Elke Goltz and Karl Martin Born

1
Space-related aspects of an ageing society

• Elke Goltz and Karl Martin Born
• Free University of Berlin, Institute of Geography
  
• goltz_at_geog.fu-berlin.de / kmborn_at_geog.fu-berlin.de

2
Structure
The ageing society

• Socio-demographic aspects
• Socio-economic aspects
• aspects of administration

• Spatial differences and importance
• for further regional development

Space-related aspects of an ageing society
Liverpool -
20.06.06
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1. Introduction and space-related questions 2.
design of the study 3. Differences in
infrastructure 4. Elderly people Spatial
mobility Satisfaction Social networks 5.
Experts perception networks evaluation 6.results
and recommen-dations
Some statistics
Number of people with an age of 65 and older has
increased 13,4 (1995-2002) East Germany
16,6 / West Germany 12,6
Space-related aspects of an ageing society
Liverpool -
20.06.06
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Space-related perspectives
1. Introduction and space-related questions 2.
design of the study 3.Differences in
infrastructure 4. Elderly people Spatial
mobility Satisfaction Social networks 5.
Experts perception networks evaluation 6.results
and recommen-dations
First level of Discussion
Contrasts between East and West Germany
Space-related aspects of an ageing society
Liverpool -
20.06.06
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1. Introduction and space-related questions 2.
design of the study 3.Differences in
infrastrukture 4. Elderly people Spatial
mobility Satisfaction Social networks 5.
Experts perception networks evaluation 6.results
and recommen-dations
Space-related perspectives
Second point of Discussion
Contrasts between Centre and peripheral areas
Average in East Germany 17,9
Space-related aspects of an ageing society
Liverpool -
20.06.06
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1. Introduction and space-related questions 2.
design of the study 3.Differences in
infrastructure 4. Elderly people Spatial
mobility Satisfaction Social networks 5.
Experts perception networks evaluation 6.results
and recommen-dations
Space-related perspectives
Second point of Discussion
Contrasts between Centre and peripheral areas
Average in East Germany 17,9
Space-related aspects of an ageing society
Liverpool -
20.06.06
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Space-related questions
1. Introduction and space-related questions 2.
design of the study 3.Differences in
infrastructure 4. Elderly people Spatial
mobility Satisfaction Social networks 5.
Experts perception networks evaluation 6.results
and recommen-dations

• adjustments of infrastructure to an ageing and
  shrinking society
• adjustments of elderly people to their
  environments in urban, suburban and rural areas
• Strategies of public and private decision-makers
  in different spatial settings

Space-related aspects of an ageing society
Liverpool -
20.06.06
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Design of the study
1. Introduction and space-related questions 2.
design of the study 3.Differences in
infrastructure 4. Elderly people Spatial
mobility Satisfaction Social networks 5.
Experts perception networks evaluation 6.results
and recommen-dations

• Recording of the living conditions of elderly
  people in different geographical settings
• standardised questionaire, 33 questions
• 271 interviewed people (age 65 and older)
• 88 in Berlin (urban)
• 75 in suburban communities
• 108 in peripheral rural communities
• Interviews with experts politicians, public and
  private services, nursing staff in home for the
  aged etc.

9
1. Introduction and space-related questions 2.
design of the study 3.Differences in
infrastrukture 4. Elderly people Spatial
mobility Satisfaction Social networks 5.
Experts perception networks evaluation 6.results
and recommen-dations
rural
Research areas
suburban
urban
data Lenzen-Elbtalaue Briese-lang Berlin- Pankow Berlin- Zehlendorf
Population density (inhabitants/km2) 25 151 7.215 4.137
Percentage of people with an age of 65 and older () a 2002 21,7 15,8 16,3 20,4
Life expectancy Men / women (years)b - 2002 72,5 / 79,8 73,9 / 80,7 75,6 / 81,5 75,3 / 80,6
Migration saldo für the age 65 (1994/95-2002) a / 1.000 people 2,6 9,5 - 9,0 8,0
Space-related aspects of an ageing society
Liverpool -
20.06.06
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Urban area - Daily needs
1. Introduction and space-related questions 2.
design of the study 3.Differences in
infra-structure 4. Elderly people Spatial
mobility Satisfaction Social networks 5.
Experts perception networks evaluation 6.results
and recommen-dations
Space-related aspects of an ageing society
Liverpool -
20.06.06
11
Urban area - Social-medical care
1. Introduction and space-related questions 2.
design of the study 3.Differences in
infra-structure 4. Elderly people Spatial
mobility Satisfaction Social networks 5.
Experts perception networks evaluation 6.results
and recommen-dations
12
1. Introduction and space-related questions 2.
design of the study 3.Differences in
infra-structure 4. Elderly people Spatial
mobility Satisfaction Social networks 5.
Experts perception networks evaluation 6.results
and recommen-dations
Suburban area Daily needs / medical care
13
1. Introduction and space-related questions 2.
design of the study 3.Differences in
infra-structure 4. Elderly people Spatial
mobility Satisfaction Social networks 5.
Experts perception networks evaluation 6.results
and recommen-dations
Peripheral rural areas Daily needs / medical
care
Space-related aspects of an ageing society
Liverpool -
20.06.06
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Spatial mobility - motives
1. Introduction and space-related questions 2.
design of the study 3.Differences in
infrastructure 4. Elderly people Spatial
mobility Satisfaction Social networks 5.
Experts perception networks evaluation 6.results
and recommen-dations

• In addtion to the daily needs 4 main acitivities
  outside the place of residence can be observed
• Differences between the areas
• ? urban/suburban more for leisure activities
• ? rural more for extended daily needs

Activity all all urban urban suburban suburban rural rural
people could mention more than one activity valid cases Abs Abs. Abs. Abs
Social contacts 120 48,2 42 50,0 34 54,0 44 43,1
Shopping or use of services 85 34,1 13 15,5 24 38,1 48 47,4
See the doctor (Specialist) 63 25,3 15 17,9 10 15,9 38 37,3
Hobby 60 24,1 24 28,6 19 30,2 17 16,7
Others 18 7,2 6 7,1 4 6,3 8 7,8
Interviewed, who mentioned at least one activity 249 249 84 84 63 63 102 102
All interviewed people 271 271 88 88 75 75 108 108
Source Own survey 2005
Space-related aspects of an ageing society
Liverpool -
20.06.06
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Ranges of activities
1. Introduction and space-related questions 2.
design of the study 3.Differences in
infrastructure 4. Elderly people Spatial
mobility Satisfaction Social networks 5.
Experts perception networks evaluation 6.results
and recommen-dations

• Kinds of transportation
• Range 42 of interviewed up to 30 minutes, 24
  30-60 min away from own flat

Support through sombody
car
No answer
Public transport
other
Elke Goltz Space-related aspects of an
ageing society Liverpool -
20.06.06
16
1. Introduction and space-related questions 2.
design of the study 3.Differences in
infrastrukture 4. Elderly people Spatial
mobility Satisfaction Social networks 5.
Experts perception networks evaluation 6.results
and recommen-dations
General Satisfaction by
Settlement pattern
1 10
suburban
rural
urban
Type of housing
1 10
owner
tenant
Period of living (years)
1 10
60
Under 30
30 -lt 60
N 271
Space-related aspects of an ageing society
Liverpool
- 20.06.06
17
1. Introduction and space-related questions 2.
design of the study 3.Differences in
infrastrukture 4. Elderly people Spatial
mobility Satisfaction Social networks 5.
Experts perception networks evaluation 6.results
and recommen-dations
Evaluation of the place of residence
positive aspects
N 209
negative aspects
N 137
Space-related aspects of an ageing society
Liverpool -
20.06.06
18
1. Introduction and space-related questions 2.
design of the study 3.Differences in
infrastructure 4. Elderly people Spatial
mobility Satisfaction Social networks 5.
Experts perception networks evaluation 6.results
and recommen-dations
Social contacts / Integration

• personal contacts in the neighbourhood
• Helping each other in the neighbourhood

Space-related aspects of an ageing society
Liverpool -
20.06.06
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1. Introduction and space-related questions 2.
design of the study 3.Differences in
infrastructure 4. Elderly people Spatial
mobility Satisfaction Social networks 5.
Experts perception networks evaluation 6.results
and recommen-dations
Social contacts / Integration

• Potential networks within the family or outside
• the family (measured by nearness to place of
• residence)

Space-related aspects of an ageing society

Liverpool - 20.06.06
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1. Introduction and space-related questions 2.
design of the study 3.Differences in
infrastructure 4. Elderly people Spatial
mobility Satisfaction Social networks 5.
Experts perception networks evaluation 6.results
and recommen-dations
Ageing society ranges of acting
Type of settle-ment politics Social-medical care Social-medical care services
Type of settle-ment politics Public private services
Urban
Suburban
rural
? Policy-comparison ?
? Spatial differences ?
Space-related aspects of an ageing society
Liverpool -
20.06.06
21
Ageing society perception by experts
1. Introduction and space-related questions 2.
design of the study 3.Differences in
infrastructure 4. Elderly people Spatial
mobility Satisfaction Social networks 5.
Experts perception networks evaluation 6.results
and recommen-dations

• Perceptions differ by tasks and sector (private
  or public)
• Seldom Perception of the phenomenon as a complex
  process mostly sectoral thinking
• Economic interest dominant
• Often only reaction (instead of activism)

Space-related aspects of an ageing society
Liverpool -
20.06.06
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networks
1. Introduction and space-related questions 2.
design of the study 3.Differences in
infrastructure 4. Elderly people Spatial
mobility Satisfaction Social networks 5.
Experts perception networks evaluation 6.results
and recommen-dations

• Networks could solve problems of supply and
  social-medical care for elderly people
• Spatial differentiation
• Rural areas family
• urban areas work by volumteers and young
  elderly
• Suburban overlapping of generations

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Evaluation
1. Introduction and space-related questions 2.
design of the study 3.Differences in
infrastructure 4. Elderly people Spatial
mobility Satisfaction Social networks 5.
Experts perception networks evaluation 6.results
and recommen-dations

• Conflicts between experts because of customerized
  focus
• Too much focus on indivual initiatives and
  self-organisation
• demand for networks but little support through
  politics and administration

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Results
1. Introduction and space-related questions 2.
design of the study 3.Differences in
infrastructure 4. Elderly people Spatial
mobility Satisfaction Social networks 5.
Experts perception networks evaluation 6.results
and recommen-dations

• Significant spatial differences in infrastructure
  
• differentiation of the elderly and their patterns
  of activities by individuals instead of
  settlement patterns
• Spatial differentiation of the actions by experts

Space-related aspects of an ageing society
Liverpool -
20.06.06
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Recommendations
1. Introduction and space-related questions 2.
design of the study 3.Differences in
infrastructure 4. Elderly people Spatial
mobility Satisfaction Social networks 5.
Experts perception networks evaluation 6.results
and recommen-dations

• Importance of specific local circumstances
• Specific ways of solving problems
• Regional
• locally
• Recognition of the problem of ageing
• Development of strategies for the future
• Implementation of more efficient forms of medical
  and social assistance

Space-related aspects of an ageing society
Liverpool -
20.06.06
26
Space-related aspects of an ageing society
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!

• Elke Goltz and Karl Martin Born
• Free University of Berlin, Institute of Geography
  
• goltz_at_geog.fu-berlin.de / kmborn_at_geog.fu-berlin.de