Abstract

This paper explores the experiences of migrants, aged 60 years and over, living in the suburbs of Vahr and Gröpelingen in Bremen, Germany. Results will be presented from an interdisciplinary research project, sponsored by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, titled “Cultures of Social Participation in Local Communities’ Integration, Prevention, and Participation: The Development of Accessible Services for Migrant Populations.” Part of this project explored the perspectives and social participation of older migrants through forty semi-structured qualitative interviews. These interviews explored the level of elderly migrant integration into community networks, and their use of low-threshold services. Applying a content analysis led to the following findings: Low-threshold services are widely used by the interviewees who view then as an important support structure. Members of smaller ethnic groups within the community are less content with cultural offers and services in their communities than members of bigger ethnic communities, such as Russians in the Vahr and Turks in Gröpelingen.