed on life values. I was fortunate to spend a lot of time with my grandmother, Queen Mother Helen, who inspired everything I have done in life and was a role model for my sisters and me. We learned that intergenerational relationships make us stronger, more connected, and that mutual support and respect make every stage of life meaningful,' underlined Her Majesty, who is also the President of the Margareta of Romania Royal Foundation.

She encouraged participants to continue building a society founded on intergenerational collaboration and support.

The Custodian of the Crown, who was accompanied at the event by Princess Sofia, a member of the foundation board, brought to mind that her grandmother was very active and involved in arts, culture, as well as other areas, being a role model 'not only for kindness and dignity, but also for active ageing.'

According to Mugurel Margarit, Executive Director of the Margareta of Romania Royal Foundation, the idea behind the conference originated from a 'simple but powerful desire: to get to know one another and learn from each other.'

'This year, the conference focuses more on active ageing and intergenerational relations, while also addressing the needs of seniors who require support. We are discussing the current situation of seniors in Romania, identifying good practice models that ensure a better life for vulnerable elderly people, and exploring examples of programmes dedicated to active ageing,' said Margarit.

'The Intergenerational Model as a Solution for the Social Inclusion of Seniors and Children. Results from the Evaluation of the Generations Centres Programme 2015-2025' study was launched during the event.

Dr. Daniel Arpinte, a sociologist and author of the study, highlighted that the intergenerational model impacts not only the elderly but also children.

'There is clear impact at the level of organisations implementing these creative, low-resource solutions which achieve significant benefits. Of course, the intergenerational model is not a cure-all for every problem, and it cannot function alone without complementing other services and interventions. But where it is implemented, it brings individual benefits: seniors reduce feelings of social isolation, experience improved mental outlook, and even physically feel better. Children benefit through improved academic performance, even if sometimes not very significant. (...) Sometimes simply not dropping out of school is a success. Therefore, the benefits exists, and this is what I want to underline, the intergenerational model does not entail high resources, we do not need to allot very much money, we only need to find the necessary forms to let those implementing it creatively develop solutions,' Arpinte explained.

According to the study, Romania's 80+ population will double by 2050. 'In the last 20 years, the 80+ age group has already more than doubled, and it will double again by 2050. The over-65 population has recently overtaken the 0-18 age group, which is declining, while the elderly share has reached 19% and is projected to rise to 27.7% by 2050. This is a major demographic shift that redefines policy priorities. Unfortunately, the service system, including private services, is slow to respond and lags behind the evolving needs caused by these demographic changes,' explained Arpinte. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Petronius Craiu; EN - writing by: Adina Panaitescu)