Institutional portal - Municipality of Milan

Rabaiotti: “Finally we can meet again and spend a summer in company. The protection of elderly people was a priority" 

Milan, 8 July 2021 - After months of forced closure, due to national and regional anti-Covid regulations, the socio-recreational centers for the elderly are reopening for the summer, offering sociality, support and entertainment to combat the loneliness of those who remain in the city .  

From Cascina San Paolo to Sammartini, from Zante to the historic Acquabella, from Ritrovo 15 to Cascina Ronchettino, from Senior Citizens to Osteno, from the Carlo Poma association to Il Giardino and Semper Verdi: these are the Centers which, despite reduced opening hours and limited admissions (only possible for members and by reservation) have already reopened their doors to offer various recreational activities, games, snacks, gymnastics, music, English courses and social lunches.  

Other centers are equipping themselves and should reopen shortly, again in July, such as La porta del cuore in via Appennini, Sorriso in Crescenzago, Il Tulipano in via Calvi, Il Monastero in Baggio, Cassina Anna in via sant'Arnaldo and Monte Grappa. And still others are planning the resumption of activities for September.  

“We were very sorry to have had to suspend the activities of the socio-recreational centers for many months, but it was a necessary closure imposed by the rules for the containment of infections - says the councilor for social and housing policies Gabriele Rabaiotti -. A timid reopening last summer, with reduced numbers and with reservations for activities, did not allow us to start again. I remember that we had met the presidents and councilors of the centers as well as the cooperatives when the second wave forced us to stop everything. We know that elderly people were those most exposed to Covid and that their protection, as fragile subjects, was a priority. We all hope that we can now start meeting again, also to be able to spend a summer in the company of friends from whom we had to stay away for a long time."  

Anti-heat plan 

For all requests for help, the Municipality's contact center remains active, as in previous months, answering 020202 from Monday to Saturday from 8am to 20pm. In the event of heat waves, particularly fragile people will be contacted directly by the administrative staff also on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.  

It is possible to apply for assistance interventions such as the delivery of meals, shopping and medicines at home, home assistance for personal hygiene and house cleaning, domestic help for carrying out small procedures. All requests will be evaluated by professional social workers who, taking into account the access criteria, will proceed with the activation of the service.  

As regards the widespread entertainment and aggregation activities dedicated to elderly and vulnerable people who remain in the city in the summer period, the programming is nearing completion and will start, as last year, at the beginning of August.