Later life in the village. Services for the elderly on farms (VivAge)

The need of elder people especially in small villages might be covered by offering services on farms creating profits on both sides: the opportunity for an additional income for farmers, and a lively surrounding including certain effects of horticultural or animal-assisted therapies for the elderly. As part of the project VivAge an explorative study was conducted to get a first overview on possibilities and obstacles in the connection of these two separated branches. Results show that especially housing offers are demanded and economical while there are certain difficulties and different solutions to establish those on farms. The quality of services for the elderly, however, seems to depend less on an agricultural environment than on integration in everyday life and the kind of social contacts. Nevertheless, farms have good chances to offer these aspects. Moreover, especially animals seem to be useful in interactions with dementia patients