Promoting Health and Preventing Chronic Degenerative Pathologies for Elders: The Empirical Scenario in Italy

Abstract

The article provides an overview of health prevention programs implemented by local authorities to target the needs of older people in Italy. Interventions include health promotion and primary prevention, secondary prevention, and tertiary prevention. The most important characteristics of the interventions are described in terms of type, targets, and resources. The survey underlines some of the most evident difficulties met when performing exhaustive monitoring. It also points out a comprehensive picture of the indicators to be taken into account to achieve an efficient and regular health monitoring system of the older population.

The authors thank the Higher Institute for Health (ISS), who provided project financial backing and supervision (agreement dated 1/2/2006).

Notes

∗Pilot project

Note: A project can also be realized using a combination of the typologies we have listed above, but for classification purposes we considered only the most relevant type.