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Moving to Romania with a disability

Last activity 31 January 2021 by rabinag

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Bhavna

Hello everyone,

Having a disability should not be a barrier to living abroad. While the intricacies of one’s move to Romania may be specific to the individual, certain steps can be undertaken to make the process smoother.

What are the important aspects you would personally keep in mind during the planning phase (social security benefits, ongoing medical treatment, etc.)?

Are you required to go through a medical check-up before your move?

Are there any organisations or groups who lend support to expatriates who have a disability?

What are your thoughts on the infrastructure in Romania (public spaces, transportation and buildings)?

Are there enough opportunities to make the most of your social life in Romania? Are leisure activities made accessible to people with disabilities? 

Please do share your experience with us.

Bhavna

Yeti786

"Moving to RO with a physical or mental disability" is too complex a topic to be casually bandied around on any forum. There are too many variables to make for any informed and useful advice. Even so, a few of glaring facts should help to channel thinking processes:

It is of course assumed that all the medical costs are to be met privately. (If treatment is to be paid by insurance companies I suppose they are likely to have a binding say in this matter.)

1. To move to RO will depend entirely on from which country the person is moving and whether RO's medical facilities specialise in and have a history of successfully treating whatever disorder needs medical attention - that too, either cheaper or more effectively than other countries.
2. My understanding of RO's medical facilities is:
a. Most govt hospitals are mostly far below standards available in West Europe. Some private hospitals may meet the mark but cost a bomb, relatively.
b. If someone is moving to RO because they cannot afford West European medical costs, then there are far better options that RO. For instance, India has far better medical facilities available than RO can offer... and cheaper too! Many Turkish facilities are slowly gaining international reputation too.
3. And since many good RO doctors and nurses are not fluent in any foreign language, let's not forget the potential issues that can arise from misunderstandings due to language limitations on both sides.
4. Post operative care/nursing that may extend to several months is not cheap either.

relair

I would like to clear up a few glaring fallacies for potential expats looking for “facts”
First and foremost to recommend moving to India for higher quality medical care compared to Romania is equivalent to recommending moving from the United States to Haiti for a higher quality of life, according to the WHO India is ranked 13 places LOWER than Romania for quality of healthcare.
With a little research you will find that for many common conditions (heart, orthopedic, mental health) costs range roughly 15%-20% lower in india compared to Romania so the question would be is it worth traveling to or living in a borderline third world country and enduring the heat, filth, and overcrowding to save 15%-20% on healthcare that is ranked 13 rankings lower than Romania ??
As a U.S. Army veteran being treated for combat related PTSD and a couple of orthopedic conditions I have never had any issues with the quality of medical care in Romania public or private, and have not had a SINGLE issue with language barriers in over 2 years of residence, in addition my spouse has been treated by both public and private facilities and the result has been the same most of our expenses are covered by public insurance and those not covered have rarely exceeded 150 lei (about $35 U.S. dollars) except for a cosmetic procedure in a modern comfortable clinic by a highly regarded (English speaking) physician that would have cost us triple the cost compared to the U.S. for my spouse
My recommendation would be to do some legitimate research before making any major decisions

BellaIQ

There are strategies of reimbursement...

JohnnyStLouis

There have been quite a number of major scandals (in the American sense) in Romanian hospitals in recent years. One need go no further than the aftermath of the Colectiv fire (google it).
That said, excellent hospitals can be found in major cities. The key, in any location, is having a rapport with your medical care providers.

Bogdan Lungu 86

Hello Bhavna, I am a person with disabilities from Romania and I wouldn't recommend Romania as a good place to live when you have a disability. Our infrastructure is awful. The easiest public transport to use is underground and from time to time if you are lucky and find a kind driver or kind people to help you you can also use RATB.

There are not many places accessible to use but if you come to a big city like Bucharest we have malls some restaurants but pubs or disco clubs accessible to us are very rare!

What I like in Romania are people most of the time when I asked for help I got it maybe I am just lucky I don't know but I like to think that is the same for any disabled human been! If you are already in Romania give me a sign and If I can help you in any way I would gladly do it!

BellaIQ

The hospital in Brasov was declared the cleanest in Europe, only because the director and his wife, both doctors, have applied western methodology learned in their professional whereabouts.
As of issues in Romanian hospitals, no comment. There are so many things to improve, I'd love to be part of a program that actually does that. But unfortunately, those paid by a fix salary, with no power to fight bureaucracy, eventually give up.
I strongly sustain that as long as the judicial system is weak in Romania, so will the rest of the society that relies on its efficiency.

Ref:
https://positivenewsromania.com/2016/02 … in-europe/

BellaIQ

Just a thought...Romania does not have too many public facilities that cater to disabled people. Sure, some parking spots, wider doors in a mall but in general, older buildings with apartments don't even have an elevator, let alone an appropriate size for a disabled person in a wheel chair. Homework has to be done in advance. Living in a country sounds healthier but more challenging unless one starts from scratch with building own comfortable conditions for that respective disability.
I, sometimes, pretend or truly don't hear a person speaking to me, especially when focused. The excuse in the first case is that I practiced shooting, so, my hearing has weakened, in the second, well, wrong timing...

JohnnyStLouis

Sadly, no elevators in apartment buildings less than 4 floors. Badly designed/executed curb cuts and ramps. Handicapped parking ignored and not enforced. All older buildings have entry steps and lips of various heights across the bottom. Support bars unknown in toilets.
I will say there seem to be quite a few deaf people in my town. I feel really bad for those in wheelchairs.

Not necessarily from Romania, but common to find such things here.

Bogdan Lungu 86

JohnnyStLouis wrote:

Sadly, no elevators in apartment buildings less than 4 floors. Badly designed/executed curb cuts and ramps. Handicapped parking ignored and not enforced. All older buildings have entry steps and lips of various heights across the bottom. Support bars unknown in toilets.
I will say there seem to be quite a few deaf people in my town. I feel really bad for those in wheelchairs.

Not necessarily from Romania, but common to find such things here.


Good mentions, I forget to add them too!

ItsDennis

Thank you for those answers. I have been thinking about moving outside Netherlands too. However, I have Menieres Syndrome. I have the variant that causes suddenly falling down.

I would imagine it would be a hard life for me in a country such as Romania. It is a beautiful country for holidays, but I don’t think I would live there. It would be quite dangerous, given the quality of roads and pavements.

JohnnyStLouis

In my town uneven or broken sidewalks are a pain in the butt, not to mention unevenly spaced steps on many exterior stairways. I have dropfoot and it was several months before I started to adapt. I got scraped knees once a month each of the first few months I was here. I still stumble occasionally.

rabinag

What type of help you are looking for? If there is anything if I can help then just message me.

rabinag

Am not sure if I can ask for help to find me source of income/work to survive day to day being foreign student in Timisoara, Romania. This is my immediate need.

BellaIQ

The internet is full of offers. Try LinkedIn, Jobs.com, https://www.hipo.ro/locuri-de-munca/cau … /Timisoara but the list is going on and on. Advertise with friends on Facebook, talk with your local buddies. However, digital jobs are easier found; use keywords like "telework", "remote", "work from home". Best of luck!

rabinag

Yes, am looking for jobs in Timisoara or Bucharest Romania. I can share my CV.

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