Abstract
The increase in the number of elderly people in need of care and the decline in population especially in rural areas due to the migration of the younger generations have a marked effect on the care of elderly people, especially in rural areas (Fachinger & Künemund 2015). Elderly people living in rural areas often are confronted with challenges regarding the public transport, the provision of services and life in the community (UNECE, 2017). Social work can act here as a bridging role between an increasing elderly population and the need for closer support. This contribution builds on a research project examining this bridging role by exploring the enabling structures in the home environment for elderly people in a rural area in Italy. The paper focuses specifically on the results of qualitative interviews with experts (professionals from local social organizations). A total of 10 interviews were conducted and analyzed. The results of the research project highlight both the critical aspects as well as the already existing potentials of the elderly in care close to home. This includes the importance of the cooperation between the social and health services, the need for low threshold offers and the necessity of outreach work. Outcomes shows that the access to support structures is particularly difficult for elderly people who are single or not already part of a network. For this target group, outreach work can be particularly helpful.
Presenters
Sigrid MairhoferProfessor, Applied Social Sciences, Hochschule München - Munich University of Applied Sciences, Bayern, Germany
Details
Presentation Type
Theme
KEYWORDS
Care close at home, Elderly people, Outreach work, Rural communities
