I am entering the forum in the Introductions section as suggested.

I discovered this site as I have been trying to follow what may be happening in Italy in terms of response to pressures from the EU in the development of a community services network.

I recently spent 6 weeks in Sicily as part of a missions work. As I have a background in designing services for vulnerable peoples...coupled with everyday life inside the community...I went through an evaluative process that has left me very concerned in several areas.
Considering outcomes related to the "absence of" or "poor coordination of "services within the community I am very concerned about the attractiveness of euthanasia and any public press encouraging it.

The undercurrents related to:
caregiving patterns; change in family structures and caregiver expectations; youth unemployment; a seniors population growing exponentially from 18% to 36% within the next 8 years; live-in refugee workers; poor coordination of serving groups; movement toward "cash and care" structures that create monopsony;
.....................are not presently being addressed.

I did have the opportunity to leave information in the hands of some community animators..yet I remain insecure as to whether these matters will be pursued to a successful outcome.

It would be of great value to me to dialogue with anyone who may have read the Eurofamcare Background report for Italy of 2004 or the U.N. report of 2003 on the Implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural rights in Italy....which both give an excellent overview that is borne out with current statistical data.

I did not have the luxury of seeing Italy as a tourist but I was very impressed with the depth and richness of the culture and how it births a passion in its peoples....sometimes hot and noisy.....yet also boldly celebrating joy.

...and who can forget "granita" in Milazzo!