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Home > Arhiva > 2026 > Numar: 4 > Child Protection and Population Ageing: The Role of Intergenerational Solidarity in Social Work Child Protection and Population Ageing: The Role of Intergenerational Solidarity in Social Work
by:
- Nadina-Ionela Darie (National University of science and Technology Politehnica Bucharest, Pitesti University Centre, E-mail: nadina_ionela.darie@upb.ro)
- Ioana-Cristina Oprescu (National University of science and Technology Politehnica Bucharest, Pitesti University Centre, E-mail: ioanaoprescu444@gmail.com)
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. Context. Romania, like many European countries, is facing major demographic changes: declining birth rates and an increasing proportion of elderly people. These processes put pressure both on child protection systems and on services dedicated to the elderly. In this context, intergenerational solidarity represents an innovative approach, capable of reducing vulnerabilities and strengthening social cohesion. This paper aims to investigate how collaboration between generations can simultaneously support child protection and elderly care. The main objective is to identify models of good practice and opportunities to integrate them into social work policies and programs. The study is based on a qualitative research approach, using an analysis of the academic literature, legislative documents, and institutional reports at national and European levels. This was complemented by examining selected community initiatives and intergenerational programs involving interaction between children and seniors, in order to evaluate their impact on the well-being of both groups. The analysis reveals that intergenerational activities reduce social isolation among elderly people and support the cognitive and emotional development of children. Moreover, such initiatives decrease the pressure on social protection systems by valorizing existing community resources. For social work education and practice, these findings highlight the importance of training future specialists in integrated interventions and in promoting intergenerational solidarity. Intergenerational support constitutes a sustainable strategy to address both child protection and population ageing challenges. Integrating this perspective into social policies can strengthen community resilience and ensure a more balanced and durable social work system.
Keywords: child, elderly, intergenerational support, social policies, inclusion
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