Aging in rural and urban areas: a case study about differences and similarities in paranaense town

This article aims at reporting the similarities and differences of elderly people living in rural and urban areas in a town from Paraná state. Based on this case study, the sociodemographic aspects and the perception of the elderly were based on eight axes of the World Health Organization – WHO, Elderly Friendly City Global Guide: Open spaces and buildings; Transport; Home; Social participation; Respect and social inclusion; Civic participation and employment; Communication and information and Community support and health services. The results showed that the demands for this sample are related to the axes of respect and social inclusion, and to the axis of housing. The similarities found in the sociodemographic profile of this sample of the elderly population are: gender, age group and living in the house. The differences reported by elderly people in rural areas are: safety and social interaction; and, of urban space are: mobility, and inclusion of the elderly in public management. Thus, a homogeneity was found in the sociodemographic profile of the elderly population residing in rural and urban areas of the studied town. Thus, the identified demands are similar to the WHO studies for environments favorable to the aging of the world population.