Exercise Tips for Seniors

26 Ocak 2008 Cumartesi

Exercise Tips for Seniors


From the American Journal of Epidemiology

Before we begin, please note that If you have a family history of heart disease, check with your doctor first. It is a good idea to have a physical examination and take a graded exercise test before you start an exercise program.

Pick rhythmic, repetitive activities that challenge the circulatory system and exercise at intensity appropriate for you.

Choose activities that are fun, suit your needs and that you can do year-round.

Wear comfortable clothing and footwear appropriate for the temperature, humidity and activity.

If you decide that walking is a great activity for you, choose a place that has a smooth, soft surface; that does not intersect with traffic; is well lighted and safe. Many senior Americans walk at area shopping malls.


Find a companion to exercise with you if it will help you stay on a regular schedule and add to your enjoyment.

Because muscular adaptation and elasticity generally slows with age, take more time to warm up and cool down while exercising. Make sure you stretch slowly.

Start exercising at a low intensity, especially if you have been mostly sedentary, and progress gradually.

If you plan to be active more than 30 minutes, then try to drink some water every 15 minutes, especially when exercising in hot, humid conditions. As you age, your sense of thirst tends to decrease and you cannot completely rely on your internal sense of thirst.



A Bonus: The Secret to a Sharp Mind
In addition to all the other benefits of exercise, the secret to a sharp mind just might lie in your feet as well! Studies show those who took a 30-minute brisk walk three days a week had sharper memories. This is what scientists refer to as "executive functions". They are the ability to plan, organize and juggle mental tasks. Similar results exist in non-depressed individuals. Some mental decline is associated with normal aging due to reduced blood flow to the brain. Experts believe exercise may work by improving circulation to essential areas.



Added Motivation:
In a study of more than 13,000, the risk of breaking a hip was nearly 30-percent lower among those who take a brisk walk two to four times a week than in sedentary individuals. Those who went from being moderately or vigorously active to being sedentary doubled their risk.

Take a walk!

Developing A Disaster Action Plan For Older Adults

Developing A Disaster Action Plan For Older Adults


Every family should be prepared to cope with disaster. To help insure the safety of your older family members, be sure your emergency action plan includes them, whether they are residing in assisted living facilities or nursing homes, or even living independently, where they may not have access to help in a disaster.

"It is bold to assume that an older family member will be taken care of if disaster strikes," says Regina Phelps, emergency management and contingency planning expert, and founder of Emergency Management & Safety Solutions, a San Francisco-based consulting and training firm. Staff members at some facilities might leave to take care of their own families, adds Phelps. "It is important to speak with the person who is in charge of the facility, and find out what community resources would be available to your loved one in an emergency."

Also, staff at skilled nursing facilities may not have the training needed to care for your family member after a disaster, notes Phelps, and they may simply call 911 for help or rely on assistance from the Red Cross.

Therefore, "you should develop a family communication strategy," Phelps recommends. Select an out-of-state contact person as the hub, and train her or him for that role. The person should have a list of the individuals who are likely to call and should know to ask three questions: 1) how is the caller doing, physically; 2) where is the caller at that moment; and 3) where is the caller going next.

Now, take these 7 other steps to prepare your older family members for a disaster:

Assemble essential supplies
Create disaster-supply kits that include items specific to your relatives' health and personal needs. Do they need an extra pair of eyeglasses, hearing aid batteries, extra wheelchair batteries, or a supply of oxygen? What sort of personal hygiene items do they require?

Stock up on prescription medications
Older Americans should keep an emergency supply of prescription medications that can last at least a week. After an emergency, they may not be able to get to a drugstore to get their medication. It's also smart to have physical copies of prescriptions from doctors.


Organize key documents and phone numbers
Make sure your older family member has the name and phone number of her insurance agent, as well as the numbers of non-local relatives and friends. Have a list of contact information for her doctors, as well as medical insurance and Medicare cards.

Include personal items for comfort
Some seniors�no matter how capable under normal situations�can become very childlike and disoriented in a disaster situation. Tucking a few small personal items, such as family photos, in an emergency kit, can help provide comfort.

Establish a communications strategy
Make sure all family members know whom they should check in with following a disaster. Remember to have an out-of-state contact because local phone lines often get jammed in a crisis. Consider having a prepaid phone card in your loved one's emergency kit.

Create an emergency plan for pets
No matter how bad the situation is, many older people will refuse to leave their homes if it means leaving their pets behind. Have pet carriers handy, and consider having harnesses for dogs that may be rattled by an emergency. Also, remember that shelters don't always take pets; FEMA (the Federal Emergency Management Agency) suggests getting in touch with a local animal shelter or emergency management office, or talking to a veterinarian, to find out what options pets have if they must be left behind.

Assess a loved one's living situation
Just because an older family member resides in a facility such as a nursing home does not guarantee that he will be looked after in a crisis. Talk to those who manage the facility, or even local emergency services people, to determine what may happen to your loved one if disaster strikes. Also, communicate your plan of action to your loved one, so he knows what he should do in an emergency if left to fend for himself.

How To Cut Healthcare Costs

How To Cut Healthcare Costs


By: Mark Lamendola

If you're a senior, you can use the following tips to reduce both your costs of healthcare and your need for it.



When sick:
1. Learn your body. Get a baseline physical. Consult with your doctor to know what your body's weaknesses are.

2. Be an active patient. Think of your doctor as the coach--one who needs 110% from you. It is your job to get well, not your doctors job to heal you.

3. Become an expert. Always investigate anything your doctor tells you. If your doctor says you have heart disease, get at least five books on heart disease and study them.



To stay healthy:
1. Watch your diet. Keep it simple and basic. The low-fat fad will pass, because such diets do not work. What you need to do, instead, is stay away from foods that are highly processed (your body does not work well with them), deep-fried, or high in sugar. Bear in mind, most flour products are so over-refined, they are almost like sugar pills--and they will drive your insulin level sky-high. Free information is on our leanbody page.

2. Exercise regularly. This is where many people cut too many corners. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Go for walks after supper. Stay away from that television. The Mindconnection fitness store has free exercise information, plus excellent equipment to help you get in shape and stay in shape.



3. Sleep regularly. This means no weekend binges. Your body takes a long time to adjust to schedule changes. The bi-annual "daylight wasting" clock change that takes place in much of the world is terrible in terms of health. But, it's not as bad as chronic late nights and sleep ins on weekends and holidays. Stick to your sleep schedule, and you will have more energy and better health--not to mention better job performance. If sleep is a mystery to you, then maybe you should study a book about sleep.

4. Find a purpose. Many people die from spiritual emptiness--a common event within a year or so of retirement. Spirituality is not an automatic result of participating in religious activities--you must pursue this in its own right. One way is to volunteer some time to a charitable organization and become passionately involved. There are many other ways--seek, and you shall find. If you want to seek more quickly, you can find a book or two on spirituality to get you going.

5. Be happy. This doesn't happen accidentally. You need to work at it. Take care of the important things in your life. Identify your stressors, and reduce or eliminate them. Look for the good in others. Need a quick laugh? Sign up for the Mindconnection jokelist. Go see a funny movie. Or buy a funny movie.

6. Get outside. Walk in a park. Ride a bike. Just don't get too much sun--this ages your skin and can lead to a host of problems later in life.



If you do get sick, do two things:
1. Learn as much as you can about your illness--ask your doctor for resource information, AND make lots of trips to the library. You can also use Mindconnection's book search for additional information.

2. Get a second opinion. Compare the two, and find out why each doctor thinks as s/he does.

What's Your Health Worth?

What's Your Health Worth?
By: DAVE WOYNAROWSKI, M.D.
The World's Top Anti-Aging Specialist

I got the following question emailed to me the other day. "Doc, How many fish oil capsules should a person take daily and what's the cost per day?"

This really got me thinking. You see I'll admit that I occasionally get someone writing in grousing about how expensive this anti-aging and preventative health stuff is!

I have practiced Traditional Internal Medicine for 16 years now and I have seen some dramatic changes.

If we sit down and analyze these changes, I think we can answer Tom's question a little better, as well as do some more of my favorite and apparently most irritating thing: predicting the future!

What is Traditional Medicine? Well in many countries around the world it is exactly the kind of vitamin and herbal supplementation that many of you are doing right now. In places like China the compounds making up Instant Endurance have been used for centuries.

In this country Traditional Medicine centers on prescription drugs, scientific technology, and the body as a machine without a soul.

The actual hierarchy from my standpoint is (in descending order of importance of impact on National Health Policies):

1) Drug Companies

2) Drug Company Lobbyists in Washington

3) Insurance Companies

4) Insurance Company lobbyists in Washington

5) Health Plan Administrators

6) Hospital Administrators

7) Doctors

8) And last in line, you know who the patient who is actually paying for a lot of all of this!

Right now our traditional medical system is a 1 Trillion dollar a year industry!

Complementary and alternative Medicine gross around 25 Billion at this point.

It is predicted that these numbers will be absolutely reversed by the year 2050.

In other words Complementary and alternative Medicine will be a 1 Trillion dollar a year industry with the consumers holding all the power!

Traditional medicine will be relegated to 25 billion.

What this means to you is that the longer you live the less likely you will be to have effective affordable Health Insurance Coverage.

In other words, you and I are on our own together.

Now let me answer Tom's email question the best I can.

The amount of fish Oil a person should take depends on what they are trying to achieve.

If you do a "meta analysis" of all the studies on all the conditions that fish Oil has been studied in the average dose you come up with is 7.4 grams a day.

This is close to 6 capsules.

However the heart benefits begins at as little as 1-2 caps per day. Arthritis, and Alzheimer's may require 8 to 10 a day.



As far as costs go at the current sales price of $59.95/120capsules, let's say 4 a day to make it easy, a months worth, that is approximately $2.00 a day.

If you are only interested in heart health then your cost goes down to 50 cents a day. Many of my patients on fixed incomes do not find this unaffordable, especially when they realize they are getting almost side effects free heart coverage!

Those folks who buy in case lots have a cost reduction to just over a dollar a day.

Now I am not going to go into some long winded lecture on how you can have incredible health for under $1.00 a day. I will let my customers do that in the testimonials section of the website.

I will remind you of a short list of things that Fish Oil has been shown to improve:

1) Heart disease

2) Cancer including breast, prostate colon and lung

3) Arthritis, both rheumatoid and degenerative

4) Stroke

5) Irregular heart rhythms from both the top and bottom parts of the heart.

6) Multiple Sclerosis

7) Attention Deficit Disorder

8) Depression

9) Hormone levels

10) Sexual and Athletic Performance

Again this is a short list. I personally believe this is worth a h*ll of a lot more than 2 bucks a day, but it's up to you to decide.

In time as my predictions about the fate of "modern medicine" come to pass, this will look even more attractive as a way to maintain great health.

Death By Breathing

Death By Breathing
By: DAVE WOYNAROWSKI, M.D.
The World's Top Anti-Aging Specialist

Here's another great question.

Dear Dr. Dave,

I'm quite confused over one aspect of Instant Endurance. One of the components is supposed to help us take in more oxygen which is good for the brain, blood, organs, etc... On the other hand, we have things like anti-oxidants(?) which are supposed to retard aging. Is there a contradiction here?

Thank you very much.

Truly,

Tan P. K.
Singapore



Every now and then someone writes in an absolutely great question that I never thought of. Usually I say to myself," I wish I had thought of that!"

In the case of Tan P.K. from Singapore I found myself saying just that.

This gentleman's question cuts right to the heart of the anti-aging matter and I think will instruct all of us in some fundamentals that I have not touched upon before.

First let's take a little hypothetical trip back about 12 billion years. Again I say hypothetical because this is an evolutionary point of view and I am not in a position to state this as fact, so please do not take any religious offense to this!

The story goes like this:

Two very different cells came into contact with each other billions of years ago.

One cell had a very limited capacity to use oxygen which at the time was present on the earth's atmosphere in somewhat greater amounts than it is now.

The other cell was primarily a non oxygen user. But it was bigger badder and hungrier than the one that used oxygen.

So the big bad hungry non oxygen using cell ate the little high energy oxygen using one.

Funny thing is that the big cell couldn't digest the little one.

As a matter of fact the little cell rather liked being inside the "stomach " of the big cell because there was all that unused oxygen lying around.

At some point it became apparent that these 2 cells, one now living inside the other, were greater than the sum of their parts.

Each conferred a survival advantage to the other, so they learned to coexist and thrive as a new unified organism that could use oxygen very well.

It is thought that the little cell that got eaten and liked it was the forerunner of the modern day mitochondrion ( mitochondria pleural).

In all of our cells there are mitochondria. They are the veritable powerhouses of the cell. Most if not all oxygen metabolism takes place there.

Mitochondria are truly the energy generating furnaces of our body. They take oxygen food and water and convert it into our energy needs.

As such they are exposed to lots of oxygen and this burning of oxygen creates what are now known as "oxygen free radicals" or simply free radicals.

Many of you already know that free radicals are damaging. They have a lot of energy and when they glom onto something and give up their energy to it bad things can happen.

Such as Inflammation heart disease joint destruction and cancer.

The mitochondria are well equipped to handle this at least when they are young because of many buffers. Perhaps the most important of which is Co Enzyme Q 10 one of the main ingredients in Regenerizer.

The bioactive plant compounds in Instant Endurance are also loaded with anti-oxidants, as is fish oil which actually acts as a free radical sponge to soak them up.



This is important because as we age or as we engage in high level physical activities, free radicals start to build up.

Ageing causes this because the actual amounts of things like CO Q 10 in the mitochondria decrease as we age.

In high level athletics we actually consume more oxygen and thus generate more free radicals.

One of the biggest mistakes I see world and other class athletes make is under supplemnetation with anti-oxidants. They generally feel that they are in such good shape that their bodies can handle the oxidant load.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

Now many of you know that I am a distance runner and a grappler.

I aggressively buffer the oxidant load in my body generated by these activities with all of my compounds from Fish Oil to Regenerizer to Instant Endurance.

Why? Well elite distance runners do not live normal life spans as a whole. They succumb to heart disease and stroke at a level even higher than the general populace. This is undoubtedly due to the high oxidation loads from free radicals in their body.

No one has done a study on Grapplers!

I always tell my runner friends," Don't run for longevity! And if you do run long distance make sure you take enough anti-oxidants!"

Now please not that there are some distinct advantages to running and other types of exercise in that these groups of individuals tend to be more health conscious and this may account for better health and longer lives in the non elite group.

In other words its not the running, but the lifestyle that accompanies it that helps most!

And that my friend is the paradox!

Oxygen, the very thing that keeps us alive, the very thing we cannot do without is slowly killing us! The more of it we use the more damage we do UNLESS we protect ourselves with anti-oxidants.

The more active you are the more you need them!

And the younger you want to stay, the more you need them.

Recently the editor of a mixed martial arts magazine that I am for confidentiality reasons not able to name wrote me to tell me that he loves my products. He feels the effects and they have improved his game.

This is not in a small part due to the buffering of free radical oxidants that impair performance, Impair recovery and dull the Brain.

Ken Brown Triathelete wrote to tell me how he won his age class after taking My Fish Oil.

He said," Your Fish Oil made a monster out of me!"

The only thing more impressive than that is Ken himself whose picture and testimonial are up on the site now.

So whether you care trying to slow the aging process and prolong disease free life, or are an athlete looking for an edge in strength, endurance, recovery and mental sharpness, remember that the very air we breath can kill us.

And remember it does not have to be so!

As Tan P. K. pointed out Instant Endurance supplies you with the ability to extract more oxygen, AND the ability to buffer the damaging effects of same giving you the best of both worlds!

Study in Italy - 2

23 Ocak 2008 Çarşamba

Information on student welfare services at italian universities and highter education institutions

Universities, other higher education institutions, the regional EDISU offices ( ), and the Autonomous Provinces supply a series of services and facilities for higher education students to remove economic and social obstacles which limit access to higher education.
(EDISU= Ente per il Diritto allo Studio Universitario. There is such an agency in each Italian region; it has the task to set up and run the necessary student welfare services in conformity to the current legal provisions).

The services offered are divided into two categories:

1. Services for all students: canteens, access to libraries, reduction of ticket prices for public transportation, access to the University Sports Centres (C.U.S.);
2. Services ad personam: grants, accommodation, facilities for the disabled, part-time activities. These benefits are attributed sometimes by competition, sometimes on student’s request.

The Guida dello Studente, published at the beginning of each academic, generally in October, year at the care of most higher education institutions, includes complete and detailed information about each degree course and teaching activity, but also describes the types of services in offer at each study site.
Grants

Some facilities and financial support are offered to those who otherwise would be without the necessary means. Candidates must give proof of possessing adequate merit.
The benefits consist in:

* grants, both ordinary and special;
* grants for research work towards dissertations and final degree projects;
* grants to encourage post-graduate studies.

Part-time jobs

Universities generally offers their students a maximum of 150 hours/each in part time rewarded activities. Students who are regularly enrolled and have passed the examinations required each year can apply for these part time jobs. Students who have not received the E.DI.SU. grants have priority.
Counselling and Tutoring Service

Universities promotes a series of initiatives to help students, by providing them with information: on degree courses, other teaching/learning opportunities, and job placement, etc. This service is related to the three phases of the student's career:

* Counselling on entry;
* Counselling during the study course;
* Counselling on outgoing to help transition to the labour market.

Job, stage and placement

Job, stage and placement offices of higher education institutions facilitate contacts among companies/job opportunities on the one side and students on the other, both during their study course and on leaving.
International Relations Office

The International Relations Office of the various institutions:

* promotes and manages the institutional participation in European exchange and co-operation programmes, such as Socrates and Erasmus;
* draws up bilateral conventions for partnerships with foreign higher education institutions;
* gives information on programmes, grants and co-operation schemes at an international level.

The Socrates-Erasmus Programme

The project ERASMUS, within the framework of the SOCRATES Programme, promotes and governs the exchange of students who wish to spend a period of time at higher education institutions of an EU member state other than their own. Those institutions are eligible which have signed a written cooperation agreement with the students' home institutions. During the period spent the host country, the student is required to carry out the educational/research activity approved by the home institution before departure. The length of the period to be spent abroad depends on the agreement signed by the instituions concerned. Nevertheless, it may not be less than 3 months or longer than 12 months.
Assistance and support for students with disabilities

Most higher education institutions promote initiatives to favour integration of disabled studentsas: e.g. service of accompanying persons to help them reach and move within the respective institutions, other forms of general support. Students with disabilities can contact the Counselling and Tutoring Service of their individual institutions for information on opportunities already in place, and to learn how to make the most of the benefits available at each study site.
Cultural activities

Universities and other higher education institutions may allocate funds to encourage cultural activities organized by their own students. Their chief purposes are:

* promote the development of studies and research, in such fieldes as visual arts, music, theatre, cinema, etc.;
* promote and organize meetings, conferences, group activities;
* encourage international exchanges.

Canteens

This type of service is available to all students. For those who benefit of regional grants the service is free, the others pay a low cost depending on income and merit.
Housing

To enable students coming from outside the chosen study site to attend their study courses regularly, the local EDISU supplies places in hostels or flats. Should the number of students with a right to housing be greater than the number of places available, then places are allocated according to a priority list or according to the chronological order of the applications submitted.
Medical care

Medical and pharmaceutical assistance for foreigners in Italy is regulated by international agreements and treaties. To benefit of such assistance, foreign students, are required a specific documentation.
Normally EU students must have a certificate (E111 or E128 model) issued by their National Health Authority that will cover first-aid and medical assistance in Italy. When they arrive in Italy this certificate must be validated by the local health agencies (ASL).
Non-EU students must have a health insurance policy; this may be made either at their arrival in Italy with a private Italian insurance company, or before their departure with an insurance company of their respective countries; in this second case, students had better contact the Italian Embassy or Consulate in their home countries for further information on existing agreements on medical assistance.
Language centre

The Language Centre of each institution develops and co-ordinates language facilities. It provides language courses for the students enrolled at the institution concerned, for those on international exchange programmes, and for the institutional. The Language Centre provides a fundamental support service by facilitating learning processes and encouraging students to keep on improving their language competences.
Sport

The Sports Centre (C.U.S.) promotes physical activities with regard to the institution commitment in the field and, to the physical and educational well-being of its students. It offers the necessary facilities and promotes sport courses for beginners and professionals. The centre promote institutional participation in competitive and federation activities.
Office for public relations (U.R.P)

The Office for Public Relations (U.R.P.) provides information on institutional planning, counselling and job-placement; it also manages some of the services offered by the institution concerned.

Study in Italy

Definitions and characteristics of higher education institutions: non-university sector
Academies of Fine Arts
(Accademie di Belle Arti)

The main purpose of academies of fine arts is to provide education and training for the practice of artistic professions. They offer the highest level of traditional art education under State supervision. Engaged in education, specialisation and research in the artisitc sector, academies also carry out related production activities. They are endowed with juridical personality and enjoy full autonomy (statutory, teaching, scientific, administrative, financial and book-keeping). They set up and run 1st level programmes (admission by school leaving qualification and entrance exam) as well as advanced and specialisation courses, on completion of which they award specific academic diplomas at 1st and 2nd level as well as diplomas of advanced or specialization studies, or of training to research in artistic fields.
Higher Schools of Design
(Istituti Superiori per le Industrie Artistiche-ISIA)

ISIAs are State institutions of advanced education, specialisation and research in industrial and visual design; they also carry out related production activities. ISIAs have juridical personality and enjoy full autonomy (statutory, teaching, scientific, administrative, financial). ISIAs set up and run 1st level programmes (admission by school leaving qualification and by a competitive entrance exam), advanced and specialisation courses; they award academic diplomas at 1st and 2nd level as well as specialization diplomas, diplomas of training to research, of advanced studies (diplomi di perfezionamento), or Masters, all of them in design.
National Dance Academy
(Accademia Nazionale di Danza)

The Academy runs courses for the education and training of dancers, choreographers, and dance teachers. In addition to the traditional techniques of the statics and motion of the human body, the academy teaches also the modern technique of bodily harmony and eurhythmy. It used to award the following diplomas: licensed dance teachers, choreographers, and solo dancers. As a consequence of the 1999 reform of higher education in the arts and music, the Academy new teaching regulations provide for the setting up of 3-year 1st level programmes, and 2-year 2nd level ones.
National Academy of Drama
(Accademia Nazionale di Arte Drammatica "Silvio D'Amico")

It runs courses for prospective stage actors and directors. Admission is based on a public competition, which consists of three different parts and is open to candidates between the age of 18 and 25, except for foreigners and observers. Courses last 3 years; participants' number is limited, daily attendance is compulsory; curricula include general cultural subjects as well as technical and specialistic ones related to acting and direction. The academy also runs some "special" programmes.
State Music Conservatories and Recognised Music Institutes
(Conservatori di Musica e Istituti Musicali Pareggiati)

Music conservatories are State institutions belonging to the system of advanced education, specialisation and research in the arts and music (AFAM). They have juridical personality and enjoy full autonomy (statutory, teaching, scientific, administrative, financial). Their objectives are the promotion of higher education, specialisation, and research in music, and the development of related production activities.
Recognised music institutes are non-State institutions which have been recognised by ministerial decree through comparison to music conservatories.
Higher Institutes for Musical and Choreographic Studies
(Istituti Superiori di Studi Musicali e Coreutici)

Music conservatoires and recognised music institutes will assume this name once fully transformed in conformity to the the AFAM reform law.
Higher Institute for Choreographic Studies
(Istituto Superiore di Studi Coreutici)

The national dance academy will take on this name when transformed in conformity to the AFAM reform law.
Art Polytechnics
(Politecnici delle Arti)

The AFAM reform law envisages the establishment of art polytechnics, consisting in consortia of higher education institutions in the arts and music and universities which decide to cooperate on the basis of their proximity and of the complementariness and possible integration of the respective study programmes.
Higher Schools for Language Mediators
(Scuole Superiori per Mediatori Linguistici)

These higher schools are the former higher schools for interpreters and translators (SSIT) as transformed in conformity to the Ministerrial Decree No. 38 of 10 January 2002. They award qualifications equivalent to all legal effects to 1st university degrees in class 3 (class of Laurea degrees in sciences of language mediation). Study programmes last 3 years, i.e. 180 university credits. Their main objectives are: 1) provide students with sound academic education at higher level, both general and specialistic, in at least two foreign languages in addition to Italian, and in the respective civilisations; 2) develop specific technical language skills, written and oral, for professions in language mediation.
Programmes of Higher Technical Education & Training
(Istruzione e Formazione Tecnica Superiore)

Courses of higher technical education & training (IFTS) were established by Law No. 144 of May 1999. They are meant for young students and adults holding a school leaving qualification who, employed or unemployed, wish to specialise for a quick transition to or a requalification in the labour market. IFTS programmes last min. 2 to max. 4 semesters (from 1,200 to 2,400 hours), and lead to professional profiles with a high employment rate; they are jointly designed and run by universities, centres for postsecondary vocational education and training, upper secondary schools and businesses, often gathered in consortia. Set up taking into account both national standards and the local needs of individual Regions, IFTS courses include practical training "on job" for at least 30% of each curriculum. On course completion, a certificate is awarded, valid in the whole national territory; the student's workload it expressed in credits so as to make the qualification valuable for further studies, even if later in life.
National School for Cinema
(Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia)

The "Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia" (CSC), also known as Scuola Nazionale di Cinema, is a private foundation with juridical personality. CSC, an institution of higher education in cinematography, aims at developing the art and techniques of cinema and audiovisual production by running basic, advanced, and updating courses, and by promoting research and experimentation in the film and TV sectors. Its teaching activity is finalised to the education and training of future professionals.
Central Institute for Restoration
(Istituto Centrale per il Restauro)

The Central Institute for Restoration in Rome offers 3/4-year courses in conservation of metals and other materials of archaeological finds, and in conservation of paintings and their supports, of architectonic surfaces and related materials.
School for Restoration of Mosaics
(Scuola di Restauro del Mosaico)

The School, located in Ravenna, offers a specialistic 3-year programme in restoration of mosaics which is open to Italians and non-Italians; admission is based on a very strict competition.
School for Conservation and Restoration of Precious Stone Materials
(Opificio delle Pietre Dure)

The Workshop for the conservation and restoration of precious stone materials (Florence) has set up its own School which offers 3-year courses in fields related to the Workshop main specialisations: stone materials, mosaics and works in hard stones, terracotta,metalwork (goldsmithing, bronzes and antique weapons), furniture and engraving, gilding and polychrome wooden sculpture, paintings, murals, paper, textiles (tapestries and cloths).
Central Institute for the Conservation and Restoration of Damaged Books
(Istituto Centrale per la Patologia del Libro "Alfonso Gallo" )

The Central Institute for the restoration of damaged ancient books runs short advanced courses open only to professionals who have already acquired a considerable level of competence in the sector. The Institute also offers a basic course for the specialised training of prospective young professionals.
Foundation for the Conservation and Restoration of Ancient Books and Documents
(Fondazione per la Conservazione e il Restauro dei Beni Librari)

The Foundation offers a two-year programme open to candidates from EU member states (max. 15). Applicants must be under 25 years of age, hold an Italian school leaving diploma or a foreign comparable secondary qualification, possess adequate knowledge of written and spoken English and Italian, basic knowledge of Latin, knowledge of chemistry and physics, and pass a selective entrance examination.
After the two-year basic course, students may take a one-year advanced course (Corso di Perfezionamento), and receive a statement of advanced specialised education and training (Attestato di Perfezionamento) as restorers of ancient books and documents.

Schools for Archiving, Palaeography and Diplomatics
(Scuole di Archivistica, Paleografia e Diplomatica)

Schools for Archiving, Palaeography and Diplomatics are State institutions of university rank. They are established at the state archives of the following cities: Bari, Bologna, Bolzano, Cagliari, Florence, Genoa, Mantova, Milan, Modena, Naples, Palermo, Parma, Perugia, Rome, Turin, Trieste and Venice.
Military Academies and Institutes for the Police
(Accademie Militari e Istituti di Polizia)

Programmes for the education and training of future officers in standing military service are offered by institutions such as the Aeronautic Academy in Pozzuoli (Naples), the Academy of Customs Officers (Bergamo), the Naval Military Academy (Livorno), the Army Academy (Modena). The State Police avail themselves of the Higher Institute for the Police in Rome. The Penitentiary Police Force are trained at the Higher Institute for Penitentiary Studies (Rome), the state Foresters' Corps take advantage of the School for non-commissioned cadet officers and foresters. Admission is always by school leaving qualification and public competiton.
Regional postsecondary professional education and training
(Formazione Professionale Regionale)

Non-university higher education offers other training opportunities that are devised for the the new professional profiles required by the production system and for the further specialisation of those already existing. Such postsecondary opportunities build up the channel known as "regional professional education and training" (FPR), since it falls under the responsibility of the Regions. FPR programmes may be jointly financed by national and EU resources; in fact, they may be established with the support of the European Social Fund, of the Italian Ministry of Labour and of the Regions themselves.