One child for every five seniors: the pitiless Istat report of recent days leaves no way out. An irreversible demographic phenomenon that nails Italy on the podium of the oldest countries in the world, with a population in constant decline and a growing number of elderly population. But there is a “but”: the possibility of transforming this country’s weakness into a strength, rethinking policies and looking at the silver economy with new eyes: with the lengthening of life expectancy, ages increase and with them the opportunities of a market that is galloping at a rate of 5% per year, according to data from the EU Commission.
«60% of consumption in Europe and the United States is represented by the over 50s, an age that for the EU marks the beginning of the silver age. This means that there are many opportunities for innovative products and services »explained Walter Ricciotti, CEO of Quadrivio Group, who spoke yesterday at the event on the silver economy organized by Sole 24 Ore and opened by a speech by the director, Fabio Tamburini.
The finance company has launched a 400 million private equity fund that invests in companies active in prevention, quality of life, home care and the supply chain for the healthcare sector. “Italy has many excellences in these areas and we are ready to invest in the first months of next year” announced Ricciotti. On the role of Italy, the Minister for Equal Opportunities and the Elena Bonetti family echoes him on the political level who, in a video message, confirmed: “Italy will host the fifth International Conference on Active Aging in June 2022 in Rome and this with a view to assuming responsibility through a shared guide that can accompany people’s lives “. The minister reiterated: “Active aging is one of the strategic challenges that our government is facing for the restart and social reconstruction”. And he indicated some of the innovations that he intends to bring forward also with the NRP, such as community houses, the strengthening of social infrastructures especially for non self-sufficient people, the alliance between generations. In terms of prevention, the economic indicators will be reviewed, including in the area of health policies. “Investing in prevention has two returns. The first is straightforward: higher spending on prevention translates into cost savings for future treatments. The second indirect: in terms of quality of life, a parameter that has an economic value »explained Patrizio Armeni, Professor of Practice of Government, Health and Not for Profit at SDA Bocconi. Carlo Carollo, general manager of Amplifon, also insisted on prevention, recalling how the elderly often underestimate hearing loss. “The decision to postpone can last up to seven years, a time in which hearing loss can accelerate cognitive decline and isolation.”
Fabio Di Lenardo, innovation & partnership director of International Care Company recalled, in the care sector, the need to move from the concept of performance to taking charge of the person at 360 degrees, in dialogue with caregivers and family members. Antonio Sica, director of the Molecular Immunology Laboratory of the Humanitas Clinical and Research Center illustrated the frontiers of longevity research. But most of all it will be necessary to change the approach to the problem. “Italy is called to put in a positive relationship the digital, ecological and demographic transition – said the demographer Alessandro Rosina – It is therefore time to think about a silver ecology, enhancing the commitment of seniors in the epochal transition that characterizes these years” .