ELDER ACTIVE CITIZENS AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Ageing populations represent both a critical societal challenge and an untapped resource. As Europe and other regions of the world face rising life expectancy and declining birth rates, the question of how best to engage older citizens in social, economic and cultural life becomes increasingly urgent. In rural and mountainous areas such as the Casentino region of Italy, older adults are essential custodians of traditional knowledge and practices that contribute to the sustainability and vitality of their communities. This paper explores the role of active older citizens in building social capital and contributing to community engagement in the Casentino region, with a focus on their ability to generate professionalisation processes that enhance community resilience (Del Gobbo & Federighi, 2021). Social capital, understood as a collective resource based on social relationships and trust (Bourdieu, 1980; Putnam, 1995), is a crucial determinant of a community’s ability to adapt to and manage change (Kilpatrick & Abbott-Chapman, 2005). We examine the contributions of older individuals, highlighting the interplay between their life experiences and skills, and the broader social and cultural dynamics of the local area.