Urbanization created the situation when a significant proportion of the population reside in big cities. Despite this fact, millions of people still live in the countryside, where the density of population is much lower, and the infrastructure is less developed. The life of the elderly in rural areas is different from their counterparts in cities, and there are both advantages and disadvantages for older adults that are specific to the countryside.
Lack of infrastructure and public transportation is one of the significant disadvantages that older adults face living in rural communities. Often, it is very difficult to move around unless a person has a car, which leads many older people to stay at home most of the time. This situation is realistically depicted in The Straight Story by David Lynch. The movie tells the story of an elderly man who wants to see his ill brother. Not being able to drive a car due to an eye impairment, the man covers a distance of 240 miles on a lawn mower.
Limited access to high-quality healthcare is another major disadvantage of living in the countryside that is especially relevant for older adults. Apart from being far away from many villages, the hospitals in rural regions are usually much worse equipped compared to medical facilities in the cities. This situation compromises the ability of people to receive high-quality treatments and has a negative effect on health outcomes.
The ability to be closer to nature is, on the other hand, a big advantage of living in rural areas. Surprisingly, although cities provide their inhabitants with better access to different kinds of entertainment, older adults in the countryside often live much more actively. Fishing, gardening, crafts, and other hobbies and activities allow the elderly to stay busy and find motivation for life after retirement.
The elderly in the countryside live differently from older adults in cities. Limited access and lower quality of healthcare together with poor infrastructure and public transportation create serious disadvantages. At the same time, life in rural areas provides older adults with a possibility to live closer to nature and lead a more active lifestyle, occupying themselves with activities that are not available in cities.