Leader: Roberta Sala (UNISR); Other collaborator(s): Cristina Meini (UPO), Francesca Forle (UNISR)
Aging presents a plethora of specific vulnerabilities. The most obvious one regards the ever-increasing risk of a wide variety of health conditions, which requires particular attention from the welfare system. Other important vulnerabilities are the likelihood of social isolation, and ageism. The latter clearly emerged during the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic in the care of older adults, raising issues of discrimination in the healthcare provision only justified on the basis of the age criterion. Drawing from these experiences, this task will first systematically collect empirical evidences related to healthcare provisions to older adults during the Covid-19 pandemic, then discussing them through the lens of the theories of justice.
Brief description of the activities and of the intermediate results:
November 2023 – March 2024
During the relevant period the UniSR team worked at the development of an account of older age as an experiential transformation that is usually characterized by modifications in one’s affective life, and in particular in one’s existential feelings (Forlè). In this framework, we investigated whether specific forms of vulnerability can be implied by such existential modifications and we developed the thesis that public and normative treatment that do not address the existential dimension are not able to address vulnerability properly (Forlè and Sala). This research has led to an abstract to be presented at the X Conference of the European Philosophical Society for the Study of Emotions (Lisbon, June 19th-21st 2024) (Forlè), a paper to be presented at the Age-it General Meeting (Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, May 20-22, 2024) (Sala and Forlè), and, lastly, a paper to be presented at the World Congress of Philosophy (Rome, Sapienza University of Rome, June 1-8, 2024) on vulnerability and older people as normatively problematic, with a focus on rights, empathy, and respect (Sala).
The UPO team focuses on misinformation in older age, analysing causes at the bases of susceptibility, exploring perceptions, reactions, and coping strategies. We are also: carrying on review a on misinformation prevention; investigating lesser-explored factors associated with misinformation; developing a comprehensive framework for vulnerability assessment. Finally, we aim at designing a targeted and effective intervention to counter the spread of misinformation among older people. UPO’s research has led to: a book (Complottisti vulnerabili); a paper published (Self-Consciousness as a Construction All the Way Down); a paper submitted (Vulnerability to disinformation in older age); 2 presentations in dissemination contexts (Napoli, Ordine degli psicologici and Novara, Univ. della III età).
To date, the members of working group 1.2 have been involved in several activities related to the issue of vulnerability in old age. Cristina Meini is dealing with disinformation and misinformation in general, and in particular the effects of these on older people. She is now moving to digital technologies, as older people are less equipped to deal with the traps these technologies hide. Cristina is publishing a book on these issues. Erica Viola was recently involved in the project as a post-doc. She is a social psychologist. She deals with the computer literacy of the older people. She is organizing meetings for the elderly in Vercelli and other cities in eastern Piedmont Francesca Forlè deals with the personal identity of older people, their existential feelings and experience from a phenomenological perspective. She is working on how public policies should respond to the increased vulnerability of older people, assuming that institutions should consider the transformations experienced by them. In the coming weeks, a workshop will be held at UniSR on mental disorders and ageing. Roberta Sala is preparing a paper on vulnerability and the older people, which she has been working on for months, in which insights from political, moral and phenomenological perspectives should be combined. The aim is to publish a collective work on the topic of vulnerability.
Brief description of the activities and of the intermediate results:
Months: October 2024 – January 2025
To date, the members of working group 1.2 have been involved in several activities, some specifically concerning the project, others indirectly but still of some relevance.
Cristina Meini has completed and published the paper (with M. Rosola) "Vulnerability to disinformation in older age" (Phenomenology and Mind, 2025, n. 28, vol. 28). Together with Erica Viola, she is involved in a systematic review of the literature, focused on the mediating role of personality traits. In particular, attention is paid to how the need for autonomy, control, and relationality influences the evaluation of news. This approach aims to understand how personal motivations and the search for self-determination can influence susceptibility to misinformation and strategies for evaluating information. The study is currently in the data collection phase.
Francesca Forlè has finalized the paper “Becoming new in old age. Bodily experience and personal flourishing” that is now under review for a special issue of the journal Rivista di Estetica.
With Francesca De Vecchi and Roberta Sala, she has also started to work at the paper “Vulnerability and existential feelings of ageing: personal traits and public implications”, to be submitted to an international journal such as Journal of Social Ontology, The European Journal of Philosophy, Philosophical Studies.
During the relevant period Francesca has also organized and attended two events related to the present project. The first is “Exploring Personal Identity. Philosophical Perspectives and Insights from Arts” (Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, October 2-4 2024), which has explored the topic of personal identity also in connection to older age (cfr. the keynote presentation by Sara Heinämaa on “Transformations of Aging: An Existential-Phenomenological Account”).The second is the workshop “Invecchiamento, demenza, vulnerabilità: una prospettiva di ricerca interdisciplinare” at Vita-Salute San Raffaele University (November 28-29, 2024).
Roberta Sala is preparing an article on vulnerability and the older people, which she has been working on for months, in which insights from political, moral and phenomenological perspectives should be combined. The aim is to publish a collective work on the topic of vulnerability. Another work, written together with Sarah Songhorian and a colleague of ours (Virginia Sanchini, researcher at the University of Milan), investigating case studies on older people care with a focus on the Covid-19 pandemic, is in progress. Further research is ongoing, including the ethical aspects of the use of artificial intelligence in older people care.