Abstract
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. De- mographic 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.
Highlights
Stanovništvo Njemačke se smanjuje i ubrzano stari
Germany is one of the countries worldwide with the largest share of older people and the trend will be upward in the near future: today, 20% of the population is aged 65 or older
The total population size will decrease: fertility rates in Germany have been low for years now1 leading to accelerated irreversible ageing and creeping demographic shrinkage
Summary
Stanovništvo Njemačke se smanjuje i ubrzano stari. Godine 2060. više od trećine stanovnika bit će starije od 65 godina. Specifične potrebe ljudi starije životne dobi dugo su bile i još uvijek jesu zanemarivane po pitanju zdravstvene skrbi. Ovaj rad predstavlja saznanja dobivena iz empirijskog istraživanja o mogućnostima mobilnosti ljudi starije životne dobi, preprekama koje im ograničavaju pristup zdravstvenoj skrbi i potrebama koje se na to odnose. Demographic developments, especially low birth rates, rising life expectancy and the ageing of the baby boomer generation, have led to an increasing proportion of elderly people in Germany’s population. The total population size will decrease: fertility rates in Germany have been low for years leading to accelerated irreversible ageing and creeping demographic shrinkage. Rural depopulation and ageing entail massive changes in the rural spatial structure. The impact of these fundamental demographic changes differs very substantially from region to region. Out-migration still plays an important role; some parts of Germany’s needy east are drained
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