Search for a command to run...
Abstract The architectural design of spaces and enabling technologies should be planned and implemented to facilitate the meeting between people and the development of quality relationships, since these are the real experiences that could change daily life, direct autonomy and facilitate healthy aging. Sociological research and specific policy studies (such as the Italian case study of Trieste) confirm the role of social capital for healthy aging and the possibility of generating it through social mechanisms, such as trust, collaboration, learning, recognition, etc. In this respect, the new territorial welfare structures in Italy—the Community Houses that are currently under construction—could become the hub of this type of social technologies, still largely absent in traditional services dedicated only to technical-health services. Instead, public and third sector social-health workers, together with volunteers and association staff, should promote listening, meeting and collaboration in places open to the community, where they can provide social-health services and live experiences of sociality, altruism, expressiveness, recognition of meanings, search for common solutions to every need. The real challenge is to provide these facilities with spaces and opportunities for physical encounters, inside and around the facilities, available to professionals and citizens. Their vitality will not be long in coming if given the opportunity.