Social participation for the elderly in rural areas

Brandenburg an der Havel, 25 July 2025

A key factor for elderly people’s health and life satisfaction is social integration. But social participation tends to be lower in rural and structurally weak regions with rapidly ageing populations. A  current research report from the Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane (MHB) explores the situation based on a study about the Uckermark area (Brandenburg) and identifies chances, challenges and options to improve the social inclusion of the elderly.

According to first author Anke Desch, findings clearly indicate a need for innovative concepts and targeted measures to improve the situation on a long-term basis: “This includes appropriate mobility schemes, support for local initiatives and better health prevention for the elderly.”

The research team combined a mapping of 594 social clubs and associations all over the district with expert interviews of honorary and full-time staff from seniors’ clubs, social associations and local initiatives. Anke Desch says there is at least one association offering inclusion to senior citizens in more than 60 percent of all communities. But health restrictions, a lack of infrastructure or social withdrawal constitute major obstacles.

Major barriers to social inclusion of elderly people:

• Health-related problems: Illness, impaired mobility and medical visits complicate participation in group activities. An experienced volunteer worker reports that most people over 80 have health problems such as dementia or incontinence, which makes participation difficult.
• Poverty: Retirement pensions for agricultural activities are modest in general, and women are affected in particular. Many are not aware that they can apply for financial aid, or are ashamed or too proud to claim support.
• Absence of infrastructure: Public transport is often not available in rural areas, trips to events are expensive or impossible to organize. The number of social meeting places is declining. One interview partner regrets the disapperance of, for example, small bakeries where many elderly people used to meet.
• Difficult access: Many seniors are not familiar with digital media, have poor access to informative events, or data protection forbids the use of address lists. One of the potential consequences is hidden social isolation.
• Lack of motivation and cultural differences: Some elderly people do not feel attracted or see community activities as too formal and obligatory. A factor like regional mentality – in the case of the Uckermark, a supposed tendency to “restraint and stubbornness” - may also make people less inclined to join in.
• Group dynamics and conflicts: Existing offers are often dominated by established cliques, and newcomers meet with skepticism. Intergenerational formats do not attract much response due to differences in interests and values.  
• Sustainability issues: Membership in many voluntary groups dwindles for lack of young people, or because too much effort is required. The Corona pandemic has additionally accelerated this trend.

Recommendations:

Experts suggest a stronger focus on inclusion of the elderly in political decision-making and long-term support with funds and human resources. The director of one of the social associations involved in the study underlines the key role of political responsibility in preserving livable rural areas for all generations.  

Improved networking and cooperation among associations, administrations and citizen initiatives are moreover required to use existing resources more efficiently and create new support formats. Innovative projects such as citizens’ buses or shuttles to complement public transport are promising examples.  

Last but not least, the social activities offered should be better tailored to the wishes and needs of senior citizens. According to a dedicated volunteer of advanced age, a wide range of low-threshold options is required – from small and local meeting places to new formats of participation for different kinds of lifestyle.

Conclusion

The study illustrates how social participation of elderly people in rural areas like the Uckermark region is affected by structural factors like health, funding and infrastructure, and on the other hand by dynamic influences such as local culture, individual preferences and social change. The authors appeal to decision-makers in politics, society and at community level to join forces and develop solutions in proactive response to demographic change and for a better integration of senior citizens.

Project team and supporters

Developed and supervised by Dr. Philipp Jaehn and Dr. Andreas Bergholz, the project was conducted by doctoral candidate Anke Desch with support from Niklas Demmerer, Dr. Sylvia Euler and Prof. Dr. Christine Holmberg. Funding came from the MHB Faculty of Health Sciences. Special thanks go to numerous interview partners for sharing their personal experience and insights with the research team.

The study with the title “Opportunities, challenges, and future directions for the public social participation of older adults living in a rural region in Germany” by Anke Desch et al. has been published in the Journal of Rural Studies (2025) and is available  here.

For questions and interview requests please contact:

M.A. Anke Desch
Institut für Sozialmedizin und Epidemiologie
Medizinische Hochschule Brandenburg Theodor Fontane
E-Mail: anke.desch@mhb-fontane.de