Andrea Principi | Inrca - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Andrea Principi

Sustainability, 2024

Active ageing (AA) is recognised as a concept leading to positive benefits for individuals and so... more Active ageing (AA) is recognised as a concept leading to positive benefits for individuals and society; however, its operationalization at the policy level presents challenges. In particular, while AA implies the interplay between macro, meso, and micro levels, the topic of AA policy needs at the meso level is underresearched. In order to increase knowledge in this area, the present study investigated a total of 154 organisations through a self-administered questionnaire in the Italian Marche region. Of these organisations, 111 reported having implemented 192 AA initiatives. The main policy needs identified concern requests for help in planning and sustainability, as well as economic and human resources. The presence of needs at the policy level was associated with the specific AA domain of volunteering and civic engagement and seemed to be present when initiatives dealt with the reduction of inequalities in terms of generational differences and differences in terms of digital skills. To appropriately manage policy needs, those results call for policy action in order to involve representatives of meso-level organisations through co-decisional policy tools and to promote intergenerational programmes in general and in the field of digitalization in particular, given its benefits for both generations.

Sustainability, 2023

Within the active ageing framework, this study was carried out during the COVID-19 pandemic on ol... more Within the active ageing framework, this study was carried out during the COVID-19 pandemic on older volunteers, in order to explore the possible relation between, on the one hand, changes in their health, social relationships and quality of life due to the pandemic and, on the other hand, volunteers' motivations and (direct or indirect) experience of the COVID-19 contagion. Although various active-ageing-related issues have been studied during the pandemic, the studies did not cover the topic of the present study. Therefore, the results of this study advance the knowledge on the matter. A sample of 240 older volunteers was surveyed in Italy in July-August 2021. Bivariate analyses and multivariable logistic regression models were performed. The results highlighted that during the COVID-19 pandemic, for older people, volunteering in order to avoid thinking about personal problems was related to worsened health, while volunteering for social reasons was inversely related to a worsening quality of life. Having indirectly (by acquaintances) experienced the COVID-19 contagion was protective against the worsening physical health of older volunteers. The discussion includes the policy implications of the results.

Journal of Applied Gerontology

A primary objective of active aging policies is to promote health and optimize care for individua... more A primary objective of active aging policies is to promote health and optimize care for individuals. In aging societies, the maintenance of good physical and mental health and the management of risk factors are of utmost importance. Few research studies have analyzed active aging policies related to health and care from a multi-level governance perspective. The aim of this study was to determine what national and regional policies in these domains existed in Italy. We conducted an inductive thematic analysis of health-and care-related policies on active aging, selected through a systematic review in 2019-2021. The analysis uncovered three themes at both the national and regional levels (health promotion and disease prevention, health monitoring, and informal caregivers) and two additional themes at the regional level (access to health and social care services, and mental health and well-being). According to the findings, COVID-19 partially influenced the evolution of active aging policies.

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2022

This paper elucidates the relationship between possible changes in volunteering experienced by ol... more This paper elucidates the relationship between possible changes in volunteering experienced by older people during the COVID-19 pandemic, and their motivation to volunteer, as well as the direct or indirect experience of COVID-19 symptoms. Given the well-known positive benefits of volunteering in older age both for individuals (in terms of improved health and wellbeing) and society at large, there is a paucity of studies on older volunteers in the time of COVID-19. In this context, older people’s volunteering was highly challenged due to age-based physical and social restrictions put in place by national governments, which have been considered as ageist by a large part of the gerontological scientific community. This study was carried out on a sample of 240 Italian older volunteers. The results suggest that during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially older volunteers driven by social goals (e.g., opportunities to have relationships with others) were able to continue volunteer activities without needing to change them. The study also clarified that having directly or indirectly experienced COVID-19 symptoms did not influence changes in voluntary activities of older people. These results have important policy implications, given the indication that through volunteering, older individuals may try to counter the undesired calls by the governments for self-isolation and physical distancing. It is important that in emergency situations involving older people, policy makers should not treat them as only recipients of health and social care, but also as useful providers of help in the community.

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2022

In ageing societies, active ageing (AA) has been recognized as a useful conceptual tool due to it... more In ageing societies, active ageing (AA) has been recognized as a useful conceptual tool due to its holistic approach to social issues and recognised benefits from it at multiple levels (micro, meso and macro) for addressing demographic challenges. However, one of the main problems identified in relation to AA, is to turn into practice, at the policy making level, the many positive aspects that it promises at the conceptual level, as is demonstrated by the available evidence based on experiences carried out in some European countries. As an advancement in this field, through an original research experience carried out in Italy between 2019 and 2021, this study for the first time provides a model for producing recommendations for policy making and policy implementation in the field of AA, by managing the main problematic aspects related to the operationalization, at the policy making level, of the AA concept, with the potential for replication in other countries. The main challenges were identified, as well as the way to deal with them through a model, for a proper operationalization of the AA concept, based, among other aspects, on a solid international framework concerning this matter, on a mainstreaming ageing approach (at the public policy level) and on a wide stakeholder participation through co-decisional tools. A multi-level (national-regional-local) perspective was adopted to consider cultural and geographical diversity, among other challenges.

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2022

Active ageing is defined as the process of optimizing opportunities for health, participation and... more Active ageing is defined as the process of optimizing opportunities for health, participation and security in order to enhance quality of life as people age. The design of active ageing policies intersects with different overarching societal challenges, especially ageing populations, social rights and sustainability. However, there are no previous attempts to review active ageing policies in the light of these challenges and the international policy objectives and targets that are guiding the international community. The aim of this study is to systematically identify, review and analyse all national and regional policies on active ageing adopted in Italy, by applying a conceptual framework derived from main international policy initiatives in the three areas. The research was conducted in two stages. First, a case study analysis was carried out per each relevant national institution and regional government. Standardised interviews were combined with policy document search, selection and analysis. Second, we performed a policy analysis in the light of a conceptual framework adopted. This latter was composed by nine policy domains, selected and integrated from principles and objectives of three overarching international frameworks on ageing-i.e., the Regional Implementation Strategy (RIS) commitments of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (MIPAA), social rights-i.e., the European Pillar of Social Rights and sustainability-i.e., the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development. Results pointed out that out of the identified nine policy fields, the major intervention areas by Italian policy makers concerned labour market participation, lifelong learning, social and economic inequalities, health and well-being. Less attention had been given to issues such as gender and equal opportunities and sustainable cities. This systematic policy review is a milestone for understanding how active ageing policies contribute to address major societal challenges and what domains need further policy development.

Ageing & Society, 2021

Although the active ageing concept generally has positive connotations, with expected benefits at... more Although the active ageing concept generally has positive connotations, with expected benefits at the micro, meso and macro levels, the application of this concept in terms of policy making presents challenges and risks to be avoided (for instance, a predominantly productivist interpretation and a top-down imposition with limited possibilities for bottom-up exchanges; or a disregard for the risk of excluding older people with more disadvantaged backgrounds). Two crucial strategies to minimise risks are the implementation of policies by considering and respecting territorial diversity, and the involvement of all the relevant stakeholders in a participatory consultative and co-decisional approach. This paper entwines both strategies together by focusing on Italian in-country differences in terms of active ageing, and employing the Active Ageing Index for policymaking purposes. This activity is part of a governmental national pilot project aimed at promoting multilevel co-managed coordination of active ageing policies across Italy. The analysis identified five groups of regions that differ from the classical, geographic and socioeconomic division between the North, Centre and South. Additional ingroup analyses were conducted to investigate within-cluster differences. This study will inform a large multilevel stakeholder network for evidence-based policies and their monitoring at both the national and regional levels, in line with the perspective of mainstreaming ageing.

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2021

While active ageing has emerged as a main strategy to address the challenges of population ageing... more While active ageing has emerged as a main strategy to address the challenges of population ageing in Europe, recent research has stressed the need to increase knowledge on within-country differences to promote active ageing through appropriate policy responses. This article draws on the Active Ageing Index (AAI) to capture recent trends in active ageing in Italy with a focus on sub-national diversity. To this end, we compute AAI breakdowns by region separately for men and
women for four different years: 2007, 2009, 2012 and 2018. Then, we use linear regression to describe the geographical and sex-specific patterns of change in the AAI over the considered period. The results demonstrate the diversity of regional outcomes and trends in the active ageing of Italian men and women, indicating that the widening geographic gap deserves further consideration by national and regional authorities in designing and implementing active ageing policies. By showing the persistence of disparities in the value of the indicator to the disadvantage of women, results also suggest the need to further integrate both the gender dimension and the life-cycle perspective into
active ageing strategies. This article provides an example of how the AAI can be used as a practical tool by policy makers to monitor active ageing trends and outcomes at the sub-national level, and to identify target areas that require further action.

BioMed Research International, 2021

The retirement transition is a major life change affecting people's lifestyles and behaviors, inc... more The retirement transition is a major life change affecting people's lifestyles and behaviors, including those in relation to physical activity (PA), which is a key component of active ageing. Previous research analyzing the effect of retirement on PA levels has shown mixed results, and few studies investigated this issue in a gender perspective, thus, highlighting a need of knowledge in this respect. Aims of this study focused on the experience of PA during the retirement transition were to understand typologies of PA and possible changes in these typologies, to identify behavioural types relative to PA practice and levels, and to distinguish the main drivers and barriers for practicing PA associated with the different behavioural types. A further goal of the study was to investigate the abovementioned aims considering differences between women and men. Analyses were carried out within a three-year qualitative longitudinal study (2014-2016), which explored the individual experience of PA during the transition from work to retirement of 24 women and 16 men in Italy, with interviews carried out one year before and one and two years after retirement. Results show that preferred PA for both women and men was walking, along the transition to retirement. Over time, several participants replaced physically demanding activities with lighter ones. Six behavioural types were identified, describing individuals who incremented, started, or maintained the same level of PA, people who decreased PA levels or stopped it, and individuals who had a fluctuant behavior towards PA, or who had never practiced it. In general, poor health represented the main barrier to PA. For men, the main driver to PA was its effects on body shape, while for women, socialization/networking. In order to stimulate a more effective promotion of PA during the retirement transition, policy implications were discussed in light of the results obtained.

Ageing & Mental Health, 2021

Objectives: This longitudinal study explores whether the working situation (no change in working ... more Objectives: This longitudinal study explores whether the working situation (no change in working hours despite care, reduction of working hours due to care or not working) moderates mental and physical health of informal caregivers of older people with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in Italy. Methods: Data from a sample of 146 caregivers of older people with moderate AD involved in the UP-TECH trial across three waves were analysed. Multivariate analyses were used to study the association between independent variables (caregivers’ work situation) and dependent variables (caregivers’ psycho-physical health). In a second model, elements relating to the caregiver, the cared-for individual and the caregiving situation were added as controls. Results: Being forced to reduce working hours due to care tasks or not being employed independently from care was negatively associated with informal caregiver’s physical health, compared with working carers not experiencing reduction of working hours. In the extended model, this result was confirmed. In comparison with working carers not forced to reduce working hours, non-working carers experienced higher levels of caregiver burden and depression, however these results were not confirmed in the adjusted model. Other factors also emerged as important including weekly hours of care, the cared-for older individual’s ADL/IADL scores and informal support network. Conclusions: Given the positive effect of labour force participation on health of informal caregivers of older people with AD, policy makers should promote their employment avoiding their forced reduction of working hours, while also putting measures in place to decrease the intensity of informal care provision.

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2021

Citation: Falanga, R.; Cebulla, A.; Principi, A.; Socci, M. The Participation of Senior Citizens ... more Citation: Falanga, R.; Cebulla, A.; Principi, A.; Socci, M. The Participation of Senior Citizens in Policy-Making: Patterning Initiatives in Europe. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18, 34. https://dx.

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2020

Active ageing (AA) policies aim to improve quality of life of older people by enabling better soc... more Active ageing (AA) policies aim to improve quality of life of older people by enabling better social participation and inclusion. Despite many international initiatives to promote AA undertaken in recent years, Italy did not systematically address this policy challenge until very recently. This paper presents the first national Plan-of-Action (PoA) (2019-2022) adopted by this country for supporting policy design and recommendation in this field. The PoA aims to create a multilevel, co-managed coordination of AA policies, by involving a network of national and regional policy makers, experts, researchers and stakeholders in civil society. The ad-hoc consultation process established for this purpose helps the recognition of different interests and expectations on AA, fostering new solutions by involvement, consultation and joint discussion of policy options. The PoA is designed to cover the traditional policy cycle, including the stages of agenda setting, policy formulation, decision-making, implementation and monitoring. At the end of the period covered by the PoA, an Italian AA Strategy will be launched to achieve systematic impact in this field, thus ensuring a long-term, sustainable impact on national and regional policy makers, civil society and research community.

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2020

Building on the active aging framework, the aim of this study, carried out between 2016 and 2018,... more Building on the active aging framework, the aim of this study, carried out between 2016 and 2018, is to analyze concrete experiences of older individuals acting as key players of social change in six local communities of five European countries (Bulgaria, Denmark, England, France, Spain). The 19 seniors involved in the study, according to social contexts, individual past experiences, knowledge, and motivations, acted as senior social entrepreneurs, trying to build a pathway towards social solutions for unmet social problems they detected in local communities. Data were collected via templates and questionnaires and analyzed using the thematic analysis. The results highlighted that the 16 local initiatives created by seniors concerned social problems such as food waste, social isolation, multicultural integration, etc. The social solutions implemented by seniors seemed to have the potential to produce social value and, to different degrees, encouraging results and impact. Since this "social experiment" provided evidence that senior social entrepreneuring could be a driver to solve societal problems, policy makers should sustain the spread of both social entrepreneurial mindset and practices at the European level, for catalyzing the active potential of older people for the benefit of European local communities.

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2020

The debate on policies addressing the challenges posed by population ageing pays increasing atten... more The debate on policies addressing the challenges posed by population ageing pays increasing attention to sustainable and innovative ways to tackle the multidimensional impact this phenomenon has on society and individuals. Moving from the findings of two European research projects, a qualitative study based on a rapid review of the literature, expert interviews, focus groups and case studies analysis has been carried out in Italy. This study illustrates which social innovations have been recently implemented in this country's long-term care (LTC) sector, and the areas in which further steps are urgently needed in the future. This takes place by first highlighting the existing links between social innovation and LTC, and then by identifying the key factors that can facilitate or hinder the implementation of these initiatives. Finally, the study suggests how to promote social innovation, by strengthening the "integration" and "coordination" of available services and resources, through a-for this country still relatively-new approach towards ageing, based on pillars such as prevention and education campaigns on how to promote well-being in older age.

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2020

This paper identifies, within companies' sectors of activity, predictors of Human Resource (HR) p... more This paper identifies, within companies' sectors of activity, predictors of Human Resource (HR) policies to extend working life (EWL) in light of increasing policy efforts at the European level to extend working life. Three types of EWL practices are investigated: the prevention of early retirement (i.e. encouraging employees to continue working until the legal retirement age); delay of retirement (i.e. encouraging employees to continue working beyond the legal retirement age); and, recruitment of employees who are already retired (i.e. unretirement). A sample of 4624 European organizations that was stratified by size and sector is analyzed in six countries. The main drivers for companies' EWL practices are the implementation of measures for older workers to improve their performance, their working conditions, and to reduce costs. In industry, the qualities and skills of older workers could be more valued than in other sectors, while the adoption of EWL practices might be less affected by external economic and labor market factors in the public sector. Dutch and Italian employers may be less prone than others to extend working lives. These results underline the importance of raising employers' awareness and increase their actions to extend employees' working lives by adopting age management initiatives, especially in SMEs, and in the services and public sectors.

Journal of Population Ageing, 2020

The main aim of this study is to measure and evaluate the participation of aged people in the lab... more The main aim of this study is to measure and evaluate the participation of aged people in the labour market in Italy based on the AAI and to identify determinants. We used Istat data from official surveys harmonized at European level or based on samples which are representative at national and subnational level. In Italy the increase in retirement age and discouragement of early retirement have determined deep changes in the age composition of the Italian workforce, with employment rate of aged workers increased considerably. Considering the multifaceted nature of active ageing, we used Principle Components Analysis to identify the main factors that contribute to strengthening the employability of aged people. 18 related AAI indicators were considered and specific attention has been devoted also to macro-economic indicators such as investments, availability of infrastructures, etc. that could contribute to regional imbalances. The analysis shows that the variability of regional employment rate can be explained by the two ACP factors individuated: territory characteristics and individual well-being. Regression analysis (10 regression models were developed for panel data and random effects all controlled for ages 55–64 years and over 65 s) has provided clear indications on the determinants: the first factor seems to have more influence on the employment rate in the case of over 65s while the second factor has a greater influence for workers aged 55–64.

The International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 2020

This study examines the role of planning and plan fulfillment for retirement satisfaction using a... more This study examines the role of planning and plan fulfillment for retirement satisfaction using a dynamic resource theory approach. A 3-year qualitative longitudinal design was deployed with interviews conducted first on the cusp of retirement, then 1 and 2 years after retirement. The final sample comprised 41 individuals from England, 40 from Italy, and 30 from the United States. Realizing plans was found to be linked to retirement satisfaction. However, many retirees adjusted well to retirement without planning in advance, or when plans were thwarted, and sometimes retirement did not live up to expectations despite fulfillment of plans. Psychological resources and resilience were key dimensions of satisfaction regardless of planning. Retirement satisfaction was also associated with social integration, adoption of new social roles, and opportunities to be active within and beyond the private sphere, such as volunteering or participating in leisure oriented clubs or activities. Regardless of planning, the quality of family relationships was a particularly important element for retirement satisfaction or dissatisfaction.

Educational Gerontology, 2018

Adopting a longitudinal approach, this article examines downward occupational mobility (DOM) late... more Adopting a longitudinal approach, this article examines downward occupational mobility (DOM) later in working life and its effects on job satisfaction and perceptions of working conditions of older workers in Europe. The main aim was to test whether the risk that workers will be negatively impacted and marginalized in the labor market due to demotion into lower quality jobs is offset by benefits. Based on an ordinal logistic regression of merged Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe and English Longitudinal Study of Ageing datasets, the study found a positive significant impact of DOM on overall job satisfaction. Moreover, DOM was associated with a statistically significant reduction in workload pressure, although it did increase physical work demand. This article adds to the literature on marginalization of workers with indications that the lower income and status associated with DOM at older ages may have offsetting benefits.

International Journal of Ageing and Later Life, 2018

Using methodological triangulation the study examines reverse retirement in Italy, the United Sta... more Using methodological triangulation the study examines reverse retirement in Italy, the United States and England to explore the salience of cultural and structural factors and to consider the extent to which returning to work is a constrained choice. Analysis of harmonised panel data (HRS, ELSA and SHARE) indicates that reverse retirement is most common in the United States and extremely rare in Italy. In the liberal economies of the United States and England, financial factors are key determinants, including retirement income, having more children, children under 30 and mortgage debt. However, a certain degree of advantage is a prerequisite for returning to work, including higher education, good health, younger age, and free from caring responsibilities – opportunity structures and capacity to work therefore remain barriers for some older groups. Despite international convergence in the policy landscape, “retirement” continues to hold different meanings in the three distinct national contexts with implications for later life working.

Ageing & Society, Jan 1, 2018

This study explores whether the plans of older workers on the cusp of retirement are in line with... more This study explores whether the plans of older workers on the cusp of retirement are in line with the active ageing agenda set by policy makers in Europe. The study was carried out in Italy, England, and the United States of America (USA). A total of 133 older workers who planned to retire within the next 10–12 months were interviewed (55 in England, 40 in Italy and 38 in the USA) between May 2014 and early 2015 using common semi-structured questions. Active Ageing Index dimensions were used to gauge the orientation of older people towards their retirement. The results of the study suggest that, with some differences, retirement plans of interviewees were substantially consistent with the active ageing perspective. However, some challenges were highlighted, including the need for governments to do more to promote genuine freedom of choice in relation to leaving the labour market, and to provide greater support for informal family carers. Findings also pointed to the need to measure active ageing in connection with individual wellbeing, e.g. by including indicators of leisure activities and by considering the re-weighting of employment and informal care dimensions. Companies could also provide more support during the retirement transition, with opportunities for maintained social connection with former colleagues, and help in making and fulfilling retirement plans.

Sustainability, 2024

Sustainability, 2023

Journal of Applied Gerontology

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2022

Ageing & Society, 2021

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2021

BioMed Research International, 2021

Ageing & Mental Health, 2021

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2021

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2020

Journal of Population Ageing, 2020

The International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 2020

Educational Gerontology, 2018

International Journal of Ageing and Later Life, 2018

Ageing & Society, Jan 1, 2018

The factors hypothesized to increase vulnerability to social exclusion among older adults include... more The factors hypothesized to increase vulnerability to social exclusion among older adults include aging-related characteristics such as deteriorating health, retirement, decreases in income, separation from former social networks, discrimination and prejudice against older people (ageism), and lack of community resources that promote interaction with others. Older adults with a lifetime of material disadvantage are particularly at risk for social exclusion. Gerontologists have focused for many years on the societal, social, and personal factors that may produce social exclusion among older adults and lead to negative impacts on health and well-being. Gerontologists have studied the process of maintaining social engagement and connections across life; social integration (the state of being connected to others) has been established as a fundamental determinant of health, not only among older adults but across the life course. Personal perceptions and experiences of age stereotyping and discrimination based on age have also been associated with the health and well-being of older adults. In this chapter, we review empirical research studies of social isolation, social integration and engagement, and ageism and how they are related to the well-being of older adults. We also discuss how social interventions based on volunteerism may help prevent or mitigate social isolation among older adults who are most at risk of social exclusion and also possibly counter societal ageism.

The aim of this chapter is to describe post-retirement work in Italy. It illustrates the Italian ... more The aim of this chapter is to describe post-retirement work in Italy. It illustrates the Italian institutional background, and based on ISTAT IT-SILC data, provides a profile of Italian working pensioners, their individual characteristics and the attributes of their work, to focus then on the description of post-retirement work through multivariate analyses. The study demonstrates that the possibility to work after retirement is higher for those retired people with more resources. Nevertheless, recent pension system reforms that increased retirement age, will imply in the short term a decrease in the number of working pensioners. However, since future pensioners will be poorer than current ones, in the long term the number of pensioners joining the labour market due to economic need will increase.

The introductory chapter describes how ideas about active ageing are interlinked with the efforts... more The introductory chapter describes how ideas about active ageing are interlinked with the efforts to promote and sustain volunteering by older people, and the authors present the overall analytical framework for the whole book. It is argued that voluntary work by seniors is conditioned by factors at the micro, meso, macro and structural levels of society. Central concepts are defined (e.g. what is voluntary work?), and major research questions and the methodology of the book are accounted for.

The chapter unfolds the overall theoretical framework of the book. Based on an overview of the ex... more The chapter unfolds the overall theoretical framework of the book. Based on an overview of the existing literature, discussion focuses on how volunteering at the micro level depends on individual motivations and dispositions. At the meso level, it outlines how the structure of voluntary organizations structures the demand for volunteers and how the interactions between major institutions in society (the welfare mix) have an impact on the opportunity structure of volunteers. At the macro level, the discussion focuses on how policies may impede or encourage growth in voluntary work opportunities for seniors, while it is argued at the structural or welfare regime level how cultural values and belief systems help determine volunteering among older people.

Voluntary work by older people in Europe, 2014

ABSTRACT This chapter informs on the main opportunities and restrictions for older volunteers in ... more ABSTRACT This chapter informs on the main opportunities and restrictions for older volunteers in Italy, through an examination across different levels (i.e. micro, meso, macro and structural). For example, the involvement, the preferences and the motivations of older volunteers have been scrutinised by considering interconnections with voluntary organisations, the welfare mix, the institutional level and cultural attitudes. Among other results, it has been argued that the dimension of older volunteering may be considerably under-estimated in Italy, due to a cultural propensity not to perceive self-expressive volunteer activities, as real “volunteering”. As a consequence of this, self-expressive volunteering among older people is not captured by the available data. The chapter also identifies main challenges on how to improve the match between supply of older candidates with the demand of voluntary organisations in the future, in Italy.

Voluntary work by older people in Europe, 2014

ABSTRACT This chapter is the first one, out of three that focus on opportunities and restrictions... more ABSTRACT This chapter is the first one, out of three that focus on opportunities and restrictions for older volunteers from an organisational perspective, based on 73 case studies carried out among European voluntary organisations. The chapter provides the main methodological information about the case study research conducted across the eight countries included in the study. It informs about the main criteria adopted for selecting voluntary organisations, i.e. the activity sector and age-structure of the volunteer workforce. The main characteristics of the voluntary organisations investigated are also shown. After methodological matters, the organisational internal management of older volunteers is analysed in this chapter, in terms of policies, behaviours and attitudes. This has meant to explore organisational age management initiatives regarding volunteers, and also organisational opinions and existing barriers for older volunteers. The study also identifies what type of voluntary organisations could experience more barriers than opportunities for volunteering in older age.

Much theorising and empirical research on volunteering focuses on the individual perspective. Thi... more Much theorising and empirical research on volunteering focuses on the individual perspective. This chapter draws on European case studies in order to address the organisational perspective. Particular attention is paid to how volunteering situations are affected by the labour force participation of older people and by their family care responsibilities. It deals especially with how organisations assess the impacts of these external conditions on volunteering by older people and the effects of these on the organisations themselves. It seeks to identify the principal generic dilemmas that face voluntary organisations. This is done by addressing how far the apparent ‘logic of competition’ between time for volunteering, working and informal caring applies in practice.

Across Europe voluntary organisations are aware of the main challenges population ageing is going... more Across Europe voluntary organisations are aware of the main challenges population ageing is going to bring to them with respect to the volunteer workforce. This is reflected in the opinions they express and the age management strategies they have already implied or are considering to imply. Voluntary organisations particularly underlined the role played by staff shortages, service quality and older volunteers’ high experience and competencies as relevant aspects to explain why recruitment, satisfaction and also retainment of older volunteer are essential in the current scenario of increased longevity and population ageing. Successful strategies would require to pay more attention to training and flexibility in terms of tasks, hours spent on volunteering and the duration of volunteer activities and overall more planning.

Voluntary work by older people in Europe, 2014

ABSTRACT This chapter sheds light on two main aspects of volunteering in older age. The first one... more ABSTRACT This chapter sheds light on two main aspects of volunteering in older age. The first one, is the comparative explanation of volunteering in older age in Europe, in terms of size and composition. According to the conceptual framework employed in the book, this comparison is done in the light of five main elements: (1) older volunteers’ individual characteristics and predispositions (micro level); (2) voluntary organisations (meso level), (3) the interaction and division of tasks between welfare producing institutions (that is, the welfare mix); (4) governmental policies about volunteering (macro level); and (5) the specific welfare regime. The second aspect, concerns the understanding of how volunteering of older people can be enhanced in Europe. To give an answer to this question, based on the previous European comparison, the main policy challenges to enhance volunteering in older age in Europe have been identified at a country level.

This chapter aims at pointing out the need for a more equitable, internationally driven approach ... more This chapter aims at pointing out the need for a more equitable, internationally driven approach to solve elder care staff shortages, on the background of the implications deriving from the widespread phenomenon of employing migrant care workers in the Italian elder care sector. The paper describes at first how this form of care provision has become so popular in this country to face the long term care needs characterising its ageing population. Main reasons are identified, on the one hand, in the decreasing availability of informal care, due to the increasing female participation in the labor market, a longer working life and a reduction in the support provided by social networks. On the “formal” side, a major role has been played also by the lack of appropriate long term care services, such as residential and public home care, as well as by a chronic shortage of nursing staff and a shorter length of hospital stays. The traditionally “cash-oriented” profile of the Italian welfare system – more based on cash-for-care measures rather than in-kind services – has ended up with perpetuating familistic tendencies stimulating the employment of foreign migrant care workers, often on a live-in, undeclared basis. The paper’s conclusions focus on the analysis of the main opportunities and challenges raised by this phenomenon, trying to catch all involved parties’ perspectives: the older care recipients’ families; the migrant care workers; the receiving and the sending societies. This approach allows to identify core advantages of this solution in the possibility to increase ageing in place opportunities (thus reducing institutionalisation rates) and to provide a more personalised home care at reasonable costs. On the other hand, drawbacks can occur in terms of low quality of care, risk of widespread undeclared labour conditions, possible exploitation of foreign migrants and abuse of older people, as well as “brain and care drain” effects in sending countries. A more neutral, internationally driven governance is therefore suggested in order to minimize these risks and promote equitable solutions to solve care provision shortages in some countries without “plundering the future” of other nations.

The Making of Ageing Policy, 2013

This report provides a range of examples on how the Active Ageing Index (AAI) can be used as a pr... more This report provides a range of examples on how the Active Ageing Index (AAI) can be used as a practical tool by policymakers, researchers and other interested parties to identify areas where appropriate policies can realise the active potential of older people. To this end, the conceptual framework underlying the AAI follows a multidimensional perspective. It takes into account the different forms through which older persons contribute to society and economy by means of paid or voluntary work, informal care, political participation, or by keeping healthy, informed and independent lifestyles even at an advanced age. It also considers environmental factors which enable them to be more active (such as, for instance, the educational and care systems, or the different infrastructures promoting well-being, social cohesion and digitalisation).

By using the Active Ageing Index (AAI), this report describes the evolution of active ageing in I... more By using the Active Ageing Index (AAI), this report describes the evolution of active ageing in Italy through the measurement of four points in time between 2007 and 2016 for different population groups, based on sex, geographical macroarea, educational level, income, family context and type of locality.

In questa Appendice sono riportate le schede informative relative alle fonti statistiche consulta... more In questa Appendice sono riportate le schede informative relative alle fonti statistiche consultate per la stesura del presente rapporto (complessivamente 22), selezionate secondo i criteri esposti nel cap. 2 dello stesso. Di seguito sono illustrati in dettaglio, al fine di agevolarne una corretta consultazione, i criteri impiegati per la costruzione delle singole schede.

La Commissione per la garanzia dell'informazione statistica (CoGIS), istituita presso la Presiden... more La Commissione per la garanzia dell'informazione statistica (CoGIS), istituita presso la Presidenza del Consiglio dei Ministri con il decreto legislativo n. 322 del 1989, art.12, è un organo collegiale indipendente chiamato a garantire il principio della imparzialità e della completezza dell'informazione statistica. A tal fine, la CoGIS vigila: (a) sulla imparzialità e la completezza dell'informazione statistica; (b) sulla qualità delle metodologie statistiche e delle tecniche informatiche impiegate nella raccolta, nella conservazione e nella diffusione dei dati; (c) sulla conformità delle rilevazioni alle direttive degli organismi internazionali e comunitari; (d) e contribuisce alla corretta applicazione delle norme che disciplinano la tutela della riservatezza delle informazioni fornite all'ISTAT e ad altri enti del Sistema statistico nazionale, segnalando anche al Garante per la protezione dei dati personali i casi di inosservanza delle medesime norme o assicurando altra collaborazione nei casi in cui la natura tecnica dei problemi lo richieda.

This chapter will focus on the role of family networks and other social support networks for well... more This chapter will focus on the role of family networks and other social support networks for well-being in older age, providing empirical data across European countries on different sources of support. The first section will illustrate how family care in this respect represents a relevant actor, not only in traditional familistic societies but also in more well-developed European welfare states.
Comparative data will be presented in particular on the role played by the family in granting assistance in case of increased dependency in older age. A related issue will be represented by the availability of supports to reconcile paid work and (unpaid) care tasks, especially in the light of the Europe-wide trends to a prolonged working life and increasing female participation in the labour market. Recent empirical evidence will be furthermore provided of the growing importance of migrant care work in households with dependent older people across the Continent, in particular when the formal care system is unable to tackle the challenge of very heavy care needs. The chapter will finally describe the effects of lacking family and support networks, which might take the form of elder abuse and neglect, identifying the main risk factors and possible strategies to prevent it.