OLDER PEOPLE TOWARDS 2030

Ce.R.R.Co. Centro Ricerche e Relazioni Cornaglia
Collection “I quaderni dei Grandi Adulti”. 
Quaderno n. 9– OLDER PEOPLE TOWARDS 2030

The role in their family and in the human society. Their social protection and the governance of health and welfare.

The older people over the age of seventy, in 2030 will be more numerous than they are now and will still have, to some extent, an important family burden: up to four generations.
They will be increasingly in need of care and assistance; they will be different for culture, experience and lifestyles. They will be more demanding in managing firsthand any aspect of their lives.
Will Governors, stake holders, and policy makers be able to consider the needs and expectations of this growing population, now close to 25% of the Italian inhabitants?
The Ce.R.R.Co. with this study has considered some living conditions of older people over the next fifteen years, trends, sociological and health outcomes derived from recent data from the Institutions, those of years of field activity and experience achieved by the authors. The resulting scenario is a possible, important tool for the elderly and the industry.
The study is divided into 3 walls:
Relations with family and society: Is the Elder still at the center of his family? How will the family consider him? Gipsy, grandchildren, children and parents … what will be the intergenerational relationship? What position will the elder occupy in an extended, multiethnic, homosexual family? Will he still be the guardian of traditions, culture and principles? Or will the individualistic and consuming thought prevail, which will annihilate it as a useless weight? In the Synod on the family conclusions and in many religious and lay inspirational documents on the theme, what position is attributed to the elder in the social context? How to proceed in the ethical path that focuses us: «from care to take care» (Phylosophy and Science of Caring)?
Health protection and governance of healthcare / welfare: Seniors will increasingly be in need of health care (with particular attention to chronic-degenerative diseases) and home care. The great achievements of today’s well-being, longevity, prevention, correct lifestyles, advanced medical care, comprehensive care, economic development etc. it will not be enough to ward off the progressive functional and vital limitation that accompanies aging, even the healthy and active one. Will the governance of chronicity become more and more the cornerstone of social-health policies, determining its priorities, the criteria of appropriateness and accessibility for all the elderly of tomorrow? Can the Elder be assisted and cared for at home? Will the nursing homes and olders housing increase their quality and performances as in the hospital the hospitality is declining? How will the organization of home and family care develop, the training of care professionals (family /stakolders, nurses, homecarers etc)? Will the market open more to private healthcare (Public-Private-Partership)?
Testimonials
The study has considered two «good practice on the field»: Alba’s Humanization School of Medicine and Postural Ergonomics Laboratory for Worker’s Well-being: Posture and Movement” I n Turin General hospital
Conclusions
What specific problems brings with it the new generation of elderly people? The «Baby Boomers» will transform into «Baby Boomerangs», or will they be real «Great Adults», protagonists of their fate?
1. RESOURCES IN CRISIS TIME: Which resources will be available for a healthy social and health policy for the elderly? Which owned inside of the family? public and private investment? Will the «market» succeed in providing adequate and sufficient offers?
2. GLOBALIZATION: Will the problems of big immigration obscure those of our «old» people? What defense and self defense for the Elder? New long-term insurance, better agreements with the appointed bodies, and new professional figures such as the Support Administrator (or tutor) can help and protect Older people from indifference, marginalization, and various forms of Ageism that are now widespread and well-known perceived a bit everywhere? Should land a form of “biological will” to protect itself against euthanasia and «induced suicide»? Is the Elder going to live in the center or in the geographical and social suburbs? Will it be integrated or marginalized?
3. SPIRITUALITY: what role will Spirituality and Faith still have? the Elder will retain his mission as a educator and guardian of the traditions and moral principles of those who have a specific spiritual reference, a Faith (religious or secular), a Hope that accompanies him until the end of his life?
4. MEDICINE OF NEEDS AND MEDICINE OF WISHES: What role will the Medicine and in particular the Geriatrics of tomorrow have? In addition to being a driving force in prevention and an indispensable resource in care, can it really devote itself to chronicity management? Will the General Medicine Doctor be a catalyst or moderator? Will he develop his human relationship with the patient whom he knows better than everyone knows? Will home care improve on time and quality? Does Elder Have Some Priorities in Accessing Health Services? Functional re-education and pain treatment, fundamental tools, both, to improve the quality of life, will find adequate investments? They will create new forms of public-private integration that will ensure adequate universal health coverage and, next to it, a wide range of custom accessory services managed by the free market. Will the prevention and care of dementias, depressions and dependencies require specific expertise in the psychotherapeutic field for the elderly?
The scientific and sociological enunciations, reflection on the living conditions, health, and spirit of these people projected in 2030, contents in our book are not a point of arrival or anticipation, but a check, a preview to help whom it may concerns, Elders first, especially who should take care and care them: from family members to practitioners, from decision makers to institutional executives. With particular attention to chronicity governance, the true mark of a society that integrates the elderly in its context.
Doctors, sociologists, bioethics, psychologists, lawyers, economists, religious, insurers … men of goodwill who have had something to tell about their commitment to the empowerment of older people. What specific problems brings with it the new generation of elderly people? From «Baby Boomers» will end up becoming social «baby boomerangs», or will they be real «big adults», protagonists of their fate?