How older residents experience the Age-friendliness of Venice. Insights from a quantitative study

Venice represents a distinctive case study, situated at the nexus of diverse socioeconomic and demographic dynamics. This makes it an invaluable laboratory for investigating medium- and long-term trends in Italy and other Western countries. Despite its status as an economically advanced region, Venice has been experiencing a twofold demographic crisis: depopulation of the historical areas and an aging of the resident population, which present a significant challenge to sustainability and social cohesion. The city of Venice has one of the highest percentages of individuals aged 65 years and over in Italy. It is of the utmost importance that local policies be based on empirical evidence in order to construct economically and socially resilient cities that will be equipped to meet the challenge of demographic change. This paper presents an analysis of the AFCCQ dataset, which is based on a survey conducted in Venice. The findings demonstrate notable discrepancies in demographic characteristics, including sex, age, socio-economic status, receipt of care support, and utilization of mobility aids. The paper puts forth a series of recommendations for the policymaking process, with the aim of adapting city policies in a manner that aligns with the scientific findings of the research.