Socio Economic Conditions of Elderly Persons Receiving Assistance in Galati County

Abstract

The relationship between socio economic status and morbidity/mortality can be observed both within a country and in comparisons between countries. Other studies have shown that the number of family members is important, as it influences the socio-economic conditions of the household. The situation of the elderly, which is the focus of our research, is more particular compared to that of the younger population, given the morpho functional changes that occur in the body with advancing age. These changes may lead to dependence on others, and therefore society has the obligation to ensure them a decent standard of living. Population ageing has consequences not only for medical care but also for the social protection of the elderly. Older people represent the population group with the highest degree of reliance on medico social assistance, mainly because chronic degenerative diseases predominate among them. This situation leads to an increased consumption of specialised medical and social care, each elderly person having on average 2–3 chronic conditions.