Background: As aging populations and chronic conditions place increasing demands on healthcare systems, the Family and Community Nurse (FCN) role has emerged in Italy to strengthen primary care through prevention, health promotion, and care coordination at the community level. Aim: To explore the factors influencing the implementation of the FCN role within the Local Health Authority (LHA) of Biella, Northern Italy. Methods: a qualitative single embedded case study was conducted. Eighteen FCNs and 4 nurse managers were interviewed. Observational data were collected through field notes. Data were analyzed using Framework Analysis and organized using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). Results: At the outer setting level, alignment with national policy and population needs facilitated adoption, despite initial low public awareness. Within the inner setting, organizational flexibility enabled adaptation—particularly in project participation and time allocation—yet integration was limited by fragmented coordination and task-based workflows. At the individual level, FCNs showed strong motivation and professional identification but reported reduced confidence in community and educational activities. The implementation process was supported by reflective leadership and tailoring of strategies to local contexts and staff competencies. Conclusion and implications: Implementing the FCN role is a dynamic, context-sensitive process shaped by structural and professional factors. While leadership and flexibility supported local adaptation, full integration was hindered by system-level barriers and role ambiguity. Sustained implementation requires targeted investments in interprofessional training, clearly defined competencies, and organizational support. Findings are relevant for nursing leaders and policymakers aiming to enhance community-based care models in aging societies.

Abstract

The globalization has privileged the urban and central environments over the rural and inner areas marginalizing them in the socio-economic global system (Brenner, 2004). In this frame, people living in the rural areas suffered relative deprivation (Merton and Kitt, 1950) despite an overall rise in standard of living over recent decades, due to the relative institutional weakness, progressive disinvestment and the depopulation processes. Older people have felt this more markedly, who witnessed the age of stronger welfare and economic growth.

This study compares residents’ narratives in two neighbouring municipalities in the mountainous area of Val di Susa (Piedmont, Italy), which share similar socio-economic and demographic characteristics but very different living contexts. Preliminary results highlight a mismatch between territorial and individual transitions. The downfall of Meana di Susa as a former catching area for the Torino-based tourists and second home-owners, despite being served by the train line, experienced more radical cuts in the facilities, services and community life of the municipality. This downfall was felt less strongly in Mattie due to their historically relatively lower incidence of tourism, livelier community life and structural configuration. Despite a shared improvement in the socio-economic condition of residents, in Meana ageing citizens felt more strongly the sliding back whereas in Mattie they feel on the track in a territory that has been left behind like other depopulated rural area.

This paper is part of the national project AGE-IT (Spoke 10) and presents the results of a multi-phase research aimed at analyzing public policies, institutional strategies and social practices adopted in Italy.for the promotion of Active and Healthy Ageing (AHA).
In the first phase, the study involved a systematic review of the national literature on the topic of AHA, aimed at mapping the state of the art of theoretical reflection and empirical experiences in Italy. The results show a selective focus, with a strong emphasis on health aspects related to old age, disability and acute conditions to the detriment of a preventive and promotional vision, oriented towards individual autonomy and the entire life span.
The second phase of the research involved the systematic documentary analysis of public policies for AHA in two Italian regions — Emilia-Romagna and Calabria — chosen for their different institutional capacity, governance structure and regulatory tradition. Over 120 regulatory and administrative acts, produced between 2010 and 2024 at regional, sub-regional and local levels, were collected and analyzed for this purpose.
The analysis was conducted using a structured analytical grid, divided into 22 items organized into five macro-sections: thematic scope and sector of intervention; AHA strategies (in line with WHO, EU and AAI guidelines); population objective; declared objectives; institutional level and document typology; methodological approach and governance devices activated. This work was integrated by the examination of operational plans, implementation devices, local projects and network practices.
The results highlight for Emilia-Romagna a consolidated regulatory tradition accompanied by advanced operational tools in terms of planning and services implementation. The regional approach is characterized by a strong integration between the health and social dimensions, a significant territorial capillarity and a structured involvement of the Third Sector.
On the other hand, in Calabria, despite the presence of an advanced regulatory framework there is a discontinuous and partial implementation ofpolicy frameworks. The planned governance bodies are not fully operational, and the actual implementation of the policies is still incipient.
The comparison between the two regional contexts highlights the crucial role of an integrated and participatory governance, as well as the need for intersectoral co-design and political-administrative continuity to ensure the effective translation of international recommendations on AHA.

In the light of the economic and social challenges posed by an ageing population, the active ageing (AA) concept has been promoted by international and European institutions – for several decades now – due to the benefits it entails for the individual and society. However, given the non-binding nature of existing international regulations on the subject, the promotion of AA mainly depends on the policies adopted by national governments. The present study aims to understand what are possible opportunities and synergies to be developed in Italy, for an effective implementation of the MIPAA framework in the domain of AA, in the light of an important project experience on the subject and recent developments at the regulatory level. Several possible synergies were identified between the project activities and the new enforced regulation. On the one hand, the wide stakeholders’ network created in the project already involves crucial actors identified to implement the regulation, creating the conditions to facilitate the process. On the other hand, the contents of the new regulation reflect the international framework adopted in the project, based on MIPAA. This, allowing the experience gained and the activities carried out to be leveraged for more effective future implementation of the regulatory provisions.

Studies about transitions in older age have often focused on loss and disengagement (e.g. bereavement, health decline), while little consideration has been dedicated to the possible creation of new opportunities, as suggested by the active ageing (AA) paradigm. The latter may have the potential to empower older people steer transitions in older age towards more positive outcomes. Whereby, the aim of the study is, on the one hand, to explore how transitions serve as drivers or barriers to AA, and on the other hand to identify possible relationships between the AA dimensions and health and wellbeing outcomes of transitions in older age. The scoping review included structured database searches, inclusion and exclusion criteria and quality appraisal of selected studies. A total of 65 papers met the inclusion criteria. Data concerning study design, transition type, AA dimension(s) considered and related outcomes were extracted and reported. AA dimensions were found in relation to 12 different types of transitions. The majority of the studies focused on the retirement transition (39%) followed by transitions in the labour market (11%). AA dimensions, studied as domains of transitions themselves, resulted to be frequently affected by inequalities accumulated over the life course. Other types of transitions resulted to be positively mediated by AA activities in terms of health and wellbeing outcomes. The results provided insights for future research and for a greater consideration of transitions in older age within the existing AA framework, in order to help developing prevention policies during older people’s turning points.

Social participation among older people in Europe is supported by active ageing policies in general and constitutes one of the three pillars of active ageing policies adopted by the European Union and the Member States.

The social factors that shape social participation are the cultural and institutional characteristics of macro-contexts and individual resources.
In this study, variables related to socio-economic status, cultural capital and relational network (network index) are considered in eight European countries to understand how social participation develops over time according to health status in the context of the corresponding four European welfare models.
The survey, developed ad hoc, is ongoing in eight European countries and will conclude by August 2025 with the collection of 9,600 interviews using the CAWI method. Each national panel (Italy, Spain and Greece, Germany and France, Sweden and Denmark, United Kingdom) includes 400 interviews for the cohort aged 55-64 and 800 interviews for the cohort aged 65-75.

The data and analyses will be used for the results of this study and understand if and how social participation promotes active and successful aging and the relevance of subjective and individual behaviors and factors as well as social policies of the different countries and welfare models under study.

Technological innovation, digitisation and demographic change are bringing about major transformations that are shaping societies around the world and offering valuable opportunities to promote active and healthy ageing. Digital technologies can foster a positive attitude towards successful ageing, as they enable the tracking of numerous health-related data and contribute to increased awareness of good practices for one's care and well-being. The scientific literature and the latest data suggest that, in Italy, the difference in access to and use of technologies between the elderly and the young population is quite marked. To ensure that these technologies are acceptable, accessible, and inclusive, it is crucial to understand and consider the barriers (cognitive, physical, and sensory limitations) that hinder their use by the elderly population. This paper describes how a systematic literature review and the Human-Centred Design approach, with its survey methods, facilitated the identification of limitations and needs in the elderly population, using this information to develop design strategies for innovative and accessible gerontechnologies, in line with Goal 3 of the United Nations' Agenda 2030. Through this study, we provide design recommendations to enhance the development of new interfaces for common gerontechnologies, focusing on aspects that influence their usability and acceptability. In particular, we examine issues related to visibility, understanding of possible interactions, and the engagement and clarity of content essential for quality interaction.

BACKGROUND: The Human–animal relationship has been associated with physical, psychological, and social benefits in older adults. Preliminary data suggest that pet ownership may contribute to healthy aging, encouraging physical activity and the adoption of a more active lifestyle. This study aimed to investigate the association between pet ownership and physical performance in older outpatients.

METHODS: A pilot observational study involving individuals ≥65 years was conducted between January 2024 and March 2025 at the outpatient clinic of a geriatric department in Florence, Italy. Patients with moderate-to-severe dementia or disability were excluded. Pet ownership was investigated with a self-administered questionnaire. Participants underwent a comprehensive geriatric assessment including physical performance tests (gait speed and Timed Up and Go [TUG]). These tests will be analyzed in this preliminary analysis. Impaired physical performance was defined as gait speed <0.8 m/s or TUG >15s.

RESULTS: The study sample included 82 participants (mean age 76.6 years; 53.7% female). Of these, 30.5% owned a pet, most commonly a dog. A trend towards better physical performance was observed among pet owners: impaired physical performance was observed in 28% of pet-owners vs. 42% of non-owners based on gait speed (p=0.285) and in 4.8% of owners vs. 12.2% of non-owners based on the TUG score (p=0.339). Similar findings were reported in a sensitivity analysis comparing pet-owners who were actively involved in their pet’s care (18/25, 72%) with the remaining sample.

MAIN IMPLICATION: Pet ownership may be associated with better physical performance. The limited sample size may have had a significant impact on the statistical significance of its preliminary findings, which require confirmation on a larger sample.