Making the invisible visible: Peralada, a case study

Abstract

Differences between rural and urban social environment define two different settings, each challenging elderly people with different needs. In general the lack of research approaching aging as a challenge and assuming the variability of the process reveals the particular need of studies focused on understanding how aging people live in rural contexts. This article describes our research experience in a rural municipality of Alt Empordà, Catalonia, Spain. Our main objectives were to understand aging people established in rural environments and situated in their daily life contexts, identify their needs, contribute to their functional autonomy and elaborate intervention proposals. Sample was formed by 223 aging people. Data were collected using a depth interview and Barber, Pfeiffer and Barthel questionnaires. Our results provide five relevant clues, useful when planning intervention in rural contexts. Basically professional intervention must be addressed to maintain/strength natural social networks functional on the territory.