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From now on in Italy, you’re only old after 75

Only over-75s should be considered 'elderly' in Italy, according to researchers, who say Italian seniors remain active for longer than their counterparts in other countries.

Published: 30 November 2018 14:36 CET
From now on in Italy, you're only old after 75
An elderly couple in Acciaroli, a southern Italian town with a high number of centenarians. Photo: Marco Laporta/AFP

“A 65 year old today has the physical and cognitive capacity of a 40 to 45 year old 30 years ago. And a 75 year old has that of a 55 year old in 1980,” said Niccolò Marchionni, a professor of gerontology at the University of Florence.

Speaking at the national congress of the Italian Society of Gerontology and Geriatrics in Rome on Friday, he announced that the association would bring its definition of 'elderly' in line with Italy's lengthening life spans.

READ ALSO: People in Liguria live longer than any other region in Europe

Scientists consider people elderly who can expect to live another ten years on average. By that measure, old age would have started in the early 50s for Italians born at the start of the 20th century. But since then life expectancy has increased by around 20 years, to 85 years for women and 80.6 for men.

What's more, Italians aren't just living longer, they're also staying healthier longer. Nine out of ten Italian seniors are in good health, according to research cited at the congress, one in three do physical exercise and eight out of ten say that they're satisfied with their lives.

READ ALSO: Cheese, wine and family: the Italian way to live beyond 100


Photo: Jean Bajean/Flickr – CC BY-SA 2.5

At the same time Italians remain active members of society well into what was once considered old age: nearly half of Italy's 75 to 84 year olds retain their independence, the same research said, while six in ten regularly look after their grandchildren, more than half of them full-time basis. Nearly eight out of ten see their relatives regularly, and more than four in ten meet up with friends at least once a week.

“Compared to other countries [senior] Italians dedicate more time to family and social relations, and they're a pillar of society,” said geriatrician Roberto Bernabei, president of the Health Ministry's Italia Longeva gerontology network. 

READ ALSO: This is what Italy's population will look like in 50 years

Italy has one of the oldest populations in the world, both in terms of years lived and the number of people aged 65 and over. As birth rates plummet and life expectancy climbs, more than a fifth – 22.6 percent – of Italy's 60.5 million residents are over 65, according to national statistics office Istat, and 7 percent are over 80.

But we need to think of that segment of the population as younger than it used to be, points out gerontologist Marchionni. 

“After all the reality is there for all to see: someone who is 65 in this day and age can no longer really be considered 'old',” he said.

READ ALSO: What does a plummeting birth rate mean for Italy's future?


Photo: Gabriel Bouys/AFP
 

HEALTH

Lengthy waiting times at Danish hospitals not going away yet: minister

Danish Minister for the Interior and Health Sophie Løhde has warned that, despite increasing activity at hospitals, it will be some time before current waiting lists are reduced.

Published: 10 May 2023 15:09 CEST
Lengthy waiting times at Danish hospitals not going away yet: minister

The message comes as Løhde was set to meet with officials from regional health authorities on Wednesday to discuss the progress of an acute plan for the Danish health system, launched at the end of last year in an effort to reduce a backlog of waiting times which built up during the coronavirus crisis.

An agreement with regional health authorities on an “acute” spending plan to address the most serious challenges faced by the health services agreed in February, providing 2 billion kroner by the end of 2024.

READ ALSO: What exactly is wrong with the Danish health system?

The national organisation for the health authorities, Danske Regioner, said to newspaper Jyllands-Posten earlier this week that progress on clearing the waiting lists was ahead of schedule.

Some 245,300 operations were completed in the first quarter of this year, 10 percent more than in the same period in 2022 and over the agreed number.

Løhde said that the figures show measures from the acute plan are “beginning to work”.

“It’s positive but even though it suggests that the trend is going the right way, we’re far from our goal and it’s important to keep it up so that we get there,” she said.

“I certainly won’t be satisfied until waiting times are brought down,” she said.

“As long as we are in the process of doing postponed operations, we will unfortunately continue to see a further increase [in waiting times],” Løhde said.

“That’s why it’s crucial that we retain a high activity this year and in 2024,” she added.

Although the government set aside 2 billion kroner in total for the plan, the regional authorities expect the portion of that to be spent in 2023 to run out by the end of the summer. They have therefore asked for some of the 2024 spending to be brought forward.

Løhde is so far reluctant to meet that request according to Jyllands-Posten.

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