CASE STUDY COMMUNITY SOLIDARITY FOR THE ELDERLY IN UDINE With one quarter of the population above the age of 65, the Italian city of Udine relies heavily on the work of volunteers when it comes to caring for its older citizens. Most of the volunteers are themselves retired. Meals on wheels Volunteers distribute food door-to-door to people who are unable to cook for themselves and, on the busiest days, each volunteer delivers meals on wheels to 20 homes. There are more than a thousand volunteers in Udine, organised in different associations. The majority of them are retired women who deliver meals on wheels , make small repairs around the house, accompany people to the doctor or dentist, and arrange social and physical activities for those in need. Other activities Volunteering and solidarity are well rooted in the area. For example, Friuli Venezia Giulia is one of the areas in the world with the highest percentage of young people who donate blood. However, the more the population ages, the fewer individuals there are to provide support for others. 1 One of the largest volunteer services in Udine is the helpline No alla solit Udine ( No to Loneliness ), which is open to needy older citizens for four hours every morning. Three telephone operators are employed by the municipality to answer their calls and decide what kind of help they need. One thousand volunteers from 30 organisations offer a variety of services, from delivery of groceries to counselling, taking someone to the hairdresser or reading a book aloud. There are no standard services, each case is evaluated individually, and if the operators assess that the volunteers cannot deal with the problem, they forward the case to a doctor or social worker. Another association is Il Salotto d Argento ( The Silver Sitting-Room ) which organises a range of activities for self-sufficient older people. groceries: spesa municipality: amministrazione comunale rooted: radicato Answer the questions. 1. What percentage of people are over 65 in Udine? 5. What three services are mentioned in the text? 2. What is the average age of most volunteers? 7. What is No alla solit Udine ? What kind of service does it provide? 3. Are there more male or female volunteers in Udine? 4. What is said about young people? 6. What kind of service is Meals on Wheels? 8. What is The Silver Sitting-room ? Who benefits from their services? 2 GROUP WORK Do some quick research to find what activities are organised by the city or the place where you live to support eldercare. Are there any associations which provide assistance? Adults and elderly people 221