Older People 'on the Edge' in the Countrysides of Europe

Relatively few comparative studies have focused specifically upon the socio‐economic conditions affecting the welfare of older rural Europeans. Such publications as exist are usually confined to single studies. In presenting a European overview of their ‘life‐world’ this paper focuses upon the general conditions of older rural Europeans, living in different types of countryside within a centre–periphery framework. These conditions are largely dependent upon the interconnectivity (nexus) between regional urban centres and the older people's types of settlement. The extent of the global socio‐economic flows between urban centres and countrysides is critical, especially for those living in less accessible and remote European areas. Older people's positive and negative outcomes are seen to occur within four possible urban–rural parameters. The first consists of two‐way socio‐economic urban–rural flows that are more likely to be of benefit to significant numbers of older persons, especially in urban fringe and accessible countrysides. The second parameter arises when there is a long‐standing impasse, where the lack of communication between the rural locality and urban centre hampers socio‐economic urban–rural flows, isolating older people, particularly in less accessible and remote countrysides. The third occurs when regional and local urban centres block or cut back socio‐economic flows to the countryside. The fourth takes place when the rural communities resist socio‐economic urban flows that they regard as a threat to their rural idyll. Exemplars within each of the four urban–rural alternatives help to show the applicability and workability of this four‐way exploratory approach.     

A Conspectus of Types,Options and Conditions of Elder-accommodation in the European Continent

A European housing typology for older people does not exist. There is a need to formulate a workable typology of elder-housing to enable planners and providers to make use of a meaningful categorization of accommodation within public, voluntary, private and mixed housing in a highly diversified Europe. This paper proposes an overarching typology, incorporating the notion of independent living accommodation and of assisted living accommodation as major categories, embracing 21 housing options. The usual use of the category of social housing is excluded because in Europe it has conflicting and overlapping meanings. Using the suggested typology, the provisions of independent living and of assisted living are commented upon in centre-periphery terms. Finally, the paper indicates that although the EU is the main European provider of welfare, it has virtually no housing policy, and its planning and provision are hindered by long-term constraints.