Nine senior on 10 are healthy and about 1 on 2 is autonomous up to over 80 years
(Nicola Simonetti) This is documented by an international survey ("55 special generation") - promoted by Amplifon and conducted by Ipsos on 6mila over 55 in Italy, Australia, France, Germany and USA - which highlights a new generation: "55 special".
Physically active (1 on 3 does physical exercise), related to their friends (4 on 10 has weekly meetings) and independent up to more than 80 years (1 on 2 in the age group 75-84), 1 on 2 aged 75-84 years independently manages home and finances.
And that's not all, it turns out that they cannot give up their smartphone (preferred by over 7 out of 10) and are hyper-connected: almost 8 out of 10 connect to the internet several times a day.
In short, independent, autonomous, enterprising, lovers of social life, linked to their friends and inseparable from the smartphone.
The "55 special" generation presents itself. And the "third age" is, now, a recollection of the distant past.
To the vitality of brain and physique is also reflected in the demographic data: for the first time by the unity of Italy - the over 60 have passed under 30 and within the 2050, according to Istat data, more than a third of the population will be composed from over 65.
These "specials" are young at heart, they live in the name of positivity, independence and family. More than 8 out of 10 Italian seniors are satisfied with their lives (but not with the context of life) and also beat the primacy of "true grandparents": over 6 out of 10 regularly take care of their grandchildren (only 3 out of 10 in other countries) and 57% of the grandfather's job is full-time (48% elsewhere).
Italian seniors, compared to others - says Roberto Bernabei, director of the aging sciences department at Policlinico Gemelli University and president of Italia Longeva - devote more time to family relationships, social relationships, they are a fundamental pillar for society. They not only take care of children and grandchildren but also of the elderly who need home care, excelling in the number of hours dedicated to their assistance. This new generation of seniors therefore seems to take care of others in a transversal and lasting way, offering support to other people at all stages of life ”.
For them - reveals the Amplifon-Ipsos survey - a “new third time”: They meet friends and family, attend cinema and theater, invent a new social life. In fact, almost 8 out of 10 seniors regularly visit their relatives (only 6 out of 10 in the United States) and over 4 out of 10 see friends at least once a week (less than 3 out of 10 in France). their time with music (55%), in the park (76%) and with crosswords (76%) and, compared to their foreign peers, reveal a more cultural soul. 57% go to the cinema at least once a month (28% in other countries) and 16% visit museums and take part in organized excursions (vs 23%). Even theater and concerts are all Italian passions: 11% and 13% of compatriots go there respectively against the average of 11%.
The emotional life is revived in previous relationships continue or new couples are born, because they have time to hang out and want to fall in love (growing marriages among the over 75).
Loneliness, what is it?
I do not think - says Lidia Ravera - that they suffer from loneliness. They are part of a generation that has grown up in a group, that made politics together and often shared living spaces ".
Creativity?
The "55 specials" retain a good dose of creativity and desire to experiment: 70% of Italians say they are always looking for new ideas (average of 66% in other countries) and 73% are enthusiastic about what they do (70% somewhere else).
"With today's seniors, society has to come to terms. They want to write the script to be recited in this 'third time' and not passively ".
Health, how are you?
Well, thanks for over 9 on 10 not only subjectively but also by the results of the checks they perform regularly (a little less for the hearing that remains a taboo).
The Italian seniors deny the belief that we are a sedentary people. They, no: 33%) often exercise more than their colleagues in the United States (24%), Australia (30%), less, but Germany (40%) and France (39%).
Italians also an example of proper nutrition: the 12% controls everything it eats, in France and in Germany only 5% does it.
Fears: diseases, first and then, memory loss (52%), physical decay (40%), hypertension (39%), high cholesterol (32%) and hearing problems (17 %).
Mom, the ear:
"In Italy about 2 people on 10 - says Carlo Antonio Leone, UC Director of Otorhinolaryngology and Cervico-facial Surgery, Monaldi hospital, Naples- cohabiting with a hearing impairment. This is a fact that should not be underestimated, because untreated hearing problems can affect quality of life to the point of imposing isolation or renunciation of social occasions. Undergoing regular checks and taking early action is essential to stay active.
However, only 25% of people with hearing loss use a hearing aid (70% in Germany). A solution to this underutilization can come from technology: over 8 out of 10 Italians declare that they are very interested in using hyper-technological hearing aids, adjustable directly from their smartphone and able to adapt to the sound characteristics of the surrounding environment ".
First of all connected: the Italians are also hyper-connected (/ 75%) and, in this, they compete with the Americans.
They familiarize themselves with “social networks”: over 7 out of 10 have an account (5 out of 10 in Germany). Facebook is the most used platform (67%; second only to the United States), followed by Twitter and Instagram (22% and 18%, the Italian figure is the highest ever).
“In this new scenario it becomes essential to grasp the different facets that make up the“ 55 special ”universe and keep up with their lifestyles to allow, even those living with hearing impairment, to remain active. We, for example - says Federico Bardelli, GM Amplifon Italia - have developed a new digital ecosystem to offer increasingly personalized services. Furthermore, our devices take advantage of the latest generation technologies, connect with smartphones and TVs and can be managed directly by the person, allowing them to remain active in any situation ".