Research on rural gerontology: Where have we got to and where are we going in Europe? Professor Vanessa Burholt Age NI Rural Ageing Workshop, The Mount Conference Centre, 30 th May 2013

Outline of presentation International Rural Ageing Project Progress over the last decade Emerging areas for research in the next decade

International Rural Ageing Project Demography of rural ageing Health and access to services Intergenerational relationships A life-course perspective Participation and the role of rural elders Impact of technology Evidence of polices working in rural settings Subjects that urgently need additional study:

Publications in Europe and the Global North

Framework for rural ageing research over the next decade Forecast Areas  Themes  Social, Economic, Political TechnologyClimate Change Agriculture Demography Rural poverty in CEE Digital exclusion Disaggregation of excess winter/summer deaths by region type Trends in agriculture: abandonment; sustainable local production & migration Privatisation of state owned farms in Eastern Europe Migration for food security in Eastern Europe Health & Access to services Future physical and mental health needs Migrant workers caring for rural elders Elder abuse in the absence of monitoring care quality Telemedicine & Telehealth Smart housing Increase in serious disease Response to emergencies Abandonment & service provision decline Relationships Changing patterns of families New virtual social spaces & relationships New surveillance and interactive status monitoring in caregiving for frail elders Fuel cost impact on transnational inter- and intra- generational relationships Abandonment & impact on informal support Lifelong individual development Employment/retirement patterns Psychological resources Educational needs Distance learning Remote employment opportunities Health promotion Role of older people as ‘thrifty’ mentors in sustainability Retirement from agriculture Participation Leisure Volunteerism Physical activity Local governance Transport Security & fear of crime Social, collective activism Sustainable communities Choice in space and place Policy & Planning From recommendation, through development to implementation Rural planning Psychosocial impact of change The bio-fuel debate

Framework for rural ageing research over the next decade Forecast Areas  Themes  Social, Economic, Political TechnologyClimate Change Agriculture Demography Rural poverty in CEE Digital exclusion Disaggregation of excess winter/summer deaths by region type Trends in agriculture: abandonment; sustainable local production & migration Privatisation of state owned farms in Eastern Europe Migration for food security in Eastern Europe Health & Access to services Future physical and mental health needs Migrant workers caring for rural elders Elder abuse in the absence of monitoring care quality Telemedicine & Telehealth Smart housing Increase in serious disease Response to emergencies Abandonment & service provision decline Relationships Changing patterns of families New virtual social spaces & relationships New surveillance and interactive status monitoring in caregiving for frail elders Fuel cost impact on transnational inter- and intra- generational relationships Abandonment & impact on informal support Lifelong individual development Employment/retirement patterns Psychological resources Educational needs Distance learning Remote employment opportunities Health promotion Role of older people as ‘thrifty’ mentors in sustainability Retirement from agriculture Participation Leisure Volunteerism Physical activity Local governance Transport Security & fear of crime Social, collective activism Sustainable communities Choice in space and place Policy & Planning From recommendation, through development to implementation Rural planning Psychosocial impact of change The bio-fuel debate

Rural Ageing Research: Technology & demography 1.People over 65 are particularly vulnerable to digital exclusion 2.They are neglected by government policy and a youth-driven IT industry (with some exceptions) 3.The way that older users feel about the internet will become increasingly significant as they grow in number

Framework for rural ageing research over the next decade Forecast Areas  Themes  Social, Economic, Political TechnologyClimate Change Agriculture Demography Rural poverty in CEE Digital exclusion Disaggregation of excess winter/summer deaths by region type Trends in agriculture: abandonment; sustainable local production & migration Privatisation of state owned farms in Eastern Europe Migration for food security in Eastern Europe Health & Access to services Future physical and mental health needs Migrant workers caring for rural elders Elder abuse in the absence of monitoring care quality Telemedicine & Telehealth Smart housing Increase in serious disease Response to emergencies Abandonment & service provision decline Relationships Changing patterns of families New virtual social spaces & relationships New surveillance and interactive status monitoring in caregiving for frail elders Fuel cost impact on transnational inter- and intra- generational relationships Abandonment & impact on informal support Lifelong individual development Employment/retirement patterns Psychological resources Educational needs Distance learning Remote employment opportunities Health promotion Role of older people as ‘thrifty’ mentors in sustainability Retirement from agriculture Participation Leisure Volunteerism Physical activity Local governance Transport Security & fear of crime Social, collective activism Sustainable communities Choice in space and place Policy & Planning From recommendation, through development to implementation Rural planning Psychosocial impact of change The bio-fuel debate

Rural Ageing Research: Increase in serious disease

Framework for rural ageing research over the next decade Forecast Areas  Themes  Social, Economic, Political TechnologyClimate Change Agriculture Demography Rural poverty in CEE Digital exclusion Disaggregation of excess winter/summer deaths by region type Trends in agriculture: abandonment; sustainable local production & migration Privatisation of state owned farms in Eastern Europe Migration for food security in Eastern Europe Health & Access to services Future physical and mental health needs Migrant workers caring for rural elders Elder abuse in the absence of monitoring care quality Telemedicine & Telehealth Smart housing Increase in serious disease Response to emergencies Abandonment & service provision decline Relationships Changing patterns of families New virtual social spaces & relationships New surveillance and interactive status monitoring in caregiving for frail elders Fuel cost impact on transnational inter- and intra- generational relationships Abandonment & impact on informal support Lifelong individual development Employment/retirement patterns Psychological resources Educational needs Distance learning Remote employment opportunities Health promotion Role of older people as ‘thrifty’ mentors in sustainability Retirement from agriculture Participation Leisure Volunteerism Physical activity Local governance Transport Security & fear of crime Social, collective activism Sustainable communities Choice in space and place Policy & Planning From recommendation, through development to implementation Rural planning Psychosocial impact of change The bio-fuel debate

Rural Ageing Research: Agriculture and demographic trends

Framework for rural ageing research over the next decade Forecast Areas  Themes  Social, Economic, Political TechnologyClimate Change Agriculture Demography Rural poverty in CEE Digital exclusion Disaggregation of excess winter/summer deaths by region type Trends in agriculture: abandonment; sustainable local production & migration Privatisation of state owned farms in Eastern Europe Migration for food security in Eastern Europe Health & Access to services Future physical and mental health needs Migrant workers caring for rural elders Elder abuse in the absence of monitoring care quality Telemedicine & Telehealth Smart housing Increase in serious disease Response to emergencies Abandonment & service provision decline Relationships Changing patterns of families New virtual social spaces & relationships New surveillance and interactive status monitoring in caregiving for frail elders Fuel cost impact on transnational inter- and intra- generational relationships Abandonment & impact on informal support Lifelong individual development Employment/retirement patterns Psychological resources Educational needs Distance learning Remote employment opportunities Health promotion Role of older people as ‘thrifty’ mentors in sustainability Retirement from agriculture Participation Leisure Volunteerism Physical activity Local governance Transport Security & fear of crime Social, collective activism Sustainable communities Choice in space and place Policy & Planning From recommendation, through development to implementation Rural planning Psychosocial impact of change The bio-fuel debate