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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Elderly population

Living at Home in Rural America: Improving Accessibility for Older Adults and People with a Disability
Information on current federal resources, programs, and initiatives intended to improve home safety and accessibility for rural older adults and people with disabilities. Supports the Rural Health Strategy, launched by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in 2018 to improve health care in rural America by leveraging partnerships on the federal, regional, state, and local levels.
Date: 08/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Administration for Community Living, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
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Age and Aging in Rural America
Discusses results from the Census and American Community Survey (ACS), highlighting the older and aging population of rural communities in the U.S. Provides maps showing county-level data from 2018, with information on median age and percent of population belonging to various age groups.
Date: 08/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Housing Assistance Council
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Assessment of Racial Disparities in Mortality Rates Among Older Adults Living in US Rural vs Urban Counties From 1968 to 2016
Study using CDC WONDER data from 3,131 counties over a 49-year period. Features statistics on adjusted and unadjusted mortality rates among people 65 years and older, with breakdowns by race, gender, and urban, rural adjacent, and rural nonadjacent locations.
Author(s): Nasim B. Ferdows, Maria P. Aranda, Julie A. Baldwin, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 3(8)
Date: 08/2020
Type: Document
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Rural Health and COVID-19
Information to help hospital and health system emergency planners and state and local public health emergency planners understand the challenges rural communities face related to COVID-19. Addresses issues facing healthcare facilities and those related to at-risk residents. Includes proposed solutions and mitigation steps.
Date: 08/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response
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The Role of Transportation in Addressing Social Isolation in Older Adults
Summarizes the findings of a research project that included a literature review and interviews of experts to determine if a lack of transportation is associated with the probability of social isolation among older adults. Highlights common themes among three examples of transit programs, identifies funding sources for rural and urban organizations, and offers recommendations for additional research.
Additional links: Condensed Report
Author(s): Carrie Henning-Smith, Christina Worrall, Madelyn Klabunde, Yingling Fan
Date: 07/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: National Center for Mobility Management, State Health Access Data Assistance Center, University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Medicare's Mental Health Coverage: How COVID-19 Highlights Gaps and Opportunities for Improvement
Report explores Medicare beneficiaries' access to mental healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic. Breaks down data by beneficiary type, severity of illness, and rural versus urban location, among other measures. Highlights barriers to care and makes recommendations for the future.
Author(s): Beth McGinty
Date: 07/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
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Rural Social Isolation and Loneliness: Rates, Importance, and Identifying Risk
Three-part webinar recording discussing loneliness and isolation in rural areas before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Part one details isolation rates and risk assessment; part two highlights programs working to make connections with the aging rural populations during the pandemic; and part three explores community building and grief support during COVID-19.
Additional links: Session Three: Rural but Reachable: How to Build Grief Support by Creating Community, Session Two: The Evolving Nature of Social Connections: Promoting Well-Being in Times of Crisis
Date: 07/2020
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: Mountain Plains Mental Health Technology Transfer Center
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Trends in Nonfatal Falls and Fall-Related Injuries Among Adults Aged ≥65 Years — United States, 2012–2018
Examines nonfatal falls and fall-related injuries among adults 65 and older by age group and demographic characteristics, including urban or rural location. Data is provided by age group for ages 65-74, 75-84, and 85 and older.
Author(s): Briana Moreland, Ramakrishna Kakara, Ankita Henry
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 69(27), 875-881
Date: 07/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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As the Rural Veteran Population Declined, the Share That Were Age 65 or Older Increased
Combined bar and line chart showing the number of rural veterans from 1992 through 2018 and the percent of rural veterans age 65 and older.
Date: 07/2020
Type: Chart/Graph
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Older and Growing - Percent Change Among the 65 and Older Population: 2010 to 2019
Map showing county-level changes in the population 65 years and older from 2010 to 2019.
Date: 06/2020
Type: Map/Mapping System
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau
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