GOLDEN YEARS Adopting Granny TX Date: 14th April 2005 This script was made from audio tape – any inaccuracies are due to voices being unclear or inaudible 10.00.00 Music 10.00.01 Narrator This family would seem to have everything, except for one thing; they don’t have a granny who lives with them. So they’re going to adopt one. 10.00.09 Music 10.00.10 Narrator And here’s the perfect candidate; seventy-five year old Giovanna who lives all alone. 10.00.17 Laura Voice over She’ll come and live with us because she knows we love her and want her. 10.00.20 Music 10.00.21 Narrator But will she agree to give up her independence? 10.00.25 Giovanna Voice over I like visiting her family but I want to stay in my own flat as long as I can. 10.00.30 Music 10.00.31 Narrator Giovanna and Laura are joining Italy’s ‘Adopt a Granny’ scheme; an idea that could transform the care of the elderly 10.00.39 Music 10.00.41 Golden Years Theme Music 10.00.58 Title Page Golden Years 10.01.01 Title Page ADOPTING GRANNY 10.01.03 Music 10.01.07 Narrator Despite the popular idea of Italy as a nation of big families, it’s got just about the world’s lowest birth rate. 10.01.13 Music 10.01.15 Narrator Consumer lifestyles have taken their toll on the traditional Italian family. 10.01.18 Music 10.01.22 Narrator And an ageing population means a looming crisis of care for the old. Nearly one in five Italians is over sixty-five and a record number of them are living alone. 10.01.32 Music 10.01.35 Narrator This is the town of Bra in the north west of Italy. Bra is experimenting with an idea that could transform the way the elderly are cared for. 10.01.44 Music 10.01.47 Laura Subtitles Can I come in? Good morning, Giovanna! Giovanna Subtitle Good morning! 10.01.52 Narrator Laura’s a volunteer home help. 10.01.54 Laura Subtitles Did you have a good night? Any aches and pains? Giovanna Subtitle No 10.02.00 Narrator Laura’s been visiting Giovanna for over two years. In that time two women have built up a close friendship. 10.02.06 Music 10.02.11 Laura Voice over In the mornings when I get here at about nine thirty, I do the shopping and buy her daily staples, whatever she needs. Then I do whatever needs to be done in the home. I empty the rubbish, sweep, do some dusting and clean up. Whatever needs doing; provided she allows me to do it because Giovanna’s very independent and prefers to do as much as she can for herself. 10.02.44 Music 10.02.47 Narrator One day soon, when Giovanna’s no longer able to care for herself, Laura and her family plan to adopt her. 10.02.59 Aston LAURA LA ROSSA Voice over I decided to take Giovanna to come and live with us because I felt sorrow and tenderness for her at the same time. I wanted to take her because I think that deep down Giovanna needs help. I’ve seen over the time that I’ve known her she’s got a lot better. She’s been very constant and now she’s no longer alone. 10.03.26 Music 10.03.33 Aston GIOVANNA CUCCHIETTI Voice over Laura’s a good girl; she comes to see me every day. If it wasn’t for her help I wouldn’t be able to stay at home any more because there are so many things I just can’t do any longer. 10.03.45 Music 10.03.54 Narrator Giovanna’s life has not been an easy one, yet she sees these as her golden years; it’s the first time she’s ever been able to have a place all to herself. 10.04.03 Music 10.04.12 Giovanna Voice over My life has been hard and ugly. I went hungry when I was a girl. We were very poor; when I was in fifth grade my father put me to work as a servant in the homes of the rich. I did that until I was thirty. 10.04.29 Music 10.04.34 Giovanna Voice over Then I got a job in a fairground. I married a man who ran the shooting gallery. At first he was lovely to me then we got married. 10.04.53 Music 10.05.00 Giovanna Voice over He beat and punched me around. My poor father never hit me but my husband did. I even went to the police; they were going to jail him but I had a small child. What could I do? 10.05.24 Music 10.05.26 Narrator Giovanna’s life went from bad to worse and for a while she turned to drink. Her child was taken into care. 10.05.37 Giovanna Voice over They took him away. They came out of the blue and I had no idea what was happening. Now my son blames me for it. He should take it out on his father. It wasn’t me who had him taken away. It was his father’s fault. 10.05.54 Music 10.06.02 Giovanna Voice over Of course I miss my son; he’s my flesh and blood. Now I’m alone like a dog! 10.06.08 Music 10.06.13 Narrator Two and a half years ago Giovanna suffered a stroke and she had to move into a retirement home. She hated being there but thanks to social services she’s been able to move back to her rented flat. And she’s determined to keep things that way for as long as possible. 10.06.29 Music 10.06.32 Giovanna Voice over My day starts with washing, dressing and then doing whatever chores I can manage round the house. 10.06.38 Music 10.06.43 Giovanna Voice over I do the washing up, I load the washing machine, do the ironing. Anything I can manage myself I’ll do myself. 10.06.52 Music 10.07.00 Narrator Like so many of her generation Giovanna’s fiercely independent even if occasionally she gets lonely. 10.07.06 Music 10.07.10 Giovanna Voice over I like watching TV when there are good programmes on. Because when you’re on your own you do get bored. 10.07.20 Music 10.07.29 Narrator If Laura’s plan to adopt Giovanna goes ahead this is where she will soon be living. And this will become Giovanna’s adoptive family. 10.07.37 Music 10.07.40 Narrator Laura’s husband Domenico and two teenage children, Maurizio and Margherita, have all agreed to have Giovanna come and live with them. 10.07.51 Aston DOMENICO LA ROSSA Voice over Older people tend to be very conservative. But in time she’ll be better off living with our family than on her own because the big problem for the elderly is loneliness. 10.08.13 Laura Voice over I was raised by my grandmother but I lost her in an accident when I was about eight. I decided to do volunteer work in a retirement home. 10.08.30 Laura Voice over I want my children to appreciate old people but it’s for them to understand. They’re always asking me about Giovanna. When is she coming, when is she going to come and eat with us? And sometimes my daughter, Margherita, cooks a treat for me to bring her. Giovanna loves that! 10.08.56 Music 10.08.59 Narrator Maurizio and Margherita have only one surviving grandmother but she lives in Milan and they rarely see her. 10.09.07 Aston MAURIZIO LA ROSSA Voice over It’ll be like having another granny because we’ve never known our own grandparents. So she’ll be like a granny for us. 10.09.13 Music 10.09.21 Aston MARGHERITA LA ROSSA Voice over I’ll be glad to have her here because she’s lived for so long and she’ll be able to tell us about her life and about how things used to be before we were born. 10.09.39 Luigina Subtitles Ah! Giovanna! You look lovely! You look younger! Really! 10.09.47 Narrator Every so often, Giovanna’s social workers, Camilla and Luigina, pop in to see how she’s managing in her flat. 10.09.54 Luigina Subtitle You look so very well! Giovanna Subtitle Not so bad. I’m a little tired. 10.09.58 Luigina Subtitle I can believe it. 10.10.03 Giovanna Subtitles I got married at 30. I was with my husband for 15 years, then I came here. 10.10.10 Luigina Subtitles Yes, I remember when you came to Bra that I never met your husband. 10.10.15 Narrator Luigina has known Giovanna ever since she fled her husband thirty years ago. 10.10.21 Luigina Subtitles I remember when I got the call saying “Giovanna is terrified!” And I said, “Send her to me!” 10.10.30 Narrator It’s only a brief call but the aim is to see that Giovanna is happy and well. 10.10.38 Narrator Laura’s heard about a family in a nearby village who’ve already adopted a granny. She’s off to see how they’re doing. 10.10.45 Music 10.10.52 Laura Voice over The pairing up of old people and families has been happening for only a short time in Bra and only about seven or eight families have done it so far in our town. There’s a family I’ve heard about that’s taken an old lady for adoption and I’m curious to find out how they’re getting on. I’m just on my way to meet the family that’s taken the lady. 10.11.18 Music 10.11.21 Narrator The family she’s about to meet, the Fea‘s, adopted their granny nearly four years ago. 10.11.27 Laura Subtitle It’s Laura. 10.11.28 Music 10.11.30 Narrator Laura’s heard that the woman adopted by the Fea’s was a complete stranger to them when she first arrived. How were they getting on? 10.11.37 Daniela Subtitles Come on in, Laura, and meet Maria! 10.11.41 Laura Subtitles Hello Maria. How are you? It’s a pleasure to meet you, because I’m also going to have a lady like you coming to live with my family. 10.12.01 Roberto Fea Subtitles Hello Laura! Are you well? Welcome! This is Pietro - do you want to get down and play? 10.12.12 Laura Subtitle I hope I’m not disturbing you. Roberto Fea Subtitle Not at all. 10.12.14 Laura Subtitles I wanted to meet Maria, because I’m about to go through the same thing with a lady, and I wanted to see how you’re getting on. 10.12.24 Roberto Fea Subtitle It’s a pleasure. 10.12.26 Laura Subtitles She seems happy. She was telling me she’s happy. 10.12.34 Roberto Fea Subtitles What, with all these children around… …she’s got no choice! 10.12.40 Narrator Maria, a former tailor, does seem happy with her new family. 10.12.45 Aston MARIA GROSSO Voice over It’s lovely. 10.12.49 Narrator And how does Maria spend her day? 10.12.53 Maria Voice over In the day time I look after little Pietro, then I go into town. That’s it. 10.12.58 Narrator And what does she do in town? 10.13.01 Maria Voice over Ask him; he’s the boss! 10.13.15 Aston ROBERTO FEA Voice over Given our experience I think it’s entirely possible for many people in Italy to do the same as us. Some people may have trouble getting their heads around the idea of adopting a granny; it might seem a bit strange because it’s more usually the case that a small child without a family is adopted. 10.13.39 Roberto Fea Voice over People just don’t think about adopting an old person. They might think it’s difficult because an older person will have a whole life time of experience behind them set in their ways and so there may be a fear that they’re not going to get on with the family. But it doesn’t work out like that. When the person actually comes to live with you, all those fears turn out to be unfounded. 10.14.09 Aston DANIELA FEA Voice over Having an old person come and live with your family can help put meaning back into her life. We’ve seen with Maria how having children around has helped her to be reborn. In fact when Maria came here she was very ill and under sedation. 10.14.33 Narrator Both Roberto and Daniela Fea are former hospital nurses. In the four years since moving in with them and their three children, Maria’s health has improved dramatically. She’s no longer on anti-depressants; she’s become part of the family. 10.14.50 Daniela Fea Voice over She may not be their real grandmother but to our children that’s what she is. She’s with them all through the day and they have the same kind of relationship they’d have with a granny. 10.15.01 Narrator Social services make a small contribution towards Maria’s upkeep, about two hundred pounds a month, a tenth of the cost of a retirement home. But even this is means tested. 10.15.11 Music 10.15.17 Roberto Fea Voice over To end your days in a family environment with good family bonds, that’s the most beautiful thing. 10.15.22 Music 10.15.31 Narrator The next morning in Bra it’s Giovanna’s shopping day and she’s up bright and early for Laura to come and collect her. 10.15.38 Music 10.15.44 Laura Voice over We’re very close; Giovanna’s very fond of me. In the beginning it wasn’t at all easy. It was hard to get her to allow me to do anything for her. She was very stand- offish. 10.15.59 Music 10.16.02 Laura Subtitle How do you want it? Giovanna Subtitle Leave it like it is. 10.16.06 Laura Subtitle OK, I’m just tidying it up. 10.16.12 Laura Voice over The first time I came to Giovanna’s apartment I actually felt quite ill because it was so filthy. The place was a mess. I was shocked to find someone in the state she was in. 10.16.26 Music 10.16.33 Laura Subtitle Pucker up your lips. Good. 10.16.36 Music 10.16.40 Laura Voice over I tried to get her to see that by being clean she’d feel better and that taking her medicines at the right time would improve her health. 10.16.50 Laura Voice over She never used to smile. Now she’s always smiling and chatting and likes making herself look good. She’s regained her zest for life and really looks forward to getting out and about. Now she’s the one who asks me to go visiting, and to the shops. 10.17.06 Music 10.17.09 Giovanna Subtitle That’s enough now. 10.17.10 Music 10.17.22 Laura Subtitles See how good you look, Giovanna. 10.17.24 Giovanna Subtitles What do you mean, “good”? I’m ugly! 10.17.27 Laura Subtitle That’s not true! You’re lovely! Giovanna Subtitles It’s the mirror! I used to be beautiful. But now I’m old. 10.17.37 Music 10.17.41 Laura Subtitles Giovanna, yesterday I visited a family, the Feas. They’ve taken in a lady like you to live with them. She’s called Maria, and she’s 74. They have three small children, and they’ve taken to her as their grandmother. 10.18.00 Narrator Since Laura and Giovanna have known each other, shopping trips like this have become a regular highlight in Giovanna’s life 10.18.07 Laura Subtitles Do you want to choose? Do you want this one? Giovanna Subtitle No, that one. 10.18.18 Laura Subtitles This one? Have a feel. How is it? 10.18.27 Giovanna Subtitle That’s a nice blue. Laura Subtitles Do you like it? Shall we get it? Is it the right size? 10.18.37 Laura Voice over Her coming to live with us should be a gradual process; she needs time to get used to the idea. 10.18.45 Music 10.18.51 Coffee bar waiter Subtitle One coffee, Signora. Giovanna Subtitle Thank you 10.18.56 Narrator Despite Laura’s care to gently ease Giovanna into the idea of coming to live with her, Giovanna is still being cagey about moving. 10.19.05 Giovanna Voice over When you’re alone you’re really only a bother to other people. 10.19.11 Narrator But will she be happy to leave her apartment and go and live with Laura’s family. 10.19.16 Giovanna Voice over Yes but it’s never your own place, it’s always someone else’s. It’s never your own. I prefer to stay in my own home for as long as possible. 10.19.35 Narrator Laura’s children are active teenagers who enjoy sport. Her son Maurizio plays for the local football team. And Margherita is a keen volley ball player. How do they think adopting Giovanna into their family will change things for them? 10.19.55 Margherita Voice over I don’t think things will change much when Giovanna arrives. It’ll just be like having a grandmother for us. 10.20.06 Narrator Bra was the first community in Italy to organise family adoptions for the elderly. Although other regions are trying it, this is still only a small-scale Italian experiment. In the meantime, Bra social services are keeping a watchful eye on Giovanna’s case. They want her to remain in her own home for as long as she’s able to, in the knowledge that when the time is right she can move to Laura’s house. 10.20.31 Elena Subtitles It’s interesting that Giovanna’s case file is older than I am. On and off, she’s had to depend on Social Services for a long time. She’s needed housing benefits and financial help to get by. But this seems to be a relatively good point in her life – because she’s been through all kinds of bad experiences. But at some point, things will inevitably start to get worse for her. She’ll have to rely on more help. 10.21.05 Luigina Subtitles Giovanna is really attached to her apartment. For long periods of her life, she’s never had the security of having her own place, her life has always been rather insecure. As soon as this apartment was allocated to her, and her alone, it meant she no longer had to depend on a man to support her. 10.21.36 Luigina Subtitles It was important to her to have her own place. What other people usually have when they’re younger, she has only got at this late time in her life. And she’s making the most of it. 10.21.55 Anna Subtitles So moving to Laura’s house when the time is right – and they’re already making preparations – will be the best solution. And Giovanna won’t have to go back to living in an institution. 10.22.15 Music 10.22.19 Narrator Laura has been adding an extension to her house and it’s costing about sixty thousand Euros, that’s well over forty thousand pounds. And half of that is going into building a small ground floor flat. Laura hopes that one day soon, Giovanna will come and live in it. 10.22.37 Laura Voice over This is where we’re building Giovanna’s room. That’s where her bathroom will be; a shower, toilet and sink. It’ll all be on the same level so Giovanna won’t have to climb any stairs. 10.22.50 Narrator The granny flat is still a long way off from being finished but Laura’s persuaded Giovanna to come over for her first ever visit. Laura also wants Giovanna to stay over night in the main house. She’s sure that sooner or later, she’ll decide to come and live with her. 10.23.06 Laura Voice over Getting her to think about moving in is important. She will come because she knows we love her and want her here. 10.23.12 Music 10.23.17 Narrator This is the big day when Giovanna makes her first trip to Laura’s house, where she’ll meet Laura’s husband and children for the first time. 10.23.30 Giovanna Subtitle She’s not coming. She’s late. 10.23.39 Laura Subtitles Good morning Giovanna! Are you ready? Giovanna Subtitle Yes. 10.23.43 Laura Subtitles Have you packed your things? And are your medicines ready? 10.23.48 Giovanna Subtitle The medicines are there. 10.23.51 Laura Subtitles Let’s prepare them. We’ll take these… That’s it. 10.24.00 Giovanna Subtitles Be sure to draw those blinds completely. It will stop any thieves. 10.24.06 Narrator After months of talking about it, Giovanna is finally en route for Laura’s house. It may be only a few kilometres out of town but for Giovanna it feels like a big journey. 10.24.16 Music 10.24.19 Giovanna Voice over My first night away will be difficult; I may not sleep. I’m nervous. 10.24.24 Music 10.24.37 Narrator Despite Giovanna’s nervousness, Laura is keen to get going and show her around the construction site where her future home is taking shape. 10.24.44 Music 10.24.56 Laura Subtitles This will be your living room. And this is where your bathroom will be. This will be the shower, and this is where the toilet and sink will be. It’ll look nicer when it’s finished! 10.25.20 Narrator They’re off to a good start; Giovanna likes the look of the new apartment. 10.25.24 Laura Subtitles Hello Maurizio! Hello Margherita! 10.25.27 Narrator Now it’s the turn of Laura’s family to meet her. 10.25.33 Laura Subtitle Giovanna, meet Margherita. 10.25.39 Domenico Subtitles Excuse me for not coming before – I had to deal with the builders. Glad to meet you! 10.25.49 Narrator Laura has made a fruit tart in honour of their special guest. 10.25.55 Laura Subtitles It’s turned out well. I made it specially soft for Giovanna. Is it soft enough for you, Giovanna? Do you like it? 10.26.07 Narrator Their first day together seems to have gone well. 10.26.10 Laura Subtitle It’s good! I like it! 10.26.20 Narrator It’s been a long day and now for the moment of truth; Giovanna’s first night staying with Laura’s family. 10.26.28 Laura Subtitles Giovanna, let’s go upstairs. I’ll show you your room. 10.26.32 Giovanna Subtitles No it’s too high. I won’t make it up those stairs. 10.26.38 Laura Subtitle But let’s try. 10.26.39 Giovanna Subtitles No, I’ll come again when you’ve finished the building. 10.26.43 Laura Subtitles But don’t you want to give it a little try? 10.26.46 Giovanna Subtitles I don’t feel up to it. Not with those stairs. 10.26.51 Laura Subtitles Well, we won’t insist. But I’d really love you to come up and have a look. 10.26.57 Giovanna Subtitles No, I really don’t feel up to it. I’m sorry, but I want to go home. I’m tired. Laura Subtitle You’re tired? Giovanna Subtitle Yes. 10.27.10 Narrator So in the end Giovanna won’t be persuaded to stay and insists on going back to her own place. 10.27.16 Domenico Subtitle It‘s dark out there. 10.27.18 Laura Subtitle Yes, and it’s cold, too. Giovanna Subtitle Goodnight! 10.27.23 Narrator Laura’s having to driver her back home but so far as Laura’s concerned the day hasn’t been a complete waste. Later on she puts on a brave face. She’s still optimistic despite Giovanna’s refusal to stay. 10.27.42 Laura Voice over As I drove her home she told me she’d enjoyed coming to the house, even if she felt a bit tired. She said the children and my husband Domenico had made her feel at ease and that she hadn’t been expecting that. 10.27.57 Narrator Nevertheless Giovanna’s decided for the time being at least, that she’s staying put. 10.28.06 Giovanna Voice over I enjoyed visiting the new place. But as long as I’m well enough, I want to stay here. Then if tomorrow I should need it it’s good to know there’s a place I can go. 10.28.20 End music 10.28.29 www.bbc.co.uk/goldenyears Credits 10.28.29 Narrator MICHAEL LUMSDEN Dubbing Mixer NIGEL READ Online Editor STEPHEN BULFIELD Production Team JULIA DANNENBERG Production Manager JANE WILLEY Unit Manager SUSAN CRIGHTON Picture Editor MATTHEW STERLINI Associate Producer BRUNO SORRENTINO Executive Producer KAREN O’CONNOR 10.28.48 Series Producer KIRAN SONI Filmed & Produced by DANIELA VOLKER BBC © BBC MMV 10.28.53 End BBC Golden Years: Adopting Granny 1 1