HOUSING PROGRAMS SUPPORTING THE EMERGING NEEDS OF OLDER PEOPLE

Housing policies in Italy are promoting a number of local projects including different people’s needs and installation of new home technologies, in order to adjust home routines and functionality to new lifestyles and needs of the changing community and family pattern. We illustrate advancement of housing in some case-studies as regards to smart home applications and tools for running or improving daily activities and home routines in a fast and effective way. In particular, we focus on recent issues and outcomes as follows:- City Councils promoted additional measures (Neighbourhood Agreements) for urban redevelopment plans in the perspective of the Design for All, and include for the first time compulsory and appropriately supportive technologies, from those regarding house to those related to the person’s safety and comfort.- Local Housing Agencies developed urban plans of new/remodelled housing areas, where designing a new house layout adjusted to the changing family pattern (single elderly or young married couples) is a major concern.- Mixed initiatives. We show some relevant case-studies as representatives of above initiatives. 1