How older people in Moldova make healthcare more accessible

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When older people have the skills and opportunities to influence decisions, they can make practical changes that improve everyday life. In Moldova, SCORE is supporting older people to gather evidence, engage with decision-makers and advocate for more accessible health and care services. One example from Telenești shows how community-led advocacy helped turn a long-standing concern into action.

Universal health coverage is an important part of SCORE’s work to ensure that everyone can access the quality health and care services they need without facing financial hardship. Through the programme, HelpAge Moldova tested a Universal Health Coverage Advocacy Guide with older people and community representatives, helping them strengthen their knowledge and advocacy skills and put these into practice.

Building older people’s advocacy skills

HelpAge Moldova tested the guide through training that brought together representatives of partner organisations, community volunteers and active older people from across Moldova. Participants explored the right to health and learned how to analyse problems, gather evidence, identify decision-makers and develop advocacy messages

Following the training, participants worked with older people in Telenești town and Sărăteni village to identify barriers affecting access to health and care services. Older people played a central role in providing evidence, analysing the problems and developing advocacy demands for decision-makers.

Listening to older people’s experiences

As part of the campaign, 132 older people took part in research about access to

The evidence was discussed with community members, healthcare providers and local authorities, helping older people identify priorities for advocacy and develop recommendations for decision-makers.

A new lift makes health services more accessible

In Moldova’s Telenești district, members of a local self-help group of older people put the skills learned on the training into practice. One issue emerged as a priority: access to services at the local health centre.

Many of the health services most frequently needed by older people were located on the fourth floor of the building, creating difficulties for people with limited mobility. The issue had existed for years, and older people decided to make it a focus of their advocacy efforts.

The group submitted petitions and engaged local authorities and health centre management.

We didn't come with money, but with evidence of the problem and a need to raise awareness. We showed that a lift is not just a request from older people, but a need for the whole community.

Aurelia Dobjanschi, self-help group member

The group’s efforts helped raise the profile of the issue and secure funding for a modern accessible lift at the health centre. Today, the lift has been installed, improving access for older people, people with disabilities, and others who previously struggled to reach specialist services.

Through their voices, their presence and by bringing their needs forward, older people in the community became part of this achievement. We managed to secure funding and a modern lift, fully adapted for people with special needs, has been installed in our health centre.

Rodica Barscov, director of the Telenești Health Centre

What can others learn?

The experience in Moldova shows that older people have the potential to be more than just users of healthcare services. With the right tools, they have the potential to be advocates, community leaders and agents of change.

The SCORE programme is enabling HelpAge Moldova to empower older people to understand their rights, gather evidence, and engage with decision-makers, helping shape more inclusive and responsive services. While installing a lift may be a small change, it can make a significant difference to the daily lives of older people and others who need accessible healthcare.

The lesson from Telenești is that there is a better chance of achieving change when older people have a voice in the decisions that affect their lives. Through participation, evidence and constructive dialogue, communities can help create lasting improvements that benefit everyone.