[Residential mobility in the elderly. Current results of geographic mobility research in unified Germany].

Elderly migrations are often considered as amenity-oriented long distance moves or as decisions for a change by moving into homes for the aged. The intention of this contribution is to prove the validity of these assumptions in the light of actual results of migration research in unified Germany. The findings of the spatial pattern of internal migrations as well as the characteristics of the migrants and their reasons underline the necessity of more differentiated considerations. They neither prove the relationships between migration participation and the available personal resources, nor the assumption that elderly migrants usually prefer long distance moves to attractive regions. Due to this, the relocations into institutions or retirement areas together only represent about one third of all migrations. The majority leaves their community and migrates to kin-oriented networks when they feel they are not able to manage their living conditions by themselves. Beside this exogenous reasons within the housing environments or the housing demands of the ethnic germans from eastern Europe force elderly to decide to move.