Disability is a key determinant of social exclusion, poor health, and premature mortality. Monitoring its prevalence and understanding its progression are essential for policy planning in ageing societies. In Italy, two complementary data sources are available: the AVQ survey, conducted annually from 2013 to 2023, provides regionally representative prevalence estimates but no longitudinal follow-up; the SHARE study, collected biennially between 2004 and 2022, follows individuals over time and enables estimation of transition dynamics. However, SHARE data are interval-censored: transitions between states are only known to occur between interviews, except for deaths, which are dated exactly.

This study integrates both datasets to estimate disability prevalence and transitions over age. A continuous-time Markov model describes transition across three states: healthy, with limitation, and dead, allowing for recovery. Transition intensities are modeled as smooth, age-dependent functions under a proportional hazards assumption, with gender and education as covariates. Estimation is semiparametric using penalized B-splines.

Estimated intensities yield transition probabilities and model-based age-specific disability prevalences. These are then used in a binomial model for AVQ responses. Parameters are jointly estimated by maximizing a penalized likelihood combining both sources.

Preliminary results show that transition rates from healthy to disabled and from disabled to dead increase sharply with age. Women experience more disability transitions, men higher mortality. Lower education is linked to higher disability risk, lower recovery, and increased mortality. The model enables improved projections and supports long-term care planning.

Lombardy is one of the EU regions with the longest life expectancy [1]. This trend also affects persons with disabilities [2;3] prompting municipalities to design and develop new inclusive welfare solutions and sustainable policies [4]. In line with this, scholars have identified the aging in place approach [5;6] as a key model for rethinking health and social care provisions also in case of persons with disabilities [7;8]. The present study is an in-depth analysis of the CASA project (cascade funding from AGE-IT – SPOKE 1), which aims to develop a vulnerability index model for older adults living in medium-sized cities, such as Bergamo in Italy, using an interdisciplinary and multidimensional approach. The study offers a socio-demographic analysis of data [10] collected in the Bergamo area on persons with disabilities to identify their specific needs and map the city's aging-in-place solutions. The data reveal the following main findings: 1) solutions for aging in place for persons with disabilities in the city are still limited and mainly targeted at younger people; 2) economic support is primarily provided to informal caregivers who, despite being elderly themselves, continue to care for persons ageing with disabilities; 3) aging takes precedence over disability; 4) supports from the community are not always present and sufficient to meet the need. The findings suggest the need for integrated social planning to promote ageing in place for persons ageing with disabilities, as well as to bridge the gap between ageing and disability from theoretical and practical point of view [4].

Aging in Place (AIP), the desire to remain in one's own home and community, has become an essential focus in aging studies. This reflects both the preference of older adults, and also the fundamental role of the home in supporting societal welfare. This study, conducted within the framework of the CASA Project (cascade funding from Spoke 1 of Age-IT), conceptualizes AIP as a relational, situated, and meaningful experience for older adults.

Adopting a qualitative approach, it explores the lived experiences of 49 participants across three different AIP models: a senior residence with integrated services, a senior house with a healthcare focus, and independent living in private homes. Using semi-structured interviews and a bottom-up Thematic Analysis enriched by quantitative coding data, the study investigates the delicate balance between practical requirements, emotional attachment, and personal autonomy when deciding how to age in place. The findings reveal the complex interplay between psychological and practical dimensions, illustrating how older adults navigate housing selection by managing their need for support and independence.

The study calls for an ecological and situated approach to understanding AIP, emphasizing the need to view aging as a mutual responsibility between the individuals and their environments. It recognizes aging not only as a biological fact, but also as a relational and embodied process, deeply shaped by the affordances the environment is able—or unable—to offer.

The research provides valuable insights for housing policies and urban planning, highlighting the importance of empowered aging, recognition of individual subjectivity, relationships, and the promotion of autonomy for AIP sustainability.

Senior cohousing is a rapidly growing social phenomenon addressing the global challenge of demographic ageing. Beyond health issues, many older adults face threats related to loss of autonomy and social isolation. Collaborative senior housing aligns with numerous Sustainable Development Goals, highlighting its broad economic, social, urban, and environmental benefits. In Italy, recent legislation (Law no. 33/2023 and Legislative Decree no. 29/2024) establishes guidelines for senior cohousing, reflecting growing legal interest in this model.

A key regulatory challenge is preserving the solidarity that underpins these communities, which contrasts with traditional contractual frameworks focused on individual economic interests. Legally safeguarding this solidarity requires more than private autonomy; potential solutions include integrating notarial protections into private agreements or adopting housing cooperatives, as seen in Denmark and Spain.

The cooperative model stands out for lowering economic barriers while embedding social purpose, shared governance, and mutual aid within its structure. Comparative examples, like the Valencian Autonomous Community’s 2023 law on collaborative housing, demonstrate how cooperatives promote collective goals and social inclusion rather than speculative interests, ensuring long-term stability.

Italy has the opportunity to develop a regulatory framework that balances private initiative with collective well-being, making senior cohousing a tool to promote older adults’ personal development, social participation, and mutual solidarity. Successfully implemented, this approach could redefine ageing as an active, community-based experience, fostering resilience, belonging, and human flourishing.

In contemporary society, the dual challenges of an aging population and endless urbanization emphasize the urgent need to reconsider how housing and urban environments influence the physical and psychological well-being of older adults, ultimately shaping their aging trajectories.

Aging in Place, which involves supporting older adults to live independently in their homes and communities while maintaining social ties and meaningful relationships within supportive environments, emerges as a crucial strategy to address this issue. However, this concept also reveals a more complex reality: the multidimensional nature of vulnerability, within society’s multilevel framework, comprising cultural, economic, social, and urban factors that can hinder or promote healthy longevity.

The “CASA” project, which is part of Spoke 1 of the Age-It initiative, takes a multidisciplinary approach to exploring these dynamics in the city of Bergamo. The project collects data from various sources using different strategies to retrieve psychological, demographic, geographical and spatial variables describing the population of older adults, their territory and the services available to them. All the collected data will be used to define an innovative vulnerability index at the neighbourhood level using a statistical approach. This statistical strategy could then be replicated in other medium-sized cities.

The findings highlight the need for urban planning and public policies that listen to and acknowledges the needs of older residents, in order to design inclusive, age friendly cities that actively support healthy longevity.

The urgent necessity to establish sustainable urban mobility plans that take into account a particular demographic—the elderly—is the central focus of this paper.

The aging population is a global phenomenon, with many countries experiencing an increase in the proportion of elderly citizens. According to the United Nations, the global population aged 60 years or older is projected to increase from 1 billion in 2020 to 1.4 billion by 2030, and to 2.1 billion by 2050. This demographic shift presents significant challenges for urban transport systems, as older adults often face mobility limitations due to physical, cognitive, and sensory changes. The intersection of ageing and transport mobility is a critical area of study, as it directly impacts older adults' independence, social inclusion, and quality of life. The scientific literature on the topic related to the relationship between the aging population and transport mobility explores key issues, challenges, and solutions that may be found in research, policy, and practice.

Older adults often experience a decline in physical and cognitive abilities, which can affect their mobility. Several studies have identified key mobility challenges faced by the elderly in terms of:

- Physical Decline: as people age, they often experience reduced strength, joint flexibility, and stamina, making walking, climbing stairs, and using public transportation more difficult. Conditions like arthritis, reduced vision, and hearing loss further complicate mobility (Ryan et al., 2021).

- Cognitive and Sensory Impairments: cognitive impairments, including dementia, and sensory impairments such as poor eyesight and hearing loss, contribute to difficulties navigating public transport systems and understanding information (Docherty et al., 2022). This can make seniors feel less confident in using unfamiliar or complex transport systems.

- Reduced reaction times and balance: slower reaction times and balance issues increase the risk of accidents, particularly when crossing streets, waiting for buses, or using crowded transport systems (Rausch et al., 2017).

- Access to Transport: many older adults do not own a car and are reliant on public or shared transport, which may not always be readily accessible, affordable, or convenient. Research has shown that transport poverty is prevalent among elderly populations, especially in rural areas (Twardzik et al., 2024).

For all these reasons, we should consider the important role of transport in promoting independence, as it is a crucial element in the elderly’s quality of life. Transportation plays a critical role in enabling older adults to maintain independence and participate in daily activities such as shopping, healthcare visits, socializing, and recreational activities. Several studies emphasize the link between mobility and well-being in aging populations, such as:

- Social isolation: limited access to transportation is a major contributor to social isolation among the elderly, which can lead to negative physical and mental health outcomes (Chua et al., 2025). Without adequate transport, seniors may struggle to maintain social connections and participate in community life.

- Health implications: access to transportation has been linked to improved physical activity levels, as seniors are more likely to engage in walking or cycling when public transportation options are available and accessible (Church et al., 2000). Lack of mobility options can also hinder access to healthcare services, leading to poor health outcomes.

- Mental health and quality of life: studies have found that when elderly people can travel independently, they experience higher levels of life satisfaction, improved mental health, and a stronger sense of autonomy (Ravensbergen,et al., 2022). The ability to access transport also enhances their perceived control over their environment.

In light of this background and these requirements, the first section of this paper reviews the scientific literature on senior mobility concerning planning and the advantages of offering specially designed interventions in SUMPs. This is followed by the presentation of a few real-world examples that have already been implemented, allowing decision-makers to draw ideas from what has been accomplished in other places, including Italy.