CASS Public Lecture with Serena Turco

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1. Description of the area of investigation
Ageism, defined by Butler (1969) as “prejudice by one age group toward another.” This study explores manifestations of ageism toward older adults in social and healthcare services in Tuscany and Lombardy across structural, cultural and personal levels. The theoretical framework draws on Thompson’s PCS model and anti-oppressive social work.

2. Research methods
To investigate the personal level, a quantitative survey was conducted among social workers using a questionnaire including vignettes, Likert scales and the ROPE test. Likert scales assessed attitudes and opinions, while vignettes enabled the exploration of implicit practices by dividing the sample into two groups (adults vs. older adults 65+). The ROPE test, composed of 20 items, measures everyday ageist behaviours. For the structural and cultural levels, a qualitative document analysis of regulations governing access to social and healthcare services is underway, using a theory-driven thematic grid to detect stereotyped or infantilising language.

3. Preliminary findings
The questionnaire was sent to 8,055 professionals and collected 2,044 responses (86.3% Lombardy; 13.7% Tuscany). A total of 68.5% did not know the term ageism. Moreover, 47.8% report that work with older adults is undervalued; 88.7% consider work with minors more complex (49.4% for older adults). Supervision is seen as necessary mainly in child services (90.3%; older adults 81.4%). The vignettes reveal systematic differences: 28.7% believe an older person could continue living alone after a fracture, compared to 6.5% for a 48-year-old adult. Regarding self-determination, full respect for refusal is chosen by 10.8% when the user is older and by 17.2% when the user is an adult.

4. Implications for professional practice
Ageism remains insufficiently investigated and recognised. The study promotes greater awareness and transformative changes towards more inclusive and equitable services for older adults.

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Host or Publisher University of Sunderland