Kosovo is a small country: It is also one of the youngest in Europe. The average age of its 1.78m people is 30 and only 6.2% are 65 and older.1 With limited voting clout the elderly have long been neglected by our politicians. Unlike amongst some of our neighbours we do not have a powerful pensioners’ party. But the nature of Kosovar society does not help either. Because the elderly are almost always cared for by their families, their interests are neglected by society at large. They are ignored by civil society and there is little incentive for government or the private sector to establish specialised care facilities for the elderly, help those who have lost their independence or ensure access to proper social services which are today either nonexistent or ill-adapted to the nature of our society. This is the context of this study into the living conditions of Kosovo’s elderly who are here defined as anyone aged 65 or over.
To read the full report, click here: Don't Get Old