Processi di invecchiamento, ageismo e cura nei contesti ospedalieri: attori, pratiche e prospettive teoriche

The ageing of the population, a complex phenomenon that increasingly challenges contempo-rary societies, calls for multidimensional analysis and critical reflection on its social construction. This article, which introduces the Special Issue, explores key sociological themes, que-stioning the persistent dichotomies between autonomy and dependancy and between agency and passivity, that often frame the discourse on ageing. It begins by reflecting on the socio-cultural dimensions of ageing, continues with an examination of ageism in healthcare settings, and concludes by considering care practices as situated and privileged sites through which the risks of ageism can be observed and addressed.