'Grandparents' house' built in Italy

Rome, Aug 17 (IANS/AKI) The "Grandparents' house", a building comprising 94 public apartments to be assigned to elderly Italian citizens with economic difficulties, has been built near Rome.

The public-owned apartments, allocated to eligible over-65-year-olds in need of economic help, were opened Thursday. Keys were handed to the new residents by Rome deputy mayor Sveva Belviso.

All apartments have a well-equipped kitchen and bathroom, a bedroom, a living room and a terrace, and include services such as washing machines and a videophone connected to the Italian Red Cross situated at the ground floor of the structure in case of any medical emergency.

The ground floor also has a dining room, a 300-square-metre gym, a garden and outdoor seating, two parking lots and a six-people bedroom for those requiring special care.

--IANS/AKI

pm/vt