Types of care facilities for seniors
A guide to the types of elderly care facilities: nursing homes, assisted-living residences, sheltered housing and more, each with a detailed description.
Nursing home
A Nursing home is a residential care facility dedicated to supporting elderly individuals who are no longer self-sufficient and require continuous medical, nursing, and rehabilitative care. These nursing homes provide a safe and professional environment where residents receive 24-hour healthcare, ensuring the highest level of care and comfort. RSAs are staffed by specialized medical professionals, qualified nurses, and social-health operators who attend to the daily needs of residents, from medication administration to assistance with activities of daily living. Within an RSA, seniors benefit from comprehensive services including specialist medical care, physiotherapy, social activities, personalized meal plans, and psychological support. Facilities are designed to guarantee resident safety with accessible spaces, comfortable rooms, and common areas for socialization. Choosing an RSA is recommended when an elderly person has chronic illnesses, severe disabilities, or conditions of dependency requiring continuous professional assistance that cannot be provided at home. RSAs offer an optimal solution for families seeking a secure, qualified setting where their loved ones can receive all necessary care while maintaining the best possible quality of life.
Assisted living residence
An Assisted living residence is a residential facility that accommodates elderly individuals who are partially self-sufficient or require moderate healthcare assistance. Unlike RSAs, RSSAs cater to residents who retain a degree of autonomy but need support with daily activities and non-intensive medical supervision. These nursing homes offer a warm, family-like environment where residents can maintain independence while receiving necessary care. RSSA staff includes social care workers, nurses, and physicians who provide appropriate treatments without the intensive care typical of healthcare facilities. Services include assistance with basic tasks such as personal hygiene and dressing, controlled medication administration, recreational and social activities, meal service with customizable options, and health monitoring. RSSAs feature communal spaces for group activities, recreational rooms, gardens, and accessible outdoor areas that promote social interaction and mental and physical well-being. This type of facility is ideal for seniors who can no longer live completely independently but do not require the intensive care of an RSA. RSSAs represent a balanced solution between autonomy and safety, allowing residents to live in a protected setting while preserving dignity and quality of life.
Retirement home
A Retirement Home is a traditional residential facility in Italy dedicated primarily to elderly people who are self-sufficient or partially self-sufficient and choose to live in a protected communal environment. These senior residences offer an alternative to solitary living by providing companionship, security, and essential services in a welcoming and family-like setting. Modern retirement homes have evolved their care models, now offering a variety of services ranging from accommodation with hotel-style amenities to personalized assistance tailored to each resident’s needs. Staffed by qualified caregivers, they support seniors in daily activities while preserving autonomy and dignity. Typical services include accommodation in single or double furnished rooms, balanced meal service, cleaning and laundry, recreational and cultural activities, medication management support, and 24-hour staff presence for emergencies. Contemporary retirement homes feature comfortable common areas, activity rooms, libraries, chapels, and gardens where residents can socialize and stay active. This housing option is especially suitable for seniors who maintain good physical and cognitive abilities but prefer the safety and social life of an organized facility over living alone, finding in the retirement home a new social dimension and daily support.
Protected housing
A Protected housing is a residential care facility specialized in hosting elderly individuals who are non-self-sufficient and require continuous assistance and constant supervision. This type of senior residence is characterized by a high level of care and a highly secure and protected environment designed specifically for residents with severe physical or cognitive impairments. Protected homes are staffed 24/7 by specialized personnel, including professional nurses, social-health operators, physiotherapists, and physicians, ensuring integrated medical and social care. The facility is organized with safety in mind, featuring access control systems, barrier-free environments, and specific security devices. Services include full assistance with daily living activities, continuous medical and nursing care, rehabilitation programs to maintain residual abilities, adapted recreational activities, personalized meal plans, and psychological support for residents and their families. Casa Protetta is the most suitable option for elderly people with advanced dementia, severe Alzheimer’s disease, serious physical disabilities, or conditions requiring constant monitoring. These facilities provide families with peace of mind, knowing their loved one is in a safe, professional, and attentive environment where quality of life is preserved despite serious limitations.
Elderly shared housing
An Elderly shared housing is a small-scale residential facility accommodating a limited number of elderly individuals who are self-sufficient or have mild autonomy impairment. This type of senior residence is distinguished by its family-like atmosphere and communal approach, where residents live as part of a large family while maintaining their individuality. Group homes typically host between 6 and 12 residents, creating an intimate setting where each person is personally known by the staff and can build meaningful relationships with fellow residents. Assistance is tailored to individual needs, promoting the preservation of residual abilities and personal autonomy. Services include personalized room accommodations, support with daily household activities, meal preparation with resident participation, medication management assistance, organization of recreational and cultural activities, and staff presence during the day with on-call availability at night. Spaces are arranged like a typical home, featuring kitchens, living rooms, common areas, and gardens, fostering a domestic and welcoming environment. This solution is ideal for seniors who do not require intensive healthcare but wish to live in a protected and social setting, maintaining their habits and independence in a safe and stimulating atmosphere. Group homes offer a more familiar and less institutional alternative compared to larger residential facilities.
Sheltered housing / Protected apartment
Protected Housing or Apartment is an innovative housing solution for self-sufficient elderly individuals who want to maintain their independence while living in a secure, supported environment. These senior apartments are autonomous living units within residential complexes that provide shared services and customizable assistance according to individual needs. Protected apartments feature fully equipped kitchens, accessible bathrooms, bedrooms, and living areas designed with accessibility and safety in mind, including no architectural barriers, emergency call systems, and mobility aids. Residents retain full autonomy in their daily management while having access to optional services. Available amenities include concierge and security, routine maintenance, 24-hour emergency service, meal delivery or communal dining options, cleaning and laundry services upon request, scheduled healthcare assistance, and organized social activities. The complex may include communal spaces such as recreational rooms, gyms, libraries, and gardens. This housing model is perfect for seniors who wish to continue living independently but with the reassurance of quick access to support when needed. Protected apartments allow residents to age in their private space, maintaining privacy and autonomy with the peace of mind provided by accessible services and care, representing the ideal balance between independence and safety.
Family-style home for elderly
A Family-style home for elderly is a small-scale residential facility designed to recreate the atmosphere and dynamics of a family environment for elderly people who require assistance and companionship. This type of elderly residence is characterized by accommodating a limited number of guests, typically between 4 and 8, ensuring personalized care and meaningful human relationships. The setting resembles a home, with welcoming common areas, a kitchen where meals are prepared family-style, personalized rooms decorated with residents’ belongings, and garden or terrace spaces for outdoor activities. Often family-operated or managed with a highly personal approach, services include assistance with daily activities tailored to individual needs, home-cooked meals attentive to personal preferences, medication management, organization of recreational and occupational activities, accompaniment to medical appointments or errands, and constant staff presence who become trusted emotional figures. This familial atmosphere promotes psychological wellbeing and reduces feelings of displacement. This solution is ideal for elderly people who need continuous assistance but prefer a less institutionalized setting where they can feel part of an extended family. The 'Casa Famiglia' represents an excellent alternative for those seeking a warm, welcoming environment where the elderly are valued as individuals with their own history and personality.
Assisted living facility
An 'Assisted Living Residence' is a modern housing solution for seniors that combines the independence of private accommodation with access to customizable support services. Designed for individuals wishing to maintain autonomy while having access to assistance when needed, these residences offer a safe and socially stimulating environment. Assisted living residences provide fully furnished or unfurnished private apartments or studios, featuring kitchenettes, accessible bathrooms, and security systems. Residents choose which services to use, maintaining control over their daily lives and paying only for the assistance they receive. Available services include dining options (in communal dining rooms or private apartments), cleaning and maintenance, laundry and ironing, basic and specialist healthcare on demand, 24-hour emergency management, transportation for appointments and errands, recreational, cultural, and fitness activities. Common areas encourage socialization with lounges, libraries, gyms, and gardens. This housing solution is perfect for seniors who are self-sufficient or have mild limitations but want to live independently with the reassurance of easy access to support services. Assisted living represents the future of senior living, offering flexibility, dignity, and quality of life in a modern and comfortable setting.
Forensic psychiatric unit
The Residences for the Execution of Security Measures is a specialized healthcare facility that hosts individuals with psychiatric conditions under custodial security measures. Although not specifically designed for the elderly, REMS can accommodate older patients who meet the required clinical and legal criteria. These facilities represent the evolution beyond traditional judicial psychiatric hospitals. REMS are fully healthcare-managed facilities overseen by regional health systems, where therapeutic-rehabilitative approaches prevail over custodial ones. The staff consists exclusively of healthcare professionals specialized in psychiatry, without the presence of custodial officers, creating a therapeutic environment focused on recovery. Services include specialized psychiatric assessment and treatment, individualized rehabilitation programs, pharmacological and psychotherapeutic therapies, occupational and social reintegration activities, social reintegration support, and general medical care. Security is ensured through healthcare protocols rather than traditional detention measures. For elderly patients, REMS provide specific programs addressing age-related needs by integrating psychiatric and geriatric care. The goal is to restore patient capacities and, when possible, transition to more appropriate community-based care settings aligned with age and health status. Residence in REMS is temporary, aiming at clinical improvement to facilitate transfer to suitable territorial facilities.
Nursing home / Retirement facility
Retirement Facilities and nursing homes are residential facilities dedicated to accommodating and caring for elderly individuals who require continuous healthcare and socio-assistance. They offer a protected, peaceful, and well-organized environment where each resident can live with dignity, safety, and the support necessary for their health conditions. RSAs are specifically designed for non-self-sufficient seniors who need daily medical and nursing care, while nursing homes are more suitable for partially self-sufficient people who require assistance with daily living but not complex medical treatments. Both facilities guarantee care by qualified staff—doctors, nurses, social-health operators, physiotherapists—who work together to provide personalized care and improve residents’ quality of life. Services include accommodation, balanced meals, personal hygiene, rehabilitative therapies, recreational activities, and socialization opportunities. Choosing an RSA or nursing home means entrusting your loved one to care professionals in a facility that places the person and their needs at the center. It is the right choice for those seeking a safe, attentive, and respectful place that offers peace of mind to both seniors and their families.
Protected apartments
Protected apartments are housing solutions designed for elderly individuals who are self-sufficient or partially self-sufficient and wish to maintain their independence in a safe and supported environment. These residential units, often located within dedicated complexes or residences, combine the privacy of a private home with shared services such as concierge, basic healthcare assistance, recreational activities, and support with daily living tasks. Ideal for those who do not require continuous care but want to live in a peaceful, supervised setting, protected apartments offer comfort, accessibility, and a strong sense of community. They are increasingly popular choices for aging autonomously without sacrificing safety and socio-health support, minimizing the risk of social isolation. Available in both public and private models, they are designed respecting the physical and psychological needs typical of advanced age, with barrier-free spaces. Protected apartments represent a modern alternative to traditional residential care options, suited for those seeking a balance between independence and protection.
Homes and communities for seniors
Senior homes and communities are residential facilities designed to accommodate elderly individuals who, while not completely non-self-sufficient, require daily support to live safely and peacefully. These settings offer an alternative to staying at home, providing a protected environment, active social relationships, and qualified assistance. Residents in senior homes benefit from basic services such as meals, accommodation, cleaning, and laundry, as well as recreational activities, socialization opportunities, nursing care, and medical support upon request. Each community is organized to respect individual rhythms and needs, promoting autonomy and psychophysical well-being. Senior communities are especially suitable for those living alone, with distant family networks, or who wish to spend their days in a safer and more stimulating environment. They are places where new friendships are formed, and residents can participate in workshops, cultural events, and light physical activities, supporting the maintenance of cognitive and physical abilities. Choosing a senior home or community means offering oneself or a loved one a welcoming, humane, and professional environment where quality of life is at the heart of every service.
Open nursing care program
The Open nursing care program is an innovative service designed to provide qualified assistance to frail or partially non-self-sufficient elderly individuals directly at their homes. This care model allows receiving medical, nursing, and socio-assistance support without the need for residential admission, thereby maintaining one’s lifestyle and family environment. The open RSA service targets both seniors living alone and those cared for by family members or caregivers, offering important relief to daily caregivers. Interventions can include nursing care, physiotherapy, personal assistance, psychological support, medical consultations, and cognitive stimulation activities. Each care plan is personalized according to the user’s needs and managed by a multidisciplinary team of social-health professionals. The open RSA can be activated free of charge or with subsidized contributions, depending on regional requirements and social service evaluations. Choosing an open RSA means ensuring quality care for the elderly without sacrificing the safety and comfort of their own home. It is a flexible, humane, and professional solution, ideal for those wishing to maintain autonomy as long as possible with the right support.
Adult day care center
The Integrated Day Center is a semi-residential facility offering daytime care for elderly individuals who are partially or fully non-self-sufficient, allowing them to continue living at home. This innovative solution combines professional daytime assistance with maintaining family ties and the home environment during evenings and nights. CDIs typically operate Monday to Friday with flexible hours adapted to family needs, welcoming seniors in the morning and returning them home in the afternoon. During their stay, guests receive qualified care and participate in structured activities to maintain and improve their abilities. Services include assistance with basic activities such as hygiene and feeding, controlled administration of therapies, motor and cognitive rehabilitation, occupational and creative workshops, socialization and leisure time, balanced meal service, and transportation to and from home. The multidisciplinary staff includes educators, physiotherapists, nurses, and socio-health workers. The Integrated Day Center is a valuable resource for families caring for elderly at home, offering caregiver relief during work hours while providing the elderly with social stimulation and professional support. This model helps delay or prevent institutionalization, keeping seniors in their family environment with qualified support that improves the quality of life for the entire household.
Alzheimer day center
The Alzheimer Day Center is a specialized facility providing daytime care for individuals affected by Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of cognitive decline. These centers offer specific therapeutic programs within a safe and stimulating environment, enabling patients to receive specialized care while remaining with their families. The environment is specifically designed to be safe and orienting, with spaces that reduce confusion and anxiety, circular paths for safe wandering, sensory areas for controlled stimulation, and relaxation zones for calm moments. Staff are specially trained to manage behavioral and cognitive symptoms typical of dementia. Specialized services include cognitive decline assessment and monitoring, non-pharmacological therapies such as music and art therapy, targeted cognitive stimulation exercises, behavioral disorder management, support with feeding and personal hygiene, simplified occupational activities, and psychological support for family members. The center also provides training for caregivers in home management. This facility is crucial for families caring for Alzheimer’s patients, offering caregiver respite and ensuring the patient receives professional stimulation that may slow disease progression. The Alzheimer Day Center enables patients to remain in their family context as long as possible, improving quality of life for both the patient and their entire family through expert and compassionate support.
Day rehabilitation center
The Daytime Socio-Rehabilitation Center is a semi-residential facility providing intensive rehabilitation and social reintegration programs for elderly individuals who have experienced acute events such as strokes, fractures, surgeries, or who have disabilities affecting autonomy. These specialized centers offer daytime rehabilitative therapies allowing patients to return home in the evening. The approach is multidisciplinary and personalized, with teams composed of physiatrists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, psychologists, and social workers working synergistically to promote functional recovery. Each guest follows an individualized rehabilitation program based on a comprehensive initial assessment. Services include physical therapy for motor and balance recovery, occupational therapy for daily living skills, speech therapy for language and swallowing disorders, psychological support for adaptation to new conditions, training in the use of aids and prostheses, and education for family members in home care management. The facility features equipped gyms, therapeutic pools, and occupational therapy workshops. The Daytime Socio-Rehabilitation Center is ideal for elderly individuals needing intensive rehabilitation but able to return home, thus avoiding prolonged hospitalization. This model enables access to specialized care while maintaining family support, accelerating recovery, and promoting the best possible functional outcome aimed at maximizing autonomy.
Senior community center
The Senior Social Center is a daytime social facility promoting active aging through recreational, cultural, and social activities. These centers for self-sufficient elderly individuals serve as meeting places where seniors can combat isolation, maintain meaningful relationships, and actively participate in community life. Open during flexible daytime hours, seniors attend according to their preferences and availability. The environment is informal and welcoming, designed to encourage social interaction and diverse activities stimulating mind and body. Offered activities include creative courses and workshops such as painting, sewing, computer classes, gentle gymnastics, and walking groups; social games like cards, bingo, and chess; cultural events with lectures, concerts, and film screenings; excursions and guided tours; community celebrations; and support services including information desks and counseling. Many centers also provide café services and opportunities for communal meals. The Senior Social Center is essential for self-sufficient elderly people living alone or wishing to expand their social network. Regular attendance helps maintain an active lifestyle, prevents cognitive decline through social and mental stimulation, and significantly contributes to psychophysical wellbeing. These centers represent a valuable resource for healthy, socially integrated aging within the local community.
Day centers for the elderly
Day centers for the elderly are semi-residential facilities dedicated to welcoming and assisting older adults during daytime hours. They provide an ideal solution for those living with family but needing daily professional support, as well as opportunities for socialization and stimulating activities. In a day center, seniors find a safe and welcoming environment where they are cared for by qualified staff. Services include basic healthcare, personal hygiene assistance, balanced meals, physiotherapy, recreational activities, creative workshops, gentle exercise, and cognitive stimulation. The goal is to maintain and improve residual abilities, promote autonomy, and combat social isolation. These centers also support families and caregivers by offering them moments of relief and greater peace of mind in daily management. The elderly spend the day engaged and assisted in useful and enjoyable activities, returning home in the evening. Day centers for seniors are a valuable resource to ensure a better quality of life in a protected, humane, and stimulating environment. If you are looking for daytime assistance services for an elderly family member, this can be the best solution to balance professional support with family life.
General hospital
The General Hospital is a complex healthcare facility providing acute medical care to the entire population, with departments and services specifically dedicated to elderly patients' needs. Modern general hospitals recognize the peculiarities of geriatric care by integrating specific pathways and protocols for the elderly within the general hospital setting. Hospital wards admit elderly patients for acute illnesses, chronic disease exacerbations, scheduled or emergency surgeries, and complex diagnostic procedures. Geriatric care in the hospital requires particular attention to prevent typical complications such as bedsores, delirium, and functional decline. Services for seniors include comprehensive geriatric assessment upon admission, multidisciplinary teams with geriatric expertise, fall prevention protocols, personalized medication management, early mobilization programs, specialized nutritional support, and discharge planning with activation of community services. Many hospitals have implemented wards or dedicated areas for frail elderly patients. The general hospital is a fundamental reference point for elderly patients in acute phases, ensuring timely diagnoses and treatment with advanced technology. The modern challenge is to integrate high specialization with a holistic approach that considers the complexity of elderly patients, minimizing hospitalization risks and promoting rapid return home or transfer to appropriate facilities for continuity of care.
Geriatric hospital
The Geriatric Hospital is a healthcare facility specialized exclusively in the care and assistance of elderly patients, specifically designed to address the complex medical, functional, and social needs of the geriatric population. These specialist hospitals for the elderly integrate advanced medical expertise with a multidimensional approach considering all aspects of aging. The facility is organized with specialized units in acute geriatric care for urgent elderly conditions, orthogeriatrics for fractures and musculoskeletal issues, psychogeriatrics for cognitive and behavioral disorders, intensive geriatric rehabilitation, long-term care for post-acute stabilization, and palliative geriatric care. The distinctive approach includes systematic multidimensional geriatric assessment and management of polypharmacy. Services include specialized diagnostics for age-related conditions, surgery with elderly-specific protocols, targeted rehabilitation for functional recovery, specialized nutritional support, social services for care continuity, and psychological support for patients and families. Staff are specifically trained in geriatrics and gerontology. The Geriatric Hospital represents excellence in hospital care for the elderly, where every aspect of organization and treatment is tailored to this population’s specificities. These facilities are essential to ensure better outcomes in complex elderly patients, reducing mortality, residual disability, and institutionalization through a specialist approach that goes beyond disease treatment to care for the person as a whole.
Emergency department
The Emergency Department is the hospital service for urgent care, often the first healthcare contact for elderly patients with acute issues. Modern emergency departments are implementing specific pathways and protocols for the geriatric population, recognizing that elderly patients have particular clinical features and care needs in emergencies. Elderly access the emergency room for acute problems such as falls with suspected fractures, acute cardiovascular events, severe respiratory distress, acute confusion states, intense abdominal pain, and high fever with general compromise. Assessing elderly patients in emergencies requires particular attention to atypical disease presentations and overall frailty. Specific services include geriatric triage with dedicated assessment scales, fast-track for frail elderly to reduce wait times, multidisciplinary teams with geriatric expertise, protocols to prevent delirium, functional decline risk assessment, and short-stay observation to avoid inappropriate admissions. Many emergency departments have dedicated areas for elderly patients with a quieter environment. The modern emergency department for the elderly is not only a place for emergency care but also a point for comprehensive evaluation that can activate continuity of care pathways. The goal is to provide timely appropriate care minimizing hospitalization risks and ensuring the most suitable setting for continued treatment.
Long-term care unit
The Long-Term Care Unit is a hospital ward specialized in prolonged care for elderly patients who, after the acute phase of illness, still require continuous medical and nursing care before discharge. These post-acute wards serve as a crucial bridge between acute hospitals and home or residential care facilities. The long-term care unit admits elderly patients with outcomes from major acute events such as strokes, complex fractures, major surgeries, and chronic disease exacerbations requiring clinical stabilization, functional recovery, and complex care planning. Length of stay is typically 30-60 days, personalized to needs. Provided services include continuous medical and nursing monitoring, management of complex intravenous or special therapies, daily physiotherapy rehabilitation, nutritional support including artificial nutrition if necessary, complex wound care and device management, family training for discharge preparation, and activation of community services for care continuity. The multidisciplinary team works toward the maximum possible recovery of autonomy. The long-term care ward is essential for elderly patients who cannot be discharged directly from acute hospitals but no longer need intensive care. It enables gradual recovery in a protected environment, reducing readmission risks and adequately preparing return home or transfer to suitable facilities, ensuring continuity and appropriateness of care.
Geriatric ward
The Geriatrics Ward is a hospital unit specialized in the diagnosis and treatment of elderly patients, where the medical approach integrates specific internal medicine expertise with the comprehensive multidimensional assessment typical of geriatrics. These hospital wards for older adults are designed to manage the clinical complexity of the geriatric population, characterized by multimorbidity, frailty, and atypical disease presentations. The ward admits elderly patients with acute or exacerbated chronic conditions requiring specific geriatric expertise such as complex geriatric syndromes, cognitive impairment with medical complications, recurrent falls needing comprehensive evaluation, polypharmacy optimization, and multiple chronic disease decompensations. The distinctive approach includes a multidimensional geriatric assessment at admission, integrated management of medical, functional, and social issues, focused prevention of functional decline, specific protocols for delirium and other geriatric syndromes, and early discharge planning. The multidisciplinary team includes geriatricians, specialized nurses, physiotherapists, social workers, and other professionals working in coordinated synergy. The Geriatrics Ward represents the gold standard for hospital care of complex elderly patients, where every clinical decision considers its impact on quality of life and autonomy. The goal is not only to treat disease but also to preserve function, prevent disability, and ensure the best possible outcome in terms of autonomy and quality of life, with a holistic view of the elderly person.
Day hospital
The Day Hospital is a healthcare service providing complex diagnostic, therapeutic, and rehabilitative procedures on a day-only basis, without the need for overnight hospitalization. For elderly patients, the Day Hospital offers a highly advantageous care model that allows access to specialized hospital treatments while maintaining the comfort of their own home. This advanced outpatient service for older adults is suitable for scheduled procedures requiring several hours of medical and nursing monitoring such as chemotherapy and complex infusion therapies, transfusions and hematologic treatments, invasive diagnostic procedures, minor surgeries under local anesthesia, intensive post-surgical rehabilitation cycles, and complex multidisciplinary assessments. The organization features scheduled appointments with fixed hours, presence of specialized medical and nursing staff, availability of beds and chairs for comfort during procedures, continuous vital signs monitoring, and rapid intervention capability in case of complications. Patients can have meals and receive comprehensive assistance during their stay. The Day Hospital is ideal for elderly patients needing complex care but who can avoid ordinary hospitalization, thereby reducing risks associated with hospital stays such as nosocomial infections, disorientation, and functional decline. It allows maintenance of daily routines and family support, which are fundamental to the elderly’s well-being, while guaranteeing high-level specialized care in a protected and monitored environment.
Community hospital
The Community Hospital is a territorial healthcare facility that provides inpatient care bridging home care and acute hospital care, dedicated to patients requiring low-intensity clinical care. For older adults, the OdC is a vital resource enabling continuous healthcare in a less medicalized environment than traditional hospitals. These intermediate care facilities for elderly patients admit those who do not need acute hospital care but require ongoing healthcare that cannot be managed at home, such as older adults in post-hospital recovery phases, needing clinical stabilization, monitoring of complex therapies, management of special dressings or devices, and low-intensity rehabilitation. The average stay ranges from 15 to 30 days with a focus on functional recovery and return home. Services include 24/7 medical and nursing care, constant clinical monitoring, administration of complex therapies, physiotherapy rehabilitation, assistance with daily activities, health education for patients and caregivers, and protected discharge planning. The environment is more homely compared to the hospital, with welcoming spaces and opportunities for personalization. The Community Hospital is ideal for elderly patients requiring a transitional phase between hospital and home, ensuring appropriate care in a less intensive setting. It reduces hospital readmissions, supports recovery in a calm environment, and effectively prepares the return home with the highest possible level of autonomy.
Geriatric rehabilitation unit
The Geriatric Rehabilitation Unit is a specialized ward focused on the functional recovery of elderly patients who have experienced acute events or interventions that compromised their autonomy. These rehabilitation units for older adults offer intensive, personalized programs that consider the specificities of advanced age, comorbidities, and realistic recovery goals for each patient. Admission typically follows events such as stroke, hip fractures, joint replacement surgeries, amputations, severe cardio-respiratory decompensations, or prolonged bed rest with immobilization syndrome. The rehabilitation program is based on a comprehensive initial assessment that defines personalized and achievable goals. Specialized services include daily intensive physiotherapy for motor recovery, occupational therapy for independence in daily activities, speech therapy for speech and swallowing disorders, psychological support for adjustment to the new condition, cognitive therapy for mental stimulation, training on the use of aids and prostheses, and caregiver education for home management. The multidisciplinary team comprises physiatrists, geriatricians, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and specialized nurses. The Geriatric Rehabilitation Unit is essential for maximizing functional recovery after acute events, with an approach that goes beyond physical recovery to include cognitive, emotional, and social aspects. The goal is to achieve the highest possible autonomy and reintegration into the previous living environment or an appropriate care setting.
Intensive/extensive rehabilitation center
The Intensive/Extensive Rehabilitation Center is a specialized facility offering comprehensive rehabilitation programs for elderly patients with complex disabilities requiring prolonged and multidisciplinary interventions. These rehabilitation centers of excellence for older adults are distinguished by the intensity and completeness of their approach, providing both intensive programs (3-4 hours per day) and extensive programs (1-2 hours per day) according to patient needs and tolerance. The centers admit elderly patients with severe neurological sequelae, polytrauma, amputations, severe respiratory or cardiac impairments, and severe deconditioning syndromes. Treatment duration ranges from weeks to months, with continuously updated personalized programs based on patient progress. Services include functional assessment using advanced technologies, physiotherapy with robotic and technological equipment, hydrotherapy in equipped therapeutic pools, occupational therapy in simulated daily living environments, neuropsychology for cognitive recovery, specialized speech therapy, custom orthotics and prosthetics, and telemedicine for follow-up. Facilities feature high-tech gyms, motion analysis labs, and training apartments. The Intensive/Extensive Rehabilitation Center represents the highest level of rehabilitative care for elderly patients with severe disabilities, where advanced technology combines with professional expertise to achieve recovery even in complex cases. The holistic approach aims not only at physical recovery but also at maximizing participation and quality of life.
Post-acute long-term care
Post-Acute Long-Term Care is a specific care setting for elderly patients who, having surpassed the acute phase of illness, require an extended period of medical, nursing, and rehabilitative care before discharge. These intermediate care units for older adults represent a crucial step in the care pathway, preventing premature discharge and avoiding hospital readmissions. Access to post-acute long-term care is intended for elderly patients with outcomes from major events needing prolonged clinical stabilization, management of post-surgical complications, weaning from mechanical ventilation, optimization of artificial nutrition, healing of complex wounds, and functional recovery requiring extended timeframes. The average stay is 30 to 90 days with individualized programs. Services include daily medical monitoring with management of complex conditions, 24/7 specialized nursing care, daily physiotherapy and rehabilitation, occupational therapy for autonomy recovery, nutritional support with dedicated dietitians, psychological support for patients and families, and gradual discharge preparation. The multidisciplinary team works integratively to stabilize and improve clinical and functional status. Post-Acute Long-Term Care is essential for elderly patients requiring prolonged care in a protected healthcare environment, providing the necessary time for optimal recovery. It completes the care pathway started in acute hospital settings, adequately preparing the return home or transfer to residential facilities with the best achievable level of autonomy.
Intermediate care facility
The Intermediate Care Residence is a healthcare facility providing temporary assistance to elderly individuals transitioning between hospital discharge and returning home or moving to a definitive care setting. These transitional residences for seniors offer a protected environment to complete recovery and plan continuity of care properly, avoiding difficult discharges or inappropriate hospital readmissions. The residence admits elderly patients discharged from hospital but not yet ready to return home, waiting for placement in a long-term care facility, requiring assessment for the most appropriate care setting, and recovering from surgeries or illnesses needing supervision. The typical stay lasts 30-60 days with defined goals. Services include basic medical and nursing care, clinical condition monitoring, administration and management of therapies, light maintenance rehabilitation, multidimensional assessment for future care planning, social support for post-discharge arrangements, caregiver education, and activation of community services. The setting blends hospital and residential features to promote recovery in a calm environment. The Intermediate Care Residence is ideal for elderly people and families needing time to organize safe home return or find the best care solution. It reduces stress from rushed discharges, supports recovery in an appropriate setting, and ensures a well-planned, safe transition to the final destination, improving outcomes and lowering risks of adverse events.
Hospice for palliative care (including elderly)
The Hospice is a residential facility specialized in the care of people with advanced illnesses and limited prognosis, offering comprehensive palliative care. For elderly patients with terminal conditions, the hospice provides specialized symptom control and holistic support for both patients and families during end-of-life. These palliative care facilities for seniors admit patients with advanced cancer, end-stage organ failure, terminal neurodegenerative diseases when home care no longer ensures comfort and dignity. The approach focuses on maximizing remaining quality of life rather than curative treatments. Specialized services include optimal pain and symptom management, expert medical and nursing palliative care, psychological and spiritual support for patients and families, palliative physiotherapy for comfort and complication prevention, complementary therapies such as music therapy and pet therapy, bereavement support for relatives, and continuous family presence. Rooms are single and customizable to create a homely atmosphere. The Hospice offers terminally ill elderly and their families an alternative to hospitalization or home care when adequate symptom control is no longer achievable. It is a place where death is accepted as a natural event, aiming to live the remaining time with dignity, pain-free, surrounded by loved ones in a professional and compassionate environment.
Palliative care unit
A hospice is a healthcare facility specialized in caring for individuals with advanced incurable illnesses. Its primary goal is to provide palliative care—a medical, psychological, and compassionate support that improves the quality of life for patients and their families by alleviating pain, physical symptoms, and emotional distress. Care in a hospice is delivered by a multidisciplinary team including palliative care doctors, nurses, psychologists, social-health operators, spiritual assistants, and volunteers. Each care pathway is personalized and centered on the dignity of the person, fully respecting their wishes, values, and needs. A hospice is not just a place for care but a welcoming, protected space where patients feel accompanied with respect and gentleness. The environment is designed to offer maximum comfort, with equipped rooms, family spaces, and a serene atmosphere that encourages dialogue and emotional closeness. Choosing a hospice means ensuring compassionate, attentive, and highly qualified care for a loved one in the most delicate phase of life. It is a choice of respect and love, putting the person and their well-being at the center, even when the disease can no longer be cured.
Elderly service center
The Senior Services Center is a multifunctional facility integrating various services and care levels within a single complex, providing flexible and comprehensive responses to the diverse needs of the local elderly population. These integrated senior centers represent an innovative model overcoming traditional service fragmentation. The services center may include a nursing home for non-self-sufficient elders, sheltered apartments for autonomous seniors, integrated day center, specialist outpatient clinics, rehabilitation center, coordinated home care services, information and guidance desks. This organization enables smooth care pathways adaptable to evolving needs. Benefits include uninterrupted care continuity without traumatic facility changes, possibilities for couples with different autonomy levels to stay close, integration with community and families, economies of scale allowing quality services, and multidisciplinary teams providing long-term support. The center becomes a reference point for the entire local community. The Senior Services Center is ideal for those seeking a complete, flexible solution adaptable over time. Families find multiple answers within a single structure, from prevention to intensive care, guaranteeing continuity and quality. It represents the future of elder care, surpassing single-purpose facilities by offering personalized and integrated pathways.
Senior cohousing
Senior Cohousing or Supportive Housing is an innovative residential model where self-sufficient elderly individuals choose to live in private apartments within a residential complex designed to promote sharing and mutual support. This collaborative housing solution for seniors combines privacy and autonomy with the benefits of community life and reciprocal assistance. Cohousing offers fully independent private apartments, large common areas for shared activities such as communal kitchen, dining room, library, workshops, garden, participatory design of spaces and coexistence rules, shared management of some services to reduce costs. Residents maintain full autonomy deciding their level of participation in communal life. Benefits include combating social isolation through meaningful neighborhood relationships, security from attentive and supportive neighbors, shared services and costs for economic sustainability, active aging through shared participation and responsibility, mutual support in daily minor needs, and the possibility to organize common services as needed. Senior Cohousing is perfect for people wishing to age actively and socially integrated while maintaining independence within a mutually supportive context. It is an innovative response that values elders’ resources and skills, creating supportive communities where aging becomes an opportunity for new relationships and shared experiences.
Independent senior villages
Villages for Autonomous Seniors are residential complexes specifically designed for self-sufficient elderly people who want to live in a safe, accessible environment rich in services while maintaining full independence. These senior living communities represent a housing model combining the advantages of independent living with the availability of services and social life among peers. The villages include fully accessible independent housing (villas, apartments), centralized services such as reception, restaurant, minimarket, clinic, large common areas for social and recreational activities, leisure infrastructures like swimming pools, gym, sports fields, safe walking paths, well-maintained green areas, and discreet but effective security systems. Residents enjoy complete autonomy with support available when needed. Available services include home and garden maintenance, 24/7 concierge and security service, organization of cultural and social activities, shuttle service for shopping and errands, basic healthcare on request, optional hotel-like services. The atmosphere is that of an exclusive residential neighborhood for over 65s. Villages for Autonomous Seniors are ideal for those seeking to simplify daily life without giving up independence, in a setting designed for their age but not medicalized. They allow an active social life, safety, and quality services, representing a lifestyle choice for serene and stimulating aging.
Community health center
Community Health Houses represent the new integrated territorial care model provided by the national health system, acting as a reference point for citizen health, with special attention to elderly and fragile individuals. These local health facilities for seniors offer combined health and social-health services in one location, facilitating access to care and ensuring continuity. Community health houses integrate general practitioners and pediatricians, outpatient specialists for scheduled visits, family and community nurses, coordinated home care services, single access point for service orientation, integrated social services, blood draw points, and basic diagnostics. For elderly patients, they provide a nearby reference for non-urgent health needs. Specific elderly services include integrated chronic disease management with dedicated care pathways, health promotion and prevention, support for family caregivers, coordination of home care, telemedicine for remote monitoring, integration with municipal social services, activation of protected hospital-territory pathways. The approach is proactive with comprehensive care management. Community Health Houses are essential for seniors needing a stable and accessible healthcare reference in their territory. They reduce inappropriate emergency visits, guarantee continuity in chronic care, and represent the core of proximity healthcare, allowing elderly people to receive qualified assistance while remaining in their living environment.
Residential facility for persons with disabilities
Residential Facilities for Disabled Individuals that also accommodate elderly people are specialized residences providing continuous support to individuals with physical, intellectual, or sensory disabilities. With the aging of the disabled population and the onset of disabilities in advanced age, these inclusive facilities for elderly disabled persons offer tailored responses to complex needs. They host elderly individuals with aging congenital disabilities, those who have acquired severe disabilities in adulthood, and elderly persons with complex physical and/or cognitive disabilities requiring specialized care. The approach integrates disability expertise with attention to aging-related issues. Specialized services include personalized assistance based on type and severity of disability, ongoing habilitation and rehabilitation programs, support for the use of aids and assistive technologies, adapted occupational and social integration activities, healthcare with focus on age-related comorbidities, specific psychological support, and environmental adaptations for maximum accessibility. Staff are trained in both disability and aging. These Residential Facilities for Disabled Elderly fill a critical care gap by providing specific expertise for people aging with disabilities or developing severe disabilities later in life. They ensure quality of life through a specialized approach that values residual abilities and supports the person holistically, addressing the unique challenges of aging with disabilities.
Temporary respite care facility
Temporary Residence for Family Relief offers short-term accommodation for elderly individuals usually cared for at home, aiming to provide respite for family caregivers. These relief stays for the elderly are essential to support families in long-term home care, preventing caregiver burnout and ensuring continuity of care at home. The residence accepts elderly guests for scheduled periods (typically 15-30 days) during caregiver rest needs, family holidays or unavoidable commitments, caregiver recovery from illness or surgery, periods of family stress, or reorganization of home care. During the stay, the elderly receive comprehensive care equivalent to home care. Services include assistance with daily living activities, therapy management and health monitoring, socialization and stimulation activities, maintenance physiotherapy if needed, psychological support for temporary adjustment, and continuous communication with family. The goal is to maintain the elderly person's routines in a safe environment. The Temporary Residence for Family Relief is crucial for the sustainability of long-term home care. It allows caregivers to recharge physically and emotionally, while ensuring the elderly receive professional care continuity. It represents fundamental support for families choosing to keep their elderly at home, providing the security of a high-quality temporary solution when needed.
Mental health center (MHC)
The Mental Health Center is the local service dedicated to prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of psychiatric disorders, with specialized teams experienced in managing psychiatric issues in the elderly. These outpatient psychiatric centers for seniors recognize the specific nature of mental health disorders in geriatric age, offering dedicated care pathways that integrate psychiatric and geriatric expertise. The CSM serves elderly patients with late-onset mood disorders, anxiety and panic disorders in the elderly, psychoses and delusional disorders, behavioral disturbances in dementia, psychiatric comorbidities in organic diseases, and suicide risk in older adults. The approach is multidisciplinary, addressing the biopsychosocial complexity of advanced age. Services include comprehensive psychogeriatric evaluation, pharmacological treatments mindful of interactions, psychotherapy adapted for elderly patients, psychoeducational interventions for families, consultation for residential facilities, collaboration with geriatric services, home visits for non-transportable elderly, and support groups for patients and caregivers. The team includes psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, and social workers with specific training. The Mental Health Center is essential for elderly patients with psychiatric conditions manageable in the community, offering alternatives to hospitalization, maintaining the person in their environment, and providing ongoing family support. The specialized psychogeriatric approach ensures appropriate care tailored to aging characteristics, improving quality of life and clinical outcomes.
Therapeutic assisted community
The Assisted Therapeutic Rehabilitation Community is a residential facility welcoming individuals with stabilized psychiatric disorders, including elderly patients, offering rehabilitation programs aimed at regaining autonomy and social reintegration. These therapeutic communities for elderly people with psychiatric disorders provide a protected, non-hospital environment to work on functional and social recovery. CTRAs admit elderly individuals with chronic stabilized psychiatric disorders, post-psychotic episodes requiring rehabilitation, severe mood disorders in compensated phase, and those needing intensive psychosocial rehabilitation. The program is personalized with realistic recovery goals considering age and potential. The stay typically lasts 12-24 months, with possible extension. Rehabilitation services include structured programs for recovery of daily living skills, protected occupational and work activities, therapeutic and psychoeducational groups, social skills training, support in medication management, expressive and recreational activities, and preparation for community reintegration. The multidisciplinary team works with a recovery-oriented approach. The Assisted Therapeutic Rehabilitation Community offers elderly people with psychiatric disorders an opportunity for recovery in a non-institutional setting. The rehabilitative approach aims to maximize residual autonomy and quality of life, with attention to age-specific needs. It represents an alternative to chronic institutionalization, promoting dignity and social participation despite psychiatric illness.
Psychiatric care residence
The Psychiatric Health Residence is a residential facility providing continuous care for individuals with severe and persistent psychiatric disorders who cannot be managed in less protected settings. For elderly patients with severe psychiatric conditions, these specialized residences offer a structured therapeutic environment with intensive healthcare and rehabilitation. RSPs accommodate elderly individuals with uncompensated chronic psychoses, severe behavioral disturbances in dementia, complex psychiatric-organic comorbidities, need for continuous supervision due to self/hetero-harm risk, and failure of interventions in less restrictive contexts. Care is 24/7 with staff specialized in psychiatry and geriatric expertise. Services include intensive clinical management with constant monitoring, personalized yet structured rehabilitation programs, complex pharmacological therapies mindful of interactions, interventions for managing challenging behaviors, individual and group therapeutic activities, support with basic activities promoting residual autonomy, and family involvement when possible. The environment is safe yet therapeutic, not custodial. The Psychiatric Health Residence is a critical resource for elderly patients with severe psychiatric disorders when other settings cannot ensure safety and adequate care. The integrated psychiatric-geriatric approach guarantees appropriate management of complexity, aiming for stabilization and, when possible, transition to less intensive settings. It ensures dignity and quality of life even in the presence of severe psychiatric illnesses.
Psychogeriatric rehabilitation unit
A psycho-geriatric rehabilitation facility is a specialized center for the care and recovery of elderly individuals affected by cognitive, behavioral, or psychological issues related to aging. It is a protected environment designed to provide multidisciplinary assistance to patients with conditions such as senile dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, depression, mood, or behavioral disorders. Within a psycho-geriatric facility, the main goal is to improve the quality of life of residents through personalized rehabilitation programs that include psychological therapies, cognitive stimulation, adapted physical activities, and pharmacological support when necessary. Each intervention is tailored to the specific needs of the patient through collaboration among geriatricians, psychologists, physiotherapists, nurses, and socio-health operators. These centers are ideal for elderly individuals who do not require hospital admission but need continuous support to safely manage mental and cognitive disorders. Moreover, the presence of qualified staff ensures constant monitoring and timely interventions when needed. If you are seeking a rehabilitative solution for an elderly family member with mental or behavioral difficulties, a psycho-geriatric rehabilitation facility represents a safe, professional, and person-centered option focused on well-being.
Specialized care homes (for disabilities)
Residences for people with disabilities are socio-healthcare facilities designed for individuals with physical, intellectual, or relational disabilities who cannot live independently and require continuous assistance. They provide residential accommodation, healthcare and nursing support, educational and rehabilitative activities, psychological and social support. These residences promote the overall well-being of residents by encouraging inclusion, autonomy, and participation in social life according to individual abilities. Managed by multidisciplinary teams, they are designed to ensure accessible, safe, and stimulating environments. They can accommodate people of all ages, including those with severe conditions, and are often part of an integrated network of services. The goal is to offer a stable, protected environment respectful of personal dignity, while also supporting families over the long term. Residences for people with disabilities are a fundamental response to guaranteeing the right to care, relationships, and quality of life for persons with disabilities.
Day centers for disabled persons
Day centers for people with disabilities are socio-assistance facilities that welcome individuals with physical, intellectual, or relational disabilities during the day. They provide educational, rehabilitative, healthcare assistance, and support with daily activities, promoting personal autonomy development and social inclusion. Managed by qualified operators, these centers organize workshop activities, recreational, sports, and cultural programs designed to stimulate residual abilities and active participation. They offer valuable support to families by easing the caregiving burden and enhancing the quality of life for people with disabilities. Access is possible through social services or private initiative, often with agreements. These centers are suitable for adults or young people with disabilities who are not fully autonomous but do not require residential care. Day centers foster educational continuity, socialization, and meaningful relationship-building, becoming true spaces of growth and dignity.
Private clinic
Nursing homes are private healthcare facilities offering hospitalization, medical care, and specialized treatments for patients who require hospital-level care but not in an acute setting. These clinics serve as key points of reference for scheduled medical interventions, rehabilitation, day surgery, advanced diagnostic procedures, or ongoing clinical monitoring. Nursing homes stand out for their high-quality services, presence of qualified healthcare personnel, and comfortable environments. They often operate under agreements with the National Health Service, thus providing access to publicly assisted patients as well. Suitable for elderly patients as well as people of all ages needing specialized treatments, some nursing homes specialize in fields such as orthopedics, neurology, cardiology, or oncology. They offer personalized diagnosis and care pathways with attention to the human aspects of hospitalization. Choosing a nursing home is a suitable option for those seeking a professional healthcare environment less hectic than a large hospital, ensuring efficiency, comfort, and prompt intervention.
Outpatient clinic
Polyclinics are healthcare facilities offering specialist consultations, diagnostic tests, and outpatient services all in one location. They represent a fast and efficient access point to both public and private healthcare. Within these centers, medical specialists from various fields—such as cardiology, dermatology, orthopedics, and gynecology—work alongside nursing and technical staff. Polyclinics may also integrate rehabilitation services, general medicine, occupational health, and imaging diagnostics. They are especially useful for chronic patients, elderly individuals, and people with complex needs requiring coordinated care from multiple specialists. Often operating under agreements with the National Health Service, they guarantee reduced waiting times, accessibility, and quality care. Their flexibility and range of services make polyclinics ideal for those seeking comprehensive care without hospital admission. They are widely accessible and distributed throughout the territory, representing a cornerstone of community healthcare.
Rehabilitation center
Rehabilitation centers are specialized facilities focused on the functional recovery of individuals with temporary or permanent disabilities resulting from trauma, neurological, orthopedic, cardiac, or respiratory conditions. They offer personalized therapeutic programs including physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, psychotherapy, and social support. Treatment plans are developed by a multidisciplinary team assessing patient needs to maximize autonomy recovery and quality of life. Rehabilitation centers may operate as residential, semi-residential, or outpatient services, depending on clinical complexity. They serve elderly patients as well as individuals of all ages, including post-hospitalization phases. The goal is to reintegrate the patient into daily life and, where possible, into social or work environments. These centers are essential for patients recovering from strokes, fractures, amputations, complex surgeries, or chronic disabling illnesses. Their integrated, personalized approach makes rehabilitation centers key allies in functional and psychological recovery.
Eating disorder treatment center
Eating disorder centers are specialized facilities for diagnosing, treating, and rehabilitating individuals affected by anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, and other eating pathologies. They provide multidisciplinary therapeutic pathways including psychological, psychiatric, nutritional, and family support. Services operate in outpatient, semi-residential, or residential settings depending on disorder severity. The goal is to address eating behaviors and the psychological causes underlying distress, promoting recovery of body weight and psychophysical well-being. Treatments include individual and group psychotherapy, nutritional re-education, experiential workshops, and family support. Eating disorder centers primarily serve young people and adolescents, but also adults, particularly women. These centers are crucial for early intervention, which can significantly influence disease progression. They are essential choices for those seeking qualified, person-centered help in a protected, specialized environment.
Psychiatric community facility
Psychiatric communities are residential facilities designed to accommodate individuals with severe and chronic psychiatric disorders who require a protected environment for recovering social, relational, and occupational skills. They offer a therapeutic model based on communal living, respect for personal rhythms, and patient empowerment. Managed by multidisciplinary teams including psychiatrists, psychologists, educators, and socio-health operators, these communities promote psychosocial rehabilitation through daily activities, individual and group therapies, workshops, and job training. The objective is to foster autonomy and, when possible, social and work reintegration. They can host adults and elderly patients in medium- to long-term programs. Psychiatric communities are particularly suitable for stabilized patients who are not yet able to live independently. They provide a dignity-focused, therapeutic relationship-centered response, offering a valid alternative to prolonged hospitalization.