Health study highlights loneliness and care in rural areas

Health study highlights loneliness and care in rural areas

The “RISING” study, an important research project on the health of people in rural regions, is approaching its final survey phase. The Emden/Leer University of Applied Sciences and the University of Vechta invite everyone aged 18 and over to take part in the survey by September 15, 2025. The aim of the study is to gain well-founded knowledge about the health situation of the rural population in northwest Lower Saxony in order to develop political and social recommendations for action. The results to date already show significant changes in mental health, particularly in people under 30 and in middle age. Loneliness and a lack of social relationships are key aspects associated with these changes. It is noticeable that young women in particular are increasingly reporting feelings of loneliness.

The final survey phase is intended to clarify open questions and develop options for intervention. To encourage participation, those interested have various options available: you can participate online, scan a QR code or request a written questionnaire. This happens as part of the interdisciplinary research network 4N, which connects a wide variety of areas. The study is being carried out as part of the “Nordwest Niedersachsen Nachhaltig Neu” project, which is financed by the federal state of Lower Saxony. This project aims to shape transformation potential for sustainable development in rural regions, focusing on topics such as sustainable education, digitalization, health, agricultural structural change, renewable energy, tourism and urban-rural planning.

Healthcare challenges

Health care in rural areas faces significant challenges. A key finding is that the population expects high-quality healthcare services, regardless of where they live. However, the number of health care facilities in rural areas is often lower than in urban centers. Low population density means that patients have to travel long distances to receive medical services. This is particularly problematic for older people, who have a higher disease burden and require more medical care.

Another problem is the lack of sustainability of pediatric practices in rural regions, which often cannot operate economically due to low numbers of children. Outpatient care in particular is provided primarily by general practitioners and specialists, psychotherapists as well as nursing and pharmacy services. Demand planning in these rural areas is carried out through medical self-administration guidelines, whereby there are often fewer doctors available per resident and practices are concentrated in larger cities.

Innovative approaches to improving healthcare

Innovative care models are essential to improve medical and nursing care in rural areas. Examples of such concepts include collaborations between general practitioners and specialists, telemedicine offers and mobile healthcare providers. The inpatient sector, which in rural areas often consists of smaller facilities such as acute hospitals and nursing homes, also faces challenges. These smaller facilities have higher costs per service, which often leads to department closures, as shown by the example of the Wolgast district hospital, which had to close its obstetrics and pediatrics departments in 2016 due to insufficient case numbers.

Access to hospitals is crucial for the population, although there is no uniform definition of “reasonable time”. Future healthcare therefore requires close cooperation between inpatient and outpatient sectors as well as the integration of healthcare into general public services planning. Innovative approaches could therefore help to overcome the challenges facing rural regions and improve the quality of life of the population living there.

For further information about the RISING study and possible participation options, please visit the website University of Vechta and that Press release document. For more in-depth context on healthcare in rural areas, contact the Federal Agency for Civic Education.