[The very elderly in Germany: demography, regional inequalities, and health-an overview]

The proportion of very elderly people in the German population is steadily increasing. As a result, their specific needs-for example, with regard to regional healthcare and support structures-are becoming increasingly important. This article introduces the current issue with an overview of the living conditions and health status of people aged 80 and over.First, the population group is described based on demographic characteristics. Women clearly predominate among the very elderly; furthermore, gender-specific differences are evident in terms of income, remaining life expectancy, and marital status. Their share of the population varies regionally-in some cases considerably-and is linked to the respective region's development potential. The proportion of very old people in the population is particularly high in structurally weak and low-income regions.Based on the representative Gesundheit 65+ study (Robert Koch Institute, RKI) and D80+ study (ceres), key data on the health status of the very elderly are presented. The article addresses subjective health, health limitations, diseases and multimorbidity, need for care, and dementia. The health data, which also highlight gender-specific differences and health inequalities, point to fields of action that should be addressed in order to ensure equal living conditions. Structurally weak regions in particular face major challenges in providing the necessary care and health infrastructure for a dignified life in old age.