Low pensions are making life increasingly difficult for elderly people in Vlora, many of whom struggle to cover their basic monthly expenses. With minimal income and rising costs for electricity, water, and medicines, many pensioners spend their days simply walking around the city, as social activities and entertainment remain an unattainable luxury.

According to official data, the average pension in the Vlora region is about 20,000 lek per month, while many pensioners receive even less. This forces them to struggle to pay electricity and water bills as well as buy necessary medicines, while food is often limited to only the most basic products. Around 52,000 pensioners live in the city, facing these economic and social difficulties.

Pensioners say that after paying their monthly obligations, their income does not allow them any additional expenses. Going out for a coffee or having lunch at a restaurant is considered an unattainable luxury. One of them says:

“I take this walk because I’m a 72-year-old pensioner. I walk from Çole to here and then go back home. I do this every day. I receive 180,000 lek in pension. With that I eat bread with cheese and maybe one tomato. My wife gets 250,000 lek, but even that is tight. I pay 100,000 lek for water and electricity. Pensioners only have this walking as something free, and we are on the verge of death. What should be done? Long live the government, long live Edi Rama who is crushing this people so badly—there is nowhere left to go. Oh God, journalist, there is nowhere left to go,” says one of them.

The elderly also emphasize that healthcare expenses are a heavy burden, as some medicines are not fully reimbursed.

“I receive 210,000 lek. I go for a walk every day. My medicines are not reimbursed. I walk for two hours. Sometimes I might sit down for a coffee,” says another pensioner.

Although there are social centers and support services provided by the local government, many pensioners prefer not to attend them, turning walking into their only way to pass the time and meet their peers.

“I wander from Vlora to Skelë because we can’t afford to sit in cafés—we’re pensioners and that’s the pension we get. Altogether I receive 250,000 lek, and it doesn’t even last a week. I have to pay for water, internet, television, and medicines—that’s it. What lunch are you talking about? When we buy meat, we just fry it so the house smells good, not to eat it. The government should pay attention to the elderly,” says another pensioner.

For them, everyday life remains limited by economic hardship and the inability to afford a more dignified standard of living.

“With difficulty I just go for walks; I can’t afford anything else. I receive 220,000 lek. We don’t know restaurants or lunches, not even a coffee—we only walk,” says one pensioner.