■ In the course of demographic change, the number of elderly migrants increases, and the population of elderly people in Germany becomes more varied - facts that have to be taken into account more intensely when it comes to planning services for elderly people in the future. The need for action is intensified by the fact that elderly migrants are still worse off than natives of the same age in many areas of life (e.g. income, health, etc.). At the same time, elderly migrants cannot automatically be regarded as helpless or isolated because of their solid family help networks. Meanwhile, on political and social levels, approaches have been developed to open services and institutions for the special needs of minority ethnic elders. Furthermore, offers have been established by the creation of ethnic-specific emphases that focus on the life style and the everyday life of the target group. In spite of all these efforts, the whole range of care services for the population of elderly migrants is still regarded as insufficient by experts. Therefore, especially in the fields of networking, cooperation and controlling of the people involved, information transfer, and training measures that aim at better preparing the provider of care services for elderly people are highly recommended in order to meet the increasing needs of help and care of older migrants more precisely. © Steinkopff 2005.

Situation in life Care services for elderly people Interculturality Elderly migrants

Germany lifestyle health care planning demography indigenous people minority group human daily life activity aging middle aged statistics health service social aspect Aged ethnology groups by age Health Services Needs and Demand health income Humans family Aged, 80 and over Review population research cultural factor life migration politics age distribution Emigration and Immigration Cultural Characteristics health center Health Services for the Aged health care need elderly care