Vyresnio amžiaus Lietuvos kaimo žmonių nuostatos dėl viešųjų paslaugų teikimo ; Lithuanian elderly people attitudes towards public service provision in rural areas

Abstract

In Lithuania, as in many countries around the world, observed the phenomenon of demographic aging. Concerns about demographic aging pose a debate not only in scientific but also in political discourse. The international community has begun to draw more attention to the demographic aging challenges and search for measures to mitigate them. The share of 65 years and older population in rural areas is bigger than in cities. To ensure the older population dignified, healthy, active aging is important to ensure their access to main public services, which supply in rural areas is more complicated, compare with the cities. Scientists, politicians raises the question - is it good to grow old in rural areas? For public sector organizations that seek to optimize the delivery of public services is important to know the level of customer satisfaction, to assess it in order to make appropriate decisions on further action. The aim of research – to assess attitudes of elderly rural residents toward public services delivery and their opinion on opportunities to volunteer by themselves. The study identifies main tendencies of demographic aging in rural areas, overviews the challenges of aging. Discuss the supply of public services in rural areas aspects and obstacles. The alternatives for traditional public service delivery strategies were overviewed. A structures opinion survey about elderly rural resident's attitudes toward public services delivery was performed. 5 spheres of public services were researched: transport, social services, family doctor accessibility, cultural activity, feeling of safety. Respondents were also asked about volunteering experience. According to the results of survey elder rural resident are not satisfied about transport service delivery, the most difficulties were experienced by living alone, living in remote areas and having worse health state.