Healthy settings for older people are healthy settings for all: the experience of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy

This report shows how age-friendly environments have been created at the subnational level in Italy, using examples primarily from the Region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia. Over the past 20 years, Friuli-Venezia Giulia has utilized WHO frameworks on healthy ageing and scaled up the pioneering experience of the city of Udine to develop a whole of-the-region policy response to an ageing population, involving many sectors and all levels of governance. With the older segment of its population reaching 25% and still increasing, Friuli-Venezia Giulia put in place an integrated system to promote healthy ageing. The system incorporates new models of social protection and fosters new social relations and networks in local areas in order to promote sustainability; solidarity in relationships, behaviours and actions; and social responsibility. Key steps in the journey include the city of Udine’s leadership of the WHO Healthy Ageing Task Force, on behalf the WHO European Healthy Cities Network, and Friuli-Venezia Giulia’s adoption of a legal framework for active and healthy ageing in 2014.