Dentro il welfare invisibile : aiutanti domiciliari immigrate e assistenza agli anziani

The latest regularisation process revealed the huge demand for migrant women, both for domestic work (190.000 requests) and caregiving (140.000). This article looks at assistance to aged people and is based on in-depth interviews to immigrant domestic workers, the assisted persons, care givers and the recruitment agencies. The focus is on the following aspects: overlapping of private and working sphere, tendency to request from domestic workers a "familiar" and "holistic" involvement well beyond their duties, with a strong emotional component. This article also considers the phenomenon of transnational families and the role of recruiting agencies. Ultimately, a few measures are listed for a better management of this peculiar market, exposed to non-regulated and abusive practices.