Depopulation and social work: Care provision as a strategic focus for intervention

Abstract

Rural depopulation is one of the major socio-structural challenges facing Spain today, impacting social sustainability and care provision. This article analyses the impact of depopulation on care provision in rural areas and examines the strategic role of social work in the face of eroding family, community, State and market networks that have traditionally ensured such provision. The research is based on a qualitative study carried out over three years in three rural areas of Andalusia characterized by significant population loss. It involved conducting in-depth interviews and participatory workshops with twenty-nine social work professionals. The results show that depopulation increases the demand for care—due to ageing, loneliness, and chronic conditions—while weakening the available resources to address it. In this context, social workers play a central role as providers, mediators, and coordinators of care provision, highlighting their community intervention, presence, activation of networks, and institutional mediation. The study concludes that these practices shape a specific model of rural social work, key to the well-being, equity and sustainability of depopulated territories, and calls for greater recognition in public policies, research and academic training.