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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Aging and aging-related services

Preserving Independence among Under-Resourced Older Adults in the Southeastern United States: Existing Barriers and Potential Strategies for Research
Literature review examining barriers to independent aging in the Southeast, including physical, mental, and social challenges related to chronic conditions, health disparities, and access to care. Includes a section on barriers for older adults in rural areas of the Southeast.
Author(s): Ene M. Enogela, Taylor Buchanan, Christy S. Carter, et al.
Citation: International Journal for Equity in Health, 21, 119
Date: 08/2022
Type: Document
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Older Adults and Adults with Disabilities: Federal Programs Provide Support for Preventing Falls, but Program Reach is Limited
Provides an overview of nine federal programs designed to provide evidence-based falls prevention, home assessments, or home modifications for older adults and adults with disabilities. Explores what federal agencies know about how these programs affect participants' health and to what extent agencies coordinate their efforts and provide consumer information. Includes data on the estimated percentage of falls among adults with disabilities by demographic characteristics and identifies programs serving rural communities.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 07/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Nursing Homes in Rural America: A Chartbook
Explores county-level nursing home availability and evaluates the supply of nursing home beds per 1,000 population aged 65 and older. Identifies nursing home availability for counties with and without hospitals with swing beds, and describes the resident and nursing home characteristics including occupancy levels, payer mix, demographics, and healthcare needs. Features statistics with breakdowns by noncore, micropolitan, and metropolitan counties.
Author(s): Hari Sharma, Lili Xu, Fred Ullrich, Clint MacKinney, Keith J. Mueller
Date: 07/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
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Innovations from the Field: AAAs Work to Improve Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Presents case studies of how seven Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) implemented equity and inclusion efforts within their organizations and through service delivery. Highlights programs serving rural Iowa, Oregon, and New York.
Date: 05/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: USAging
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Veterans Health Administration Interdisciplinary Clinical Video-Telehealth for Geriatrics and Dementia
Highlights a model for delivering interdisciplinary clinical care via video-based telehealth for geriatric rural veterans with dementia. Presents methods for overcoming geographic barriers to provide dementia care for rural veterans with a team of professionals such as social workers, pharmacists, and geriatricians via remote consultations with rural providers.
Additional links: One-page Overview
Date: 04/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Veterans Health Administration's Office of Rural Health
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Reach and Adoption of a Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation Program in the United States
Examines geriatric emergency departments receiving either Level 1, 2, or 3 Geriatric Emergency Department accreditation by March 1, 2021. Shows rural and urban locations of accredited facilities as well as their distribution compared to the U.S. population aged 65 and older. Lists care processes available at accredited facilities.
Author(s): Maura Kennedy, Adriane Lesser, Juhi Israni, et al.
Citation: Annals of Emergency Medicine: An International Journal 79(4), 367-373
Date: 04/2022
Type: Document
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Arizona State Plan on Aging 2023 – 2026
Offers a 4-year plan for Arizona's Division of Adult and Aging Services (DAAS) outlining priorities and objectives. Addresses rural and tribal issues throughout, discussing access to quality care, well-being and safety, strengthening the paraprofessional and professional workforce, and enhancing care delivery infrastructure. Includes summaries of needs assessment comments.
Date: 04/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Arizona Department of Economic Security
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Rural Quality of Life: Opportunities and Challenges for the Rural Care Economy
Recording of a March 22, 2022, hearing of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry on challenges and opportunities for the care economy in rural communities. Features testimony from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Undersecretary for Rural Development, the University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center, and Southeast Health Group, a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) in rural La Junta, Colorado.
Additional links: Carrie Henning-Smith, University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center - Testimony, Joseph Carrica, Southeast Health Group - Testimony
Date: 03/2022
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
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The Lives of Native Hawaiian Elders and Their Experiences With Healthcare: A Qualitative Analysis
Highlights a 5-year study on the experiences of Native Hawaiian elders have had accessing quality healthcare. Discusses barriers to healthcare for Native Hawaiian elders, including those residing in rural areas.
Author(s): Keilyn Leina'ala Kawakami, Shelley Muneoka, Rachel L. Burrage, et al.
Citation: Frontiers in Public Health
Date: 02/2022
Type: Document
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2021 FTA Section 5310 Compendium
Provides an overview of the Section 5310 Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities program, which is designed to support the specialized transportation needs of older adults and people with disabilities. Discusses the role of Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) using Section 5310 funding to develop and manage accessible transportation programs. Includes case studies and examples of how AAAs used Section 5310 funding, including programs serving rural residents.
Date: 02/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Aging and Disability Transportation Center
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