Beyond the Ideal: Rethinking Aging in (Urban) Place through the Lens of Vulnerability. Insights from Italian CASA Project

Abstract

Aging in Place is increasingly central to debates on urban aging, especially in the context of demographic transitions and endless urbanization. While often framed as a desirable goal both for individuals and welfare systems, it can also expose older adults to hidden vulnerabilities. Remaining in the same setting over time may exacerbate forms of exclusion, isolation, or distress. Aging must therefore be seen as a situated and dynamic process, shaped by the evolving interaction between individuals and their environments. Reframing Aging in Place through this lens reveals the need to move beyond static, universal models. This is the premise of the CASA project, which explores how urban and housing contexts influence aging trajectories, offering tools to support more inclusive, context-sensitive policies for healthy longevity.