"Aging is a physiological fact and the issue of residences for the elderly must be tackled in an innovative and systemic way and must be seen as an opportunity and not an emergency": with these words the president of Assoprevidenza, Sergio Corbello, opened in Rome the conference on the theme of “Residentiality for the elderly: is it possible to combine social and business?”. In a country that more than others in Europe sees its population aging and that less than others is equipped with quality infrastructure and services, the topic is more current than ever and must be crossed with that of the economic crisis and with the reduction of services pensions that will be received by future retirees.
According to Censis, there are in Italy 4,7 million elderly people "in favor" of housing, that is, to spend the last years of their life, which is getting longer and longer (at the expense of working life and therefore, in many cases, of economic solidity), in what we commonly call rest homes, family homes for the elderly, nursing homes or community accommodation. Not only that: “According to Istat data – explains Edoardo Zaccardi of the Study Center of Social Security Itineraries – in 2034 the percentage of Italians over 85 will exceed the 5% threshold of the total population, while the 15-64 age group will fall below 60% for the first time in the post-war period”. In less than 20 years, in short, more than one Italian out of twenty will be at least 85 years of age. The highest percentage of these people will be in the South, which is currently younger than the Centre-North but will reach 5,8% of the very elderly population in 2034.
Yet, in the face of a constant aging of the population, between 2009 and 2013 (latest data available) the share of elderly guests in residential facilities out of the total number of those with functional limitations contracted from 12,5 to 10,8%. “The fault of the economic crisis”, assures Zaccardi. “This is also thanks to the Italian culture which provides for helping each other in the family – underlines Sebastiaan Schrikker, CEO of Link Institutional Advisory, a financial consultancy firm specializing in pension funds – but this dynamic cannot last forever, also because the new generations are economically less rich than the previous ones and therefore less predisposed to support them, as has happened so far".
However, the human side will have to remain central also because, as Censis always points out, the 4,7 million elderly people in favor of housing are provided that the quality is raised and that contact with society and relatives is not lost. "In short, they ask for a welcoming environment that is also open to the outside", explain the authors of the research. A new business is therefore possible, based not only on the aging of the population, but also on an economic crisis that has created further demand for assistance. “It's bad to call it business – says Schrikker – but a greater involvement of the private sector, also through pension funds, represents a great opportunity”.
Currently, in fact, in the RSAs accredited with the National Health Service, which are the most frequent especially in the North (where the elderly more often have health problems, while in the South the choice of residence also takes place for simple social purposes), 50% of the cost falls on the NHS and the other 50, in the case of private facilities, on the user. Result: Censis estimates that in 2015 Italians spent a total of 4,9 billion on fees in residential facilities for the elderly, or just over 16.600 euros a year for each elderly person. In the case of public structures, however, the other 50%, that linked to hotel services and not to health services, belongs to the Municipality: but according to Istat data over the years from 2008 to 2012 audience participation dropped significantly, from 445 to 424 million euro overall spent on the national territory (this is also due to a restriction of the requirements for accessing public sharing).
“In many cases, the renunciation, due to the excessively onerous cost, then leads to the choice of a lower quality level of residences – concludes the research – as long as it is sustainable for the families. A greater use of specialized subjects who mediate between supply and demand could help a more efficient allocation of resources, with tools such as pension funds, and consequently greater sustainability for families, even with respect to better quality services". How? Some proposals emerged during the conference. “First of all - said Sebastiaan Schrikker of Link Institutional Advisory - I am thinking of investments in multi-purpose structures, which serve not only the elderly but also the population of the area, who can thus take advantage of the treatments and contribute to the costs. I also believe that the relationship between grandfather and grandchild shouldn't be lost, through the organization of nurseries within centers for the elderly. Finally, let's not forget the potential of tourism for the elderly and for those who, even from abroad, could choose a mild and pleasant country like Italy to spend the last years of their life”.
