We are the elderly of tomorrow and we all want to live an active, tailor-made third age, well assisted on a medical level but as carefree and free as possible, where we can continue to carry out, as far as possible, the activities we like most, also taking away some whim.

Another year has passed Rivabella Residence, and it was a positive year: «After the pandemic everything woke up and life within us was very active and pleasant. The facility is full and after Covid the requests for special staff have increased considerably, such as the function of exclusive butler or chauffeur for private outings", proudly says the director Alexandre Aleman, who with an affectionate smile mentions his patient older, now a mascot. "She is currently 102 years old, but he is doing very well and perhaps uses the health network less than others." The others range from 75 years of age and up, distributed between around fifty beds and around twenty apartments, where thanks to the hotel service and the healthcare network they can live as independently as possible, according to their needs.

Another feature of the residence overlooking the lake, which contributes even more to making it a place of life, is that of focusing on art as nourishment for the soul and a moment of socialization, with various events, from concerts to exhibitions. «We have chosen to bring different types of art into the structure: painting, music, dance, literature, etc. because they accompany everyone's life. Art is leisure, therapy, well-being and must be experienced at every stage of life", explains Aleman again. «A beautiful event created in 2023, and which will be repeated in 2024, was an outdoor opera, organized in collaboration with Ticino Musica. There were vernissages with painters and sculptors known and unknown, but always appreciated. For years we have also collaborated with the Lugano Music Conservatory and organize 10 concerts of classical and modern music, without forgetting the "usual" piano bar which we offer twice a week and which is now experienced with normality and joy".

The Residence hosts a varied series of artists, who «are "selected/chosen" sometimes on the recommendation of the residents themselves or their relatives, or following chance meetings or other inputs. Exhibiting at Rivabella is enriching for everyone because they spend a lot of time in contact with the elderly even during the preparation of the exhibitions, which leads to a much more personalized approach compared to other occasions. Furthermore, people of all ages are present at the inaugurations as relatives and friends are invited, external visitors can enter freely during daylight hours and the artist often brings groups to visit the exhibitions even after the vernissage".

Moving on to examine the program of events, until the end of March 2024 there is the exhibition "Neo Divisionism and figures" by Giulia Mantica, an artist with active exhibitions in Vienna, Madrid, Florence, Sanremo, Catania, Barletta, Assisi, Novara, Arona. «Other highly requested events during the year are of a food and wine nature. The "street food" type events in the park are very popular. The Christmas market that we offer every year on 8 December is certainly particularly appreciated and intensely experienced", continues Aleman.

The needs of the elderly, he underlines, evolve with those of the entire society and his residence is always ready to adapt to them, trying to anticipate them if possible. In particular, in 2023 the focus was on cooking with organic products and on «developing the intense use of the swimming pool for therapeutic purposes and introducing a much requested SPA program», while for next year the objective is to continue to make people laugh, socialize guests and have the feeling of living every day to the full, an enriching journey for employees too.

Also noteworthy is the presence in Magliaso of the son of one of the two owners, who arrived in Ticino two years ago to learn Italian and has now settled in Lugano: «It is certainly positive to have him with us as communication with our headquarters in Switzerland internal has become simpler and more direct. The “Röstigraben” has been greatly reduced and for the Rivabella Residence it is a guarantee of continuity and development».