Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of figures
- List of tables
- List of contributors
- 1 Introduction
- 2 The biology of ageing
- 3 Fostering resilience, promoting health and preventing disease in older adults
- 4 Ageing and health
- 5 Social care and older people
- 6 Cognitive processes and ageing
- 7 The psychology of atypical ageing
- 8 Sociological perspectives on ageing
- 9 Retirement
- 10 Sexuality and ageing
- 11 Policies on ageing
- 12 Cross-cultural differences in ageing
- 13 Technology and ageing
- 14 Literary portrayals of ageing
- 15 Palliative care for older adults
- 16 Conclusions
- Index
- References
11 - Policies on ageing
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 June 2012
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of figures
- List of tables
- List of contributors
- 1 Introduction
- 2 The biology of ageing
- 3 Fostering resilience, promoting health and preventing disease in older adults
- 4 Ageing and health
- 5 Social care and older people
- 6 Cognitive processes and ageing
- 7 The psychology of atypical ageing
- 8 Sociological perspectives on ageing
- 9 Retirement
- 10 Sexuality and ageing
- 11 Policies on ageing
- 12 Cross-cultural differences in ageing
- 13 Technology and ageing
- 14 Literary portrayals of ageing
- 15 Palliative care for older adults
- 16 Conclusions
- Index
- References
Summary
OVERVIEW
After defining policies on ageing, historical and cross-cultural perspectives are presented. Issues relevant to the formulation/implementation of ageing policies are discussed. Three case studies are presented: age equality, malnutrition and human resources for health. Drawing on these, the chapter concludes by examining future challenges.
Introduction
Italy has one of the lowest birth rates and highest levels of life expectancy in Europe. As a result, the traditional multi-generational home with ‘Mamma’ at the centre is not necessarily as common as it may have been decades ago. A significant number of older people have resorted to taking on immigrant women as live-in carers, who effectively assume the role traditionally played by a daughter, daughter-in-law or niece. This trend has become so common that a special term has been created to designate these women: badanti. Moreover, the Italian government has introduced special concessions in immigration law to secure legal residence status for the badanti. The growth of the badanti population, however, raises several concerns. There is a chronic shortage of care workers trained to work with older people and badanti, like other care workers, require training and skills development. As single immigrant women, badanti are socially isolated and often lack proper social protection and social networks of their own. There is the need for communication and coordination between home care provided by badanti and community services. And most importantly: who will care for the badanti when they, in turn, grow old?
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- An Introduction to Gerontology , pp. 317 - 339Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2011