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The Past Empowering the Present: Intergenerational Solidarity Improving the Quality of Life

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Italian Studies on Quality of Life

Part of the book series: Social Indicators Research Series ((SINS,volume 77))

Abstract

This chapter focuses on intergenerational solidarity towards older adults as one of the ways to improve the quality of life. The authors discuss the Train the Brain Protocol, which includes diverse practices, such as physical exercise, cognitive stimulation, diet, art-therapy, etc. The study evaluates the reminiscence approach within the theoretical framework of social representations, taking into account that younger generations are dependent on the memory of older people, but they do not always have the culture of preservation of cultural heritage. Thanks to the collaboration of centres for older adults in the city of Rome and young volunteers, it was possible to apply the reminiscence approach that concentrated on urban socially constructed realities through the memories of participants. Young people (age between 20 and 30) have engaged older persons in reminiscence activities discussing the memories of the city of Rome, places significant to participants and their daily practices in the urban setting.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    The authors wish to acknowledge the role of Marzia Giua, a clinical psychologist who administered cognitive tests to participants and provided psychotherapeutic insight during the participant observation and subsequent discussion.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Rosemead School of Psychology, Biola University, 13800 Biola Avenue, La Mirada, CA, USA

    Laura Dryjanska

  2. Intergenerational Family Solidarity Across Europe COST Action, Brussels, Belgium

    Roberto Giua

Authors
  1. Laura Dryjanska
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  2. Roberto Giua
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Laura Dryjanska .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychological, Health and Territorial Sciences University G. D’Annunzio Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy

    Adele Bianco

  2. ISTAT, National Institute of Statistics, Rome, Italy

    Paola Conigliaro

  3. Department of Political Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy

    Michela Gnaldi

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Dryjanska, L., Giua, R. (2019). The Past Empowering the Present: Intergenerational Solidarity Improving the Quality of Life. In: Bianco, A., Conigliaro, P., Gnaldi, M. (eds) Italian Studies on Quality of Life. Social Indicators Research Series, vol 77. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-06022-0_17

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-06022-0_17

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-06021-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-06022-0

  • eBook Packages: Social SciencesSocial Sciences (R0)

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