Publication details
Ageing in Rural Areas : Case of the Czech Republic
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| Year of publication | 2017 |
| Type | Appeared in Conference without Proceedings |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
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| Description | We are interested in the subjective perception of older people and focus on the perceived changes in their living environments and the patterns of their everyday outdoor mobility and activities as a function of the type of rurality. The majority of older people have perceived considerable change in their neighbourhoods over the years. They are aware of the building of new houses and infrastructure, the expansion of tourism, but also the decline of past agricultural cooperatives, industrial facilities, and historical buildings as well as a rise in unemployment. In contrast, respondents report little or only moderate change with respect to neighbours remaining in the same area. The concerns of older people arise mainly from increasing levels of traffic, decreasing numbers of public and private services, and declining levels of public transport. On the other hand, the majority asses shops and services to be generally easily accessible. The ways older people adjust to such changes are investigated, the types of change differing according to the type of rurality and geographical location of the settlement. Overall, older people living in rural areas asses their living environments positively and appreciate the reconstruction of buildings, roads and public areas. The second thread of our research is directed at different types of activities (obligatory as well as discretionary) and how they are influenced by the nature of the surrounding environment and access to services. Patterns of mobility are analysed in terms of the environment, on the one hand, and the possession among older people of various forms and levels of cultural, social and economic capital, on the other. The main advantages and disadvantages of the defined types of ruralities for older people are identified. |
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