Out of Sight, Out of Mind

Italy is the European country with the highest percentage of elderly population. It currently ranks second as the percentage of population over 65 years of age, with a rate of 23.3%. In first place is Japan, with 28.4%. Some of the consequences of the increase in the elderly population are progressive senilization due to the extension of the periods of morbidity.  The most common form of senile dementia is Alzheimer’s disease. Its incidence has increased as the human lifespan has increased. The first symptom of Alzheimer’s disease is short-term memory loss. Over time, other behavioral and physiological disturbances follow until the inability to provide for oneself. Estimates speak of 46 million people affected by this disease in the world, of which 1 million and 240 thousand in Italy alone, with about 70 thousand new cases each year.

Starting from this research, the thesis aims to investigate the life conditions inside retirement homes — by using photography as a tool. Being aware that photography never is only a documenting process, the focus is on the telling objects and infrastructure that characterise this type of buildings. APSP Margherita Grazioli in Trento, my home town, serves as a case study.