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“Little joys of everyday life“

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“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 for families, especially in an economically disadvantaged environment, where there are not always resources for nurseries or adequate care.

BUT…

“What happens when grandchildren grow up and move away?”

After dedicating years for the family care, the lack of an active role in both family and social life often leads grandparents to feel themselves marginalized, as if their value was solely linked to their practical contribution. The lack of contexts that involve or enhance them makes them invisible in the eyes of society and often in their own eyes.

“What could be the solution?”

For this reason, it is essential to find concrete solutions that can guarantee grandparents and the elderly opportunities to continue to feel part of the society contributing not only to improving their psycho-physical well-being, but also and above all to preserve their identity.

Objective:

The project aim is to identify practical solutions that can give a sense of usefulness and purpose to the Neapolitan grandparents, restoring their active role in society. The proposals should not only aim to improve their emotional well-being, but also to foster their connection with the younger generations and the social fabric.

Possibile directions:

• Mentorship programs: create activities where grandparents can act as mentors for the younger generation, sharing their experience and wisdom.
• Voluntary activities: designing volunteer opportunities that enable older people to contribute actively to the community (e.g. teaching the old jobs, traditions, transmitting “old habits”, preparing traditional recipies, etc.)
• Social dedicated areas: creating physical or digital spaces where elderly can meet, participate in creative workshops or share hobbies with people of all ages (for example, during the pandemic, in Tuscany was created the project “Joy+”, thanks to which digital spaces were created to connect elderly people isolated in their own houses).
• Partnerships: creating a partnership between a university and an association of Neapolitan elders, aimed at hosting exchange students or participating in the Erasmus programme. A similar project has already been launched in Padua, where one woman said: “I am happy to host a student who needs a place to stay. Having a roof over your head to study in another city is crucial and for me it is also a way to have company in the house”. This initiative is a proactive exchange: on the one hand, the elderly can transmit the rich Neapolitan culture and, on the other hand, they can enjoy the company, also benefiting from a rent that contributes to the household expenses. A young student from Padua said: “It’s an opportunity I took on the fly. I am short of exams and the thesis, and I need a quiet environment to complete my studies. The idea of spending time with an older person fascinates and intrigues me”.

BUDGET:

Excluding the possible direction of “partnership” (not definable for the lack of possibility to count the figure of the specific “partner”), the maximum budget, based on “dedicated social spaces“, could be:

1. Physical spaces: * Collaboration with existing structures: use communal or local association spaces, keeping a small budget for any maintenance costs or symbolic contributions, estimated at around 5,000 – 7,000 euro per year. * Materials for activity: purchase materials for creative workshops and group activities, maintaining a basic selection (stationery, colours, simple craft tools). Budget: 3.000 – 5.000 euros. * Involvement of professional and voluntary staff: hire a part-time professional coordinator (for about 10,000 – 12,000 euro per year) who works with volunteers or trainees. This approach balances professional skills with the free help of students or associations.
2. Digital spaces: * Free digital platforms and hybrid sessions: use Zoom or Google Meet for free digital meetings and activities. You can also use a basic version of low-cost event management tools if necessary (about 1,000 – 2,000 euros per year). * Basic digital training: organising training courses on the use of digital tools, in collaboration with schools or associations. Budget: €1,000 – €2,000, for material and any technical support sessions.
3. Promotion and Marketing: * Social media and local networks: use social media, neighbourhood groups, parishes and local associations to promote the project. Distribute leaflets in community centres and places frequented by elderly people. Budget: 1,500 – 2,500 euros for a targeted campaign.

Total estimated:

So the project could be realised with an annual budget of between €23,500 and €30,000, obtaining welcoming and functional spaces, both physical and digital, in addition to ensuring professional management and good visibility in the community.

Sitography:

1. “Grandparents educators of life and future” (2024) available here: https://fondazionepatriziopaoletti.org/blog/educazione/nonni-educatori-di-vita-e-di-futuro/
2. “10 volunteer projects for the elderly” (2020) available here: https://www.seniordomo.com/it/10-progetti-di-volontariato-per-anziani/
3. “A “gentle” digitization path for seniors” (2022) available here: https://www.secondowelfare.it/terzo-settore/un-percorso-di-digitalizzazione-gentile-per-gli-anziani/
4. “In the gardens that no one knows” (2022) available here: https://www.geriatriko.com/notizie-mondo-anziani/anziani-ed-emarginazione
5. “The change of habits, lifestyles in old age between prejudices, toil and opportunities” (2023) available here: https://www.luoghicura.it/operatori/strumenti-e-approcci/2023/04/il-cambiamento-di-abitudini-e-stili-di-vita-in-eta-anziana-fra-pregiudizi-fatiche-e-opportunita/
6. “The importance of social function in the elderly” (2017) available here: http://www.laurapedrinellicarrara.it/argomenti-di-psicologia/psicologia-dell-anziano/limportanza-della-funzione-sociale-nellanziano/
7. Living together elderly and students, already 70 requests from the universities outside https://www.padovaoggi.it/attualita/studenti-fuori-sede-convivono-anziani-70-richieste-padova-2-agosto-2023.html