[Old or elderly?]

The factors involved in and the significance of the so-called "aging" phenomenon, with particular regard to its manifestations in Italy and Sicily are discussed with particular regard to the different meaning of "being elderly" as a biological and clinical phenomenon linked with considerable individual variations to aging, and "being old", as a social and psychological exclusion factor connected with the essentially segregational and excluding attitude of society in general with regard to the old. The conditions for preventing a state of "being old" are indicated in terms of geriatrics methodology, sociosanitary aspects connected with health service structures, and personal aspects involving the responsibility of the aging man.