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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Elderly population

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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Aging and Disability Services are Unequally Distributed Across the United States
Results of a study examining how the availability of aging and disability services (ADS) differs based on county characteristics. Includes a U.S. map showing locations of ADS deserts and features statistics on the probability of a county being an ADS desert, with breakdowns by metro, rural adjacent, and rural nonadjacent location.
Author(s): Claire Pendergrast, Danielle Rhubart
Date: 02/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion
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2021 Transportation Trends
Identifies trends and issues affecting the availability of accessible transportation for older adults and people with disabilities. Includes sections on rural community engagement and rural volunteer transportation programs. Highlights examples of programs underway in rural areas to address transportation needs.
Date: 02/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Aging and Disability Transportation Center
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Medicaid and Counties: Understanding the Program and Why It Matters to Counties
Discusses the importance of Medicaid in county-level healthcare. Describes the role Medicaid plays in financing and delivering healthcare for children, the elderly, the disabled, and rural residents. Highlights the impact of COVID-19 on the Medicaid program and challenges for county governments.
Date: 02/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Counties
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Access to Mental Health Services in Rural Pennsylvania
Results of a study to assess the demand for mental health services in rural Pennsylvania, with a focus on youth and the elderly. Identifies challenges these populations face in accessing mental health care to provide options for improving and expanding mental healthcare services for underserved rural Pennsylvanians. Features demographics and statistics on health and mental health needs in rural Pennsylvania, with breakdowns by county.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Author(s): Juliana Svistova, Ahyoung Lee, Christopher Harris, et al.
Date: 01/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Pennsylvania
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Assessment of a Community-Based Exercise Program for Older Adults in a Mixed Rural/Urban Catchment Area: Silver Sneakers in Central Pennsylvania
Study assessing the Silver Sneakers program, a federally funded, community-based exercise program for older adults, based on interviews with program staff in central Pennsylvania. Discusses rural/urban access to the program, facilities that offer the programs, and closures due to COVID-19.
Author(s): Eileen Flores, Sage Nakawa, Robbin Moyer, Shirley M. Bluethmann
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 19, 210283
Date: 01/2022
Type: Document
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Social Cohesion and Social Engagement among Older Adults Aging in Place: Rural/Urban Differences
Results of a study examining rural/urban differences in social cohesion and social engagement for older adults aging in place, and within-rural differences by race and ethnicity. Uses survey data collected in 2019 from 3,343 Medicare beneficiaries age 65 and older.
Author(s): Carrie Henning-Smith, Megan Lahr, Hannah MacDougall, John Mulcahy
Date: 01/2022
Type: Document
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Aging in Place in Rural America: Challenges, Opportunities, and Policy Initiatives
Webinar presenting results from studies investigating challenges, opportunities, and policy implications for older adults who are aging in place in rural areas. Examines nationally-representative survey data, offers a content analysis of state-level policies and initiatives, and describes a survey of representatives of state offices of rural health. Features statistics showing differences among rural and urban older adults in areas including educational attainment, income, housing type and ownership, unmet mobility needs, and social cohesion.
Additional links: Presentation Slides, Transcript
Author(s): Carrie Henning-Smith, Megan Lahr
Date: 01/2022
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organizations: Rural Health Research Gateway, University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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COVID-19 Vaccinations in Rural America
Provides an overview of trends in COVID-19 vaccination in rural areas through January 2022. Includes charts and maps comparing vaccination rates in metropolitan and nonmetro areas, as well as COVID-19 mortality. Discusses nonmetro vaccination rates among different demographic groups.
Date: 01/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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