For a life of relationships

3.1

The elderly person has the right to have an active relationship life.

3.2

The elderly person has the right to live with whoever he wishes.

3.3

Institutions and societies have a duty to avoid any form of imprisonment, ghettoization or isolation towards elderly people that prevents them from interacting freely with people of all age groups present in the population.

3.4

It is the duty of the institutions to guarantee support to families who have elderly people within them and who intend to continue to encourage cohabitation.

3.5

Institutions and societies have the duty to guarantee the emotional continuity of elderly people through visits, contacts and acquaintances with their relatives or with those with whom they have emotional relationships.

Examples and considerations

The possibility of an active relationship life is not guaranteed not only when people are confined to their homes or in care facilities with a reduced possibility of meetings and visits, but also when the care facilities are separated from the life of the neighbourhoods. Therefore, it must be a commitment on the part of institutions and communities to foster a fruitful relationship between young people and the elderly at every level and to stimulate the many forms of integration.

3.6

The elderly person has the right to safeguard their psycho-physical integrity and to be protected from all forms of physical and moral violence and improper forms of physical, pharmacological and environmental restraint, as well as abuse and intentional or unintentional negligence.

3.7

Those who interact with elderly people have the duty to report any form of abuse, violence and discrimination against them.

Examples and considerations

In order to decisively combat any form of violence against elderly people, the introduction of aggravating sentences could be considered in the case of moral and physical violence, mistreatment, deprivation of basic care, threats, extortion, humiliation, intimidation, economic violence or financial, especially if they occur in a protected environment or in care or assistance facilities. The fight against all improper forms of physical, pharmacological and environmental restraint appears particularly important.

This protection should be ensured regardless of whether violence, abuse or neglect occurs at home, within an institution or elsewhere.

The most effective form of prevention of this type of abuse is not represented by the use of mere forms of technological control such as the use of video cameras, but by the possibility of cultivating the life of relationships and interaction with the outside by elderly people: the presence of visitors and volunteers constitutes the best protection against abuses that can occur in closed spaces.

A further prevention tool is represented by the right of elderly people to choose the places and people with whom to live, also through the promotion of home care and cohousing services as possibilities within everyone's reach.

3.8

The elderly person has the right to participate actively in social life also through flexible forms of work suited to his conditions and possibilities or through voluntary activities.

3.9

The elderly person has the right to retain the possibility of accessing cultural and recreational services, as well as to express their thoughts and increase their culture, even in the presence of psychophysical limitations.

3.10

It is the duty of the institutions to guarantee digital inclusion, e-learning and facilitation of learning services through IT means.

Examples and considerations

The guarantee of this right requires the exercise of public protection by bodies and administrations, called upon to find suitable solutions to avoid processes of marginalization.

To this end, institutions must provide suitable aids, not only those provided for visually impaired or hearing impaired people or for mobility, but also for social and digital participation activities.

Furthermore, the concrete and verifiable possibility of access to day centers represents an indispensable form of protection of these rights.

The right of the elderly person to carry out the activities he prefers, including work and apprenticeship, must not be overlooked, albeit through suitable and actually practicable and available forms. In fact, a widespread prejudice leads to the belief that elderly people are incapable of activity and commitment. Scientific evidence emerges that active aging in old age, capable not only of ensuring greater survival, but also a slower decline, determines a more contained demand for social and health services and a better quality of life.

3.11

The elderly person has the right to co

preserve and have one's beliefs, opinions and feelings respected.

Examples and considerations

The right to exercise religious practices by elderly people is thwarted by the lack of places of worship, as well as by the recurring choice to close religious services in places of reception and care.

3.12

The elderly person has the right to move freely and travel.

3.13

The institutions have the duty to adopt measures to facilitate the mobility of elderly people and adequate access to the infrastructure intended for them.

Examples and considerations

The urban environment is not without impediments and barriers for the mobility of elderly people, who suffer, like other fragile people, considerable limitations in traveling on means of transport, in public places and places open to the public. Therefore, the removal of every form of limitation to freedom of movement must be a growing and constant commitment of all public institutions.