Design team 21 definitive brief
“Little joys of everyday life“ Topic “In Naples the elderly are pillar of family life but, over time, is it always like this?“ The Sense of Uselessness and Loss of Purpose of the Elderly Background: Elderly represent a very important pillar for societies all around the world, being carriers of wisdom, experience and values that reinforce the sense of cultural identity and continuity. But many times they can feel themselves pushed aside or less rilevant when they go in retirement phase, or when sons or grandchildren become adults and go away. This phenomenon, known as “loss of purpose”, can have a devastating impact on their emotional and psychological well-being, generating feelings of uselessness, loneliness and isolation. The elderly, once a pillar of the family and community, may be seen as a passive observer, rather than as an active and valuable resource. The elderly in Naples: In Naples, the elderly are considered a valuable and respected resource within the community. The Neapolitan culture gives older people a significant role, both in the transmission of traditions and in the maintenance of collective memory. The elderly are the heart of the family, they play a central role in the care and education of their grandchildren, often participating actively in their growth, to the point of becoming second-generation parents for many children. Even in popular neighbourhoods older people play a social role, participating in community life and keeping local traditions alive through cooking, the language and stories passed down. The subject of our analysis concerns elderly people living in Naples, aged between 60 and 90, with children and grandchildren. So from now on we will not speak of “elders” but of “grandparents“. The Routine of a Neapolitan grandmother: Morning: she wakes up early, with the habit of opening windows and looking out. After dressing herself with care, she makes a strong coffee with mocha. If she has the habit, she can go to the bar on the corner for an espresso and a chat with the neighbours or bartenders, keeping up with the news of the neighborhood and exchanging jokes in dialect. She does the shopping, maybe buying fresh fruit, vegetables, homemade bread and some ingredients for lunch. Lunch and cooking: in the middle of the morning she starts to prepare lunch, often involving grandchildren, especially if they are small aged and want to help, transmitting the secrets of traditional Neapolitan cuisine. Afternoon: after lunch and a short rest, she devotes herself to simple activities. If the weather is nice, she takes the grandchildren to the park or makes them play in the square, where other children gather to play. Otherwise, she stays at home with his grandchildren, telling them stories of when she was young, passing on anecdotes of life and traditions of Naples. Evening: late in the afternoon, they come back home and she prepares dinner while watching the TV. Grandparents’ life revolves around their grandchildrens’ care, by also filling the gaps in a deficient citizen welfare system. In Naples, many elderly people become an indispensable resource…