The Elderly

The elderly are “voiceless”: they can neither protest nor complain. They often disguise great poverty with traits of pride. They often need affection as well as help. Yet they are forgotten. Specchio dei tempi has always been close to the elderly: since the beginning of its history. It was 1976 when the “Thirteenth Salary of Friendship” was launched, a subscription that has since been renewed every Christmas and over the years has become a symbol of our non-profit organization. The Thirteenth Salaries are cheques (500 euros for each of the 2000 over 65s involved) and at the same time a hug, a tradition with which the Piedmontese take care of their loneliest and most fragile grandparents. But they are not the only project intended for the elderly.

They range from pet therapy to beat boredom in retirement homes to computer, photography and smartphone courses to combat digital illiteracy and the resulting exclusion. Up to the fight against the great evil of the third millennium, Alzheimer’s, which Specchio tackles in centres dedicated to the assistance of the sick and the comfort of relatives.

The foundation is attentive to all needs every day and responds by continuously developing new services. During the Coronavirus emergency, it immediately helped the over 80s, delivering over 3000 free shopping packages to the elderly stranded at home for the lockdown. Then with the project “Support for the elderly” it decided to adopt 150: every month they receive a food package, help with cleaning and a visit from a group of students from the Alternanza Scuola Lavoro programme, who together with our journalists gather the memory. Small but concrete gestures to give hope and unite generations.