Italian seniors are the most frequent museum and exhibition visitors

In Italy, seniors aged 65 and over are the most frequent visitors to museums, exhibitions, and archaeological sites, according to ISTAT data. In 2022, 12.8% of over-74s and 10.4% of 60-64-year-olds visited a museum or exhibition at least seven times a year, compared to a national average of 7-8%. With 24% of Italy's population over 64 (Eurostat 2023), museums are increasingly seen as spaces for active aging. The WHO (2019) and CultureForHealth (2022) reviews confirm that arts engagement improves well-being, reduces loneliness, and benefits even those with dementia. Notable programs include MoMA's Meet Me at MoMA (2007-2014) for Alzheimer's patients, Italy's In dialogo con gli Etruschi at Museo Nazionale Etrusco di Villa Giulia (with FAI and Alzheimer Uniti), and the Tuscan Museum System for Alzheimer (MTA), founded in 2014, which involves over 50 museums and 10 libraries. Florence's Palazzo Strozzi runs A più voci (since 2011), a weekly program for dementia patients in residential care; in 2023 it recorded 455 participants. These initiatives position museums as active, inclusive spaces for care and social connection.