[Fact-finding investigation of the social health conditions of the elderly].
OBJECTIVE
The intent of the present contribution is that to verify the social health conditions of the elderly present on national territory.


METHODS
The Authors have thought up an anonymous questionnaire, made up of 63 questions, concerning the life-style, the social conditions and health of the elderly over 65 years old, and consequently by now on pension. Two thousand questionnaires have been distributed to medical officers, present in north as well as in the centre and in the south of the Country; of these we have then received 1386 questionnaires for statistical processing.


RESULTS
The results have been about the same for both sexes as well as for geographical distribution. The greatest part of the elderly are self-sufficient from an economical point of view, in spite of a certain economical dissatisfaction present among the males in the north. The women appear to be more active, inclined to travel. The voluptuary habits, of which smoking and drinking are almost absent in all the national territory and in both sexes. As far as prevention in concerned, consequently submitting oneself to medical check-ups, is more accepted in the south by both males and females and in the north and centre only by women.


CONCLUSIONS
Our fact-finding study has given good results, and a good conformity in the portion of people interviewed. There could be a greater impulse given to the prevention of pathologies, perhaps with the assistance of free prevention campaigns revolted toward the elderly, and still dedicating more time to our "grandparents" that must not be considered a burden, but rather as a resource.
Bossi
A
A
ASL Viterbo, Roma, Italia.
Abetti
P
P
Tinghino
A
A
D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires