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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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:<\/p>\n
\u201cI take this walk because I\u2019m a 72-year-old pensioner. I walk from \u00c7ole 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\u2014there is nowhere left to go. Oh God, journalist, there is nowhere left to go,\u201d says one of them.<\/p>\n
The elderly also emphasize that healthcare expenses are a heavy burden, as some medicines are not fully reimbursed.<\/p>\n
\u201cI 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,\u201d says another pensioner.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wander from Vlora to Skel\u00eb because we can\u2019t afford to sit in caf\u00e9s\u2014we\u2019re pensioners and that\u2019s the pension we get. Altogether I receive 250,000 lek, and it doesn\u2019t even last a week. I have to pay for water, internet, television, and medicines\u2014that\u2019s 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,\u201d says another pensioner.<\/p>\n
For them, everyday life remains limited by economic hardship and the inability to afford a more dignified standard of living.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith difficulty I just go for walks; I can\u2019t afford anything else. I receive 220,000 lek. We don\u2019t know restaurants or lunches, not even a coffee\u2014we only walk,\u201d says one pensioner.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":83399,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"video","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[153,1803],"tags":[243,151],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n