In Germany, the current poverty rate among the elderly is not very high compared to the general population. Yet experts expect this situation to change in the near future. For many, the result could well be a return to poverty in later life. Given that German society is steadily aging as a result of demographic change, this issue requires foresight and hard data.

The living environment families experience most directly is the one shaped at the local level. Family policy requires an interdisciplinary approach and must be considered during all decision-making processes if communities and society as a whole are to have a viable future. Families make valuable contributions that benefit everyone.

Most people in Germany are now aware that the country’s population is shrinking, aging and becoming more diverse. Having detailed data on future demographic structures can help policymakers make far-reaching decisions about which actions to take.

Demographic change in Germany primarily manifests as a decrease in the size of the population and an increase in its age. In other words, Germany is becoming home to fewer people who on average are growing older. In addition, the composition of the population is changing as a result of immigration, which is necessary to ensure the country’s future. The result is a more diverse society. Whether and how the country’s diverse inhabitants can learn to live together as one can be seen most readily at the community level. Which strategies can cities and towns use to help people who are not German become part of German society?

Local structures for senior care and networks that bring the relevant participants together are two possible solutions to mold demographic change in communities.

The focus here is intergenerational, community-based housing and support – which are critical for safeguarding a sustainable future for Germany.

Organized by the German Ministry for Education and Research, Science Year 2015 is dedicated to the topic “City of the Future.” For many people, cities are the center of their lives and their everyday experiences; where people work, relax, learn and participate in cultural activities. Cities are also where issues critical to society’s future make themselves felt: good jobs, climate protection, sustainable transportation, health, immigration and demographic change, to name but a few. They are also where responses to these challenges are being rethought and reworked.

Demographic types classify Germany’s cities and towns into groups based on indicators that document their demographic, economic and social development. The following text provides detailed information on the communities’ potential and challenges, as well as the concrete responses that result from the situation faced by each group.