Bicaz, Romania: Returnee Revives Elder Care as Youth Emigrate

The small Romanian town of Bicaz, once an important industrial city until 1989, has seen nearly half its residents move away. Most younger people have emigrated to Western Europe, particularly Italy, in search of work, leaving behind an aging population. Antonela Andonescu, known as Coca, is one of the few who returned from Italy and now dedicates her life to caring for the elderly in her hometown.

Coca's Return and Dedication to Care

Coca, who worked as a geriatric nurse in Italy for almost a decade, now runs a nursing home in Bicaz with a capacity for 80 residents. The demand for such facilities is high due to the aging population and the scarcity of government-run options, many private providers failing to meet quality standards. Coca's facility stands out for its affordability, reliability, and focus on human connection. She actively engages with residents, playing cards, dominoes, and rummy, and making time for conversations.

One of her unique initiatives is taking residents on outings on Lake Bicaz in a boat she purchased. The boat, which accommodates 12 people, allows residents, including those in wheelchairs, to enjoy the countryside, gather herbs, or pick fruit. This idea came to her after seeing tourists on a boat tour, and despite motorboats being considered a masculine domain, Coca confidently helms the vessel. The Bicaz Reservoir, Romania's largest artificial lake, was created in 1950 with the construction of a hydroelectric dam. Music, especially old Schlager hits, is a regular part of these boat tours.

The Impact of Emigration on Bicaz

Bicaz, located in the historical region of Moldavia, about 400 km north of Bucharest, has a population of around 6,500 people, predominantly older individuals. The fall of the communist regime led to a dramatic rise in unemployment and a subsequent wave of emigration. Many young people, like Coca's niece Andra, left for Western Europe and are unlikely to return.

Vasile Iuganaru, a resident in Coca's nursing home, worked for decades at the Bicaz cement plant, once Romania's largest. He recalls the booming industry but also the harsh working conditions, particularly in asbestos cement production, where workers inhaled toxic fumes before the installation of new particle filters in the 1990s. Many workers developed diseases like silicosis.

Coca herself was directly affected by the economic situation. After finishing school, she realized she needed to leave Romania for a better future. She secretly left for Turkey, where she worked for three years and met the father of her oldest son. During her time abroad, she prioritized sending money and gifts to her sisters and nieces, who were struggling back home.

The Immigrant Experience: Andra's Story

Andra, Coca's oldest niece, represents the second generation of Romanian immigrants in Italy. She moved to Ostia, a suburb of Rome, to join her parents who had settled there in the late 1990s. Andra has fond memories of Coca bringing gifts from Turkey and acting as a mother figure.

Her transition to Italy was challenging, leaving her grandparents behind and adapting to a new city and language. However, she quickly learned Italian by watching cartoons and embraced her new life. She worked in the restaurant industry, eventually becoming a manager, and met her husband, Ruggero, who owns the restaurant where she used to work. Andra enjoys visiting Romania for vacations but has no desire to live there permanently.

The Challenges and Hopes of Romanian Migrants

Lacramioara, Coca's older sister and Andra's mother, also worked in Italy, caring for an elderly lady after her husband moved there. She now works at Coca's nursing home in Bicaz, having been convinced by Coca to return.

The early days of Romanian migration to Italy, before Romania joined the EU, were particularly difficult. Lacramioara recounts a harrowing experience of arriving without a visa, being hidden by a friend, and eventually finding herself homeless in Rome, living in a train station. With the help of a stranger, she and her husband eventually found a house and furnished it with items from the church, donations, and even trash.

Despite the hardships, many Romanian migrants, like Lacramioara, find it difficult to return permanently, constantly postponing their return with the phrase, "Just one more year." They feel a strong connection to their homeland but also acknowledge the better opportunities abroad. Lacramioara expresses the pain of leaving her parents and in-laws behind, though they made sure to visit annually so their children could learn Romanian traditions.

Coca's Vision for Bicaz

Coca's decision to return to Bicaz in 2003 was driven by a deep longing for home. Her initial venture was a pizzeria, which became popular with local schoolchildren. This led her to social work, and she eventually convinced her sisters to return and work with her. Her goal was to bring her family back together, healthy and close to their parents.

She observes that many of her neighbors' children have also emigrated to Italy, with few remaining in Bicaz. While they often say they will return after earning money, many never do.

Coca's daily routine involves managing the nursing home, including shopping for groceries and medications, and actively participating in the residents' care. Her own father, Matei Andreescu, born in 1941, is a resident at her home, struggling with memory issues. He witnessed all three of his daughters leave the country but understood their need to seek better opportunities.

Despite the challenges, Coca finds immense satisfaction in her work, stating, "If you do what you love, you never get tired." She is considering opening a second, more exclusive nursing home with higher rents to help offset the rising costs of the existing facility and ensure long-term housing for all her residents.

The story of Bicaz and Coca's family highlights the profound impact of emigration on Romanian communities, the resilience of those who seek new lives abroad, and the dedication of individuals like Coca who return to build a better future for their hometown.