Out of 60 million inhabitants in Italy, 7.2 million suffer from hearing problems, 12% of the population, according to Censis data. In Trentino there are approximately 60,000. The highest incidence concerns the over 80s. In Trentino there are approximately 12,500 people over 80 who suffer from deafness or hearing loss. On the other hand, there are 25,000 between the ages of 61 and 80, again according to Censis.
These are just some of the data that serve to frame a situation that questions institutions, healthcare facilities and the community as a whole. Today, a conference organised by the Trento section of the Ente Nazionale Sordi-ENS together with the APSP Beato de Tschiderer, which hosted it in its RSA in Via Piave, Trento, took stock of the integration of the deaf in retirement homes. 'Integration has no age' was the title of the event, which was opened by the provincial councillor for health and social policies Stefania Segnana.
"The issue of deaf people in Trentino sees us particularly committed. - Councillor Segnana confirmed - I have recently analysed the data relating to our territory also in the light of the World Health Organisation's projections, which estimate a strong growth in hearing loss also due to the ageing rate of the Italian population. In Trentino in 2050 there will be about 87,500 people with hearing loss. In the elderly, deafness constitutes a further element of loneliness because it excludes people from conversations, limiting their participation in dialogue, contributing to social isolation and therefore to early loss of consciousness and the onset of senile dementia. In order to avert this hypothesis and improve the quality of life of the elderly with dementia, I have brought a resolution, born from the constructive discussion with the Monitoring Table of the Dementia Plan and approved by the Council in the IV Commission, which defines the criteria for the Communities to become 'dementia-friendly' and therefore inclusive and welcoming to people with cognitive impairment'.
Publication date: 03/03/2023
