Elderly People’s Perspective on Rural Medical Care – a Case Study from Northern Germany

Germany’s population is decreasing and experiencing accelerated ageing. In 2060, more than a third of the population will be aged 65 years or older. With demographic change, many rural regions are struggling to ensure supply of appropriate public infrastructure while becoming less densely populated and experiencing an increasing share of immobile population groups. One of the major issues at stake is to maintain medical infrastructure at the necessary level. Although health care in Germany is still of very high standard in international comparison, in some rural areas its provision tends to be problematic. Demographic developments aggravate this situation because of two reasons: firstly, natural decline in population and rural depopulation will lead to changes in the rural spatial structure and have impact on the provision of health care; secondly, the growing proportion of older people will simultaneously increase the demand for medical care because, with advancing age, people seek medical treatment more often than at a young age. Even so, older people’s specific needs have long been and still are neglected in health care issues. This paper presents findings of an empirical study on older people’s mobility options, obstacles that constrain the access to health care and related needs.