Supporting the Elderly population: New Strategies for Housing in Italy

The Italian population is rapidly aging. According to recent data, in 2018 there were 168,7 elderly people (over 65) on 100 young people (under 14). In Italy elderly self-sufficient people traditionally lived with their families, but nowadays, due to demographic and socio-economical changes, in several cases, the family unit cannot offer appropriate support for these vulnerable inhabitants. Some alternative housing paths, such as cohousing, are starting to give new answers to the current needs of the elderly population. The chapter opens by discussing recent Italian data about the elderly population and the policies carried out for them through the public healthcare system. Then it focuses on the Italian strategies for cohousing, analyzing some success stories of residential projects that allow the elderly people to live autonomously. The cohousing model, thanks to the involvement of all users, guarantees social inclusion of the elderly people and achieves a mutual sharing and caring culture. Moreover, in the Italian context, these projects represent an efficient and sustainable tool for the requalification of the built heritage and the regeneration of the social and urban environment.