Valuing and valorizing the
knowledge and skills of people 80+
Report on research in Italy
Sergio Andreis
Lunaria
Roma
This project has been funded with support
from the European Commission. This
publication reflects the views only of the
authors, and the Commission cannot be held
responsible for any use which may be made of
the information contained therein.
1
Table of contents
1.
Methodology and procedures
3
2.
Results of desk research and interviews
2.1 Conceptual framework
4
2.2 Visibility of active citizenship at very high age
4
2.3 Motivation of very old citizens
5
2.4 Fields of activities
5
2.5 Potential barriers
6
2.6 Enhancing framework conditions
6
2.7 Identified projects with and by very old people
7
2.8 Results for work at political level
7
3.
Conclusions and recommendations
for the design of the training package
4.
9
Bibliography
10
2
1.
Methodology and procedures
The research methodology followed has comprised the lead questions, for desk
research as well as for the interviews with experts and active senior citizens, agreed
with the other Act80+ project partners.
We have built upon the Lunaria action-research experience which, since 2002, has
included senior and intergenerational volunteering, training and advocacy http://www.lunaria.org/category/volontariato-internazionale/senior/
With regard to the Act80+ desk research the results of the following EU-supported
projects have been considered:
A. SEVEN, Senior Volunteers Exchange Network - http://www.seven-network.eu/
B. ForAge, For later-life learning – Building on the European experience
www.foragenetwork.eu/
-
C. ComeON!, Community projects for social innovation through intergenerational
volunteering experience - http://www.comeon-project.eu/
D. RIVER, Recognition of Intergenerational Volunteering Experiences and
Results - www.river-project.eu
E.
SLIC
II
Valuing
older
people's
skills
experience: Training peer facilitators - http://www.slic-project.eu/
and
We have also reviewed and taken into account our involvement with the initiatives of
the 2012 EU Year of Active Ageing and Solidarity Between Generations and our cooperation with the main Italian NGOs working for the rights of the elderly.
The desk research was performed on the internet by using the following key words in
different combinations: “Cittadinanza attiva (active citizenship)”, “80+”; “Grandi
anziani (Great elderly)”; “Grande età (Great age)”; “Partecipazione (Participation)”;
“Quarta età (Fourth age)”
The field research has included::
• Six expert interviews, conducted by telephone and e-mail. All experts were
selected for their backgrounds and their involvement with very old active citizens:
two decision-makers, from the Budget Committee of the Italian House of
Parliament and the CEO of Bologna's Public Trust for social services; three
researchers and one practitioner.
• Five telephone and e-mail interviews with 80+ active citizens one involved
with energy policy issues; one with Alpine local cultures; two engaged with social,
political and writing initiatives; one with anthropology and archeology.
3
2.
Results of desk research and interviews
2.1 Conceptual framework
With reference to the “Italian perspective” of the overall 80+ conceptual / theoretical
framework, the main conclusions may be summarised with the folloowing:
A. Demographic and economic trends have increased attention to active citizenship
by the 80+, though their being considered as specific target group with own
potentials, appears to have started in very recent years only, in and outside care
settings.
B. Conceptual / linguistic upgrades, i.e. involving more positive connotations vs past
ones, have been created in Italian to define 80+ citizens / age bracket: grandi
anziani (great elderly), grande età (great age).
C. Though with limited available specific 80+ evidence, research results indicate
consensus on the positive effects, for individuals and society at large, of active
ageing, later-life learning, intergenerational initiatives and seniors' active citizenship
exercises.
D. In order to keep EU welfare solidarity, innovative changes are needed: to
successfully face the new challenges for the individuals, their communities and
decision-makers and offer new multigenerational and participatory opportunities,
towards a society for all ages.
2.2 Visibility of active citizenship at very high age
The results of the visibility by the Internet search with Italian key-words is
summarized below:
Key words
“Cittadinanza attiva + 80+ “
“Cittadinanza attiva + grandi anziani”
“Grande età + cittadinanza attiva”
“80+ + partecipazione”
“Grandi anziani + cittadinanza attiva”
Quarta età + partecipazione”
Hits
(in
thousands)
458
442
675
6
166
11
With two remarks:
A. „Cittadinanza attiva“ scores the overwhelming majoirity of hits, while the „80+“
category is referred to in a limited number of cases, with only few items specifically
dealing with the 80+ age group.
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B. „Partecipazione“ is even less present and the number of contributions on the 80+
active participation in public life almost absent, as yet another indication that this
remains an unexplored topic.
2.3 Motivation of very old citizens
The recurrently identified motivations for very old citizens to be involved in active
citizenship initiatives are:
A. Do something good / useful for the others.
B. Share own experiences, skills, il proprio vissuto (one's own set of lived-through
mistakes, successes, perceptions).
C. Give / find meanings to own later-life by being and doing things with others,
including younger persons.
D. Increase self-esteem.
E. React, by joining forces, to the physical decay.
2.4 Fields of activities
A. Cultural, social tourism, recreational, charitable and religious NGOs volunteering
in the care / solidarity services, free time and artistic sectors.
B. Civic / vigilant grandparents, transmission of know-how, manual and technical
skills to businesses and vocational training students, assistance to jail prisoners.
C. Gardening and vegetable garden cultivation, environmental and handicraft.
D. IT and digital technology training and use, website with and for other 80+,
participation in local radio and TV news services.
E. Participation in popular universities lifelong learning programmes, soft gymnastics,
aquagym, walking and slowmove.
F. Lobby with decision-makers on 80+ righs and international solidarity.
5
2.5 Potential barriers
The 2010 research on volunteering in later-life, carried out in Italian volunteering
organizations (case studies) by INRCA (ASPA – Activating Senior Potential in an
Ageing Europe – European Project: http://www.aspa-eu.com), showed three main
obstacles, in the following importance order: 1) lack of economic resources; 2) longer
duration of working life; 3) reconciliation problems of voluntary work with family care.
Our desk research identified also the following:
A. No national legislation to support 80+ active citizenship.
B. Age discrimination.
C. Weak recruitment strategies by potential hosts to 80+ volunteers / active
citizenship programmes.
D. Insufficent public transport and other local services, most used by old and very old
citizens, particularly in the Southern part of Italy and in the islands.
E. Health limitations, economic difficulties and self-esteem gaps.
F. The fear to have to sacrifice too much time in private life to the advantage of active
citizenship initiatives.
2.6 Enhancing framework conditions
Four main sets of desirable proposals emerged:
A. Building also on the legally-binding relevant EU Charter of Fundamental Rights
articles (Art. 21 – Non-discrimination - Any discrimination based on any ground such
as sex, race, colour, ethnic or social origin,genetic features, language, religion or
belief, political or any other opinion, membership of a national minority, property,
birth, disability, age or sexual orientation shall be prohibited. Art. 25 - The rights of the
elderly - The Union recognises and respects the rights of the elderly to lead a life of
dignity and independence and to participate in social and cultural life.): the approval
of specific Italian and EU 80+ legislation to promote their active ageing / citizenship
engagement.
B. Increased funding by regional and local governments, those which are closest to
80+ citizens' lives, for new 80+ active citizenship initiatives.
6
C. New research projects on the structural changes to be implemented towards a
society for all ages and the removal of the current ostacles for 80+ active
participation in public life and socially useful projects.
D. Dedicated public, private and PPP (public-private partnerships) investments to
improve the 80+ economic living conditions and services to be used by them.
As Elena Luppi argues in the conclusions of her work, mentioned in the bibliography
below, the picture that emerges is that of an over-80s elderly population with a
sufficient level of autonomy that is able to implement strategies and maintain
reference networks to satisfy its own needs. These elderly people show a strong
sense of belonging to their own community. But there is an equally important need
for facilitated paths to manage an overall situation, which is increasingly difficult to
manage. In this picture. Therefore, active citizenship appears as an educational
purpose and the background to design and structure interventions, activities, and
contexts to support autonomous and active ageing.
2.7 Identified projects with and by very old people
A. Per lunga vita (To a long life) - Cultural cooperation, volunteering, self-help, time
banks, participatory citizenship, advocacy with local governments, love and sexuality
in the Bologna area.
B. Filo d'Argento (Silver Line) – telephone help-line for old and very old people
managed by the AUSER - Autogestione servizi (AUSER - Self-managed services)
senior volunteers all over Italy.
C. Perlagrandetà (Forthegreatage) – dedicated gymnastics and soft sport activities
with 80+ organized and run by UISP – Unione Italiana Sport Per tutti (Italian Union
Sport for All) in various Italian areas.
D. Longevità in ambito rurale (Rural longevity) – rural activities with and for 80+ in the
Marche region, supported by the Marche Regional Government and local farms.
E. The knowledge volunteers – a project by the Fondazione Mondo Digitale (Digital
World Foundation) to bridge the generational digital divide with the support of the
youth to the 80+.
2.8 Results for work at political level
While no national legislation still exists in Italy to support 80+ active citizenship, four
Regions have approved regional legislation to support local initiatives for and with
very old citizens:
7
A. Liguria Regional Goverment: Regional law 3 November 2009, number 48 Promoting and giving value to active ageing.
B. Umbria Regional Government: Regional law 27 September 2012, number 14 –
Safeguarding active ageing.
C. Veneto Regional Government: Regional law 22 January 2010, number 9 –
Creation of the elderly's civil service.
D. Friuli Venezia-Giulia Regional Government: Regional law 14 November 2014,
number 22 – Promotion of active ageing.
The following Italian NGOs are active with old and very old groups of ciitizens and for
their rights:
•
AGE Rete italiana
•
ANTEAS
•
AUSER
•
Caritas
•
Cittadinanzattiva
•
CNCA
•
Comunità di Capodarco
•
CSV, Centri Servizi Volontariato - national volunteering centers coordination
•
Emmaus Italia
•
Forum del Terzo settore
•
Università popolari e della terza età - Popular and third age universities
•
•
Seniores Italia
UISP..
With regard to the issue of old and very old citizens' political particiation, it is worth
mentioning that the currently on-going MOPAC, Mobilising the potential of active
ageing in Europe project, lasting until 2017, http://mopact.group.shef.ac.uk/ has
created a WP to study the elderly's participation in politics.
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3. Conclusions and recommendations for the design of the
training package
A. Train care-settings staff towards increased 80+ guests active citizenship initiatives:
on help-relations dynamics; active listening; cure vs taking care; understanding of the
emotional implications for 80+ living in care centers; the need for 80+ to feel taken
care of.
B. The training package should include tools to foster the 80+ active particiaption in
public life.
C. Involve more volunteering NGOs and, within a self-help perspective. those active
for elderly rights.
D. „The design of training course should be directed to deepen both the potential and
the limitations of 80+ people and on how to motivate them in being active“.
E. Map actual and potential opportunties, develop networks, launch new 80+ pilot
active citizenship initiatives.
F. Favour pilot projects in which the 80+ individual needs, learning environments,
local social services and active citizenship opportunities may become ideal, studied
and replicated.
G. Bridge legislative gaps: this would have positive multiplicatory effects to allow
greater 80+ active citizenship exercises, both within and outside care-settings.
H Propose awareness-raising, including national radio, TV and social media
campaings, on 80+ active citizenship potentials to further improve the perception of
80+.
I. Involve recognized 80+ testimonials – examples for Italy may include Giorgio
Napolitano, our former Head of State – Umberto Veronesi, a leading anti-cancer
Milan professor – Franca Valeri, a theatre actress – Luciana Castellina, a symbol for
the Italian left.
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4.
Bibliography
BARBARELLA, F, CHIATTI, C.., PRINCIPI, A. and LAMURA, G. (2011) Volontariato in età
matura: opportunità, barriere e best practises per il coinvolgimento degli anziani –
Available
from
http://www.newwelfare.org/2011/03/04/volontariato-in-eta-maturaopportunita-barriere-e-best-practices-per-il-coinvolgimento-degli-anziani/ (Accessed: 26
January 2015)
DELUIGI, R. (2014) Abitare l'invecchiamento. Itinerari pedagogici tra cura e progetto –
Mondadori edizioni
LUPPI, E. (2010): Autonomy and Citizenship in the Late Third Age, Educational Gerontology,
36:10-11, pages 872-892 - Available from http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03601271003715921
(Accessed : 30 January 2015)
MIRABILE, M.L, DE SARIO, B., MASTROPIETRO, E. (2008) L'anziano come risorsa. Casi,
testimonianze e condizioni per lo sviluppo della partecipazione sociale degli anziani –
IRES,
Istituto
di
Ricerche
Economiche
e
Sociali
Available
from:https://www.ires.it/files/rapporti/AREE_DI_RICERCA/Welfare/Rapporti_di_Ricerca/2
008-L%27ANZIANO_COME_RISORSA_-_Area_Welfare.pdf
(Accessed: 16 January
2015)
MONTEMURRO, F. (2012) Indagine sulle RSA in Italia – AUSER – Available from
http://images.auser.it/IT/f/img_biblioteca/img72_b.pdf (Accessed: 01 February 2015)
POMARDI, B.and GALEOTTI, M.G. (2010) Gli anziani in Italia: aspetti demografici e sociali
ed interventi pubblici – Scuola Superiore dell'Amministrazione dell'Interno – Available
from: http://ssai.interno.it/download/allegati1/anziani.pdf (Accessed: 01 February 2015)
PRESIDENZA DEL CONSIGLIO DEI MINISTRI (2012) Programma Nazionale di lavoro - Per
un invecchiamento attivo, vitale e dignitoso in una società solidale – Available from
http://www.invecchiamentoattivo.politicheperlafamiglia.it/wpcontent/uploads/2012/02/Anno-invecchiamento-2012-Programma-nazionale-lavoro.pdf
(Accessed: 15 January 2015)
PRINCIPI, A. JENSEN, P.H and LAMURA, G. (2014) Active Ageing: Voluntary Work by Older
people in Europe – The Policy Press
RIPAMONTI, E. (2005) Anziani e cittadinanza attiva. Imparare per sé, impegnarsi con gli altri
- UNICOPLI edizioni
TADDIA, F. (A cura di) (2012) Laboratori di animazione per la terza età - Percorsi
socioeducativi – Erickson edizioni – Avalable from
http://www.erickson.it/Libri/Pagine/Scheda-Libro.aspx?ItemId=40116 (Accessed: 13
January 2015)
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