Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Elderly population
Compared With Urban Counties, Rural Counties Had a Lower Share of Working-Age Populations and a Higher Share of Residents Older Than 60 in 2023
Chart showing percentages of working-age populations and share of residents older than 60 in 2023, with breakdowns by urban and rural areas.
Author(s): Richelle L. Winkler
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
view details
Chart showing percentages of working-age populations and share of residents older than 60 in 2023, with breakdowns by urban and rural areas.
Author(s): Richelle L. Winkler
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
view details
As Rural Populations Grow Older, Communities Increasingly Rely on Smaller Labor Force
Reports on rural-urban differences in labor force availability and age dependency ratios caused by the growing demographic share of older people in the U.S. Breaks down data by county-level rurality, and discusses rural infrastructure, healthcare, and caregiving needs.
Author(s): Richelle L. Winkler
Citation: Amber Waves
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
view details
Reports on rural-urban differences in labor force availability and age dependency ratios caused by the growing demographic share of older people in the U.S. Breaks down data by county-level rurality, and discusses rural infrastructure, healthcare, and caregiving needs.
Author(s): Richelle L. Winkler
Citation: Amber Waves
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
view details
Maine Healthy Aging Data Report: Highlights from 2025
Reports on the demographics, health, and strengths and vulnerabilities of Maine's older adult population, with pages 13-18 providing rural, urban, and suburban community health comparison data. See related maps and community profiles for additional data on a variety of health conditions and factors influencing health.
Additional links: Supporting materials
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: Point32Health Foundation
view details
Reports on the demographics, health, and strengths and vulnerabilities of Maine's older adult population, with pages 13-18 providing rural, urban, and suburban community health comparison data. See related maps and community profiles for additional data on a variety of health conditions and factors influencing health.
Additional links: Supporting materials
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: Point32Health Foundation
view details
Financial Health and Well-Being of Rural Female Caregivers of Older Adults with Chronic Illnesses
Examines the financial burdens of female caregivers living in rural areas. Provides interview feedback from 20 women caring for older adults with chronic illnesses, focusing on themes such as gender role imbalances, financial pressures, stress, time constraints, and more.
Author(s): Nasreen Lalani, Evans Appiah Osei, Siqi Yang, Bhagyashree Katare, Sampada Wagle
Citation: BMC Geriatrics, 25, 239
Date: 04/2025
view details
Examines the financial burdens of female caregivers living in rural areas. Provides interview feedback from 20 women caring for older adults with chronic illnesses, focusing on themes such as gender role imbalances, financial pressures, stress, time constraints, and more.
Author(s): Nasreen Lalani, Evans Appiah Osei, Siqi Yang, Bhagyashree Katare, Sampada Wagle
Citation: BMC Geriatrics, 25, 239
Date: 04/2025
view details
Wisconsin's Graying Population
A county-level map of Wisconsin showing percentage of people over 65.
Date: 03/2025
Sponsoring organization: Applied Population Laboratory
view details
A county-level map of Wisconsin showing percentage of people over 65.
Date: 03/2025
Sponsoring organization: Applied Population Laboratory
view details
Wandering Elder & Alzheimer's Toolkit: Creating a Tribal Elder Safety Net to Address Wandering Persons
Provides guidelines, tools, and strategies supporting community responses to wandering incidents among tribal elders with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. Discusses cultural, clinical, and community factors influencing ADRD prevalence and treatment, wandering behavior, and community response in tribal nations and communities.
Date: 03/2025
Sponsoring organization: International Association for Indigenous Aging
view details
Provides guidelines, tools, and strategies supporting community responses to wandering incidents among tribal elders with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. Discusses cultural, clinical, and community factors influencing ADRD prevalence and treatment, wandering behavior, and community response in tribal nations and communities.
Date: 03/2025
Sponsoring organization: International Association for Indigenous Aging
view details
Rural Areas Have More Older People Exposed to Greater Wildfire Risk
Bar chart comparing the number of adults 60 or older with moderate, high, or highest risk of wildfire exposure by rurality.
Author(s): Richelle L. Winkler
Date: 03/2025
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
view details
Bar chart comparing the number of adults 60 or older with moderate, high, or highest risk of wildfire exposure by rurality.
Author(s): Richelle L. Winkler
Date: 03/2025
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
view details
As Older Rural Population Grew, Ratio of Rural U.S. Eldercare Establishments Fell
Bar chart comparing the number of eldercare establishments per 1,000 adults 65 or older in rural and urban areas between 2010 and 2023. Eldercare establishments include those that provide home health, long-term care, or assisted living services, as noted in the 2024 Rural America At a Glance report.
Author(s): Brandon Genetin
Date: 03/2025
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
view details
Bar chart comparing the number of eldercare establishments per 1,000 adults 65 or older in rural and urban areas between 2010 and 2023. Eldercare establishments include those that provide home health, long-term care, or assisted living services, as noted in the 2024 Rural America At a Glance report.
Author(s): Brandon Genetin
Date: 03/2025
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
view details
Exploring Access to Critical Health Services for Older Adults in Rural America from 1990 to 2020
Analyzes Area Health Resource Files to evaluate access to healthcare facilities and services between 1990 and 2020 using Rural-Urban Continuum Codes (RUCC). Discusses healthcare access disparities between urban and rural areas and the growth of the older adult population in rural communities.
Author(s): Elizabeth A. Bambury, Alexis A. Merdjanoff, Joshua T. Fergen, J. Tom Mueller
Citation: The Journal of Rural Health, 41(1), e70004
Date: 02/2025
view details
Analyzes Area Health Resource Files to evaluate access to healthcare facilities and services between 1990 and 2020 using Rural-Urban Continuum Codes (RUCC). Discusses healthcare access disparities between urban and rural areas and the growth of the older adult population in rural communities.
Author(s): Elizabeth A. Bambury, Alexis A. Merdjanoff, Joshua T. Fergen, J. Tom Mueller
Citation: The Journal of Rural Health, 41(1), e70004
Date: 02/2025
view details
What's Going on in Greater Minnesota? – The Decline in Nursing Bed Capacity
A recorded webinar that discusses the research report, The Declining Capacity of Nursing Facility Care in Rural Minnesota. Focuses on shrinking availability of nursing home beds, workforce shortages, and closure of long-term care facilities.
Author(s): Kelly Asche
Date: 02/2025
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Policy and Development
view details
A recorded webinar that discusses the research report, The Declining Capacity of Nursing Facility Care in Rural Minnesota. Focuses on shrinking availability of nursing home beds, workforce shortages, and closure of long-term care facilities.
Author(s): Kelly Asche
Date: 02/2025
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Policy and Development
view details