In Italy, more than 4 million people over 65 live alone. A significant proportion are frail or dependent on assistance. Ensuring their safety, wellbeing and connection with the world requires an integrated approach involving professional expertise, technology and community.
Risks for older people living alone
Falls without assistance, acute crises without the ability to call for help, irregular medication use, malnutrition, social isolation and depression: these are the main risks for older people living alone. Identifying and regularly monitoring them is the home care professional’s first task.
Home safety technologies
Personal alarm devices, activity sensors, smart pills for monitoring medication adherence and video calls for daily visual checks: technology offers increasingly accessible tools for remotely monitoring older people living alone, reducing risks and the burden on families.
The local support network: neighbours, volunteers and community
Technology is not enough: older people living alone need human relationships. Local support networks, community volunteering, day centres, professional companionship services and support from third-sector organisations complement professional home care with the warmth of human connection.
📚 Scientific evidence
- ISTAT (2024). Anziani in Italia: condizioni di vita, salute e reti sociali. Roma.
- Cacioppo J.T., Cacioppo S. (2018). The growing problem of loneliness. Lancet, 391(10119):426.
- Smith A.C. et al. (2020). Telehealth for global emergencies. J Telemed Telecare, 26(5):309-13.
