ABSTRACT
The aim of this paper is to explore the specific cultural context in which Italian public administration tries to promote quality development in services for older people, here focusing particularly on institutional care. Currently, the evolution of the service system is at the stage where it puts priority on measures for developing quality within the sector of old-age homes: in Italy, these are the main formal answer to the needs of older persons. I shall exemplify these considerations in the light of an innovative project in the Italian municipality of Genoa. This project illustrates an experimental approach in the Italian context, i.e. the role of the public administration towards third parties, in particular by setting priorities, developing a definition of standards, new guidelines and incentives, new control mechanisms, and user involvement.
