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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: People with disabilities

The Older Population in Rural America: 2012-2016
Describes the rural older population, those 65 years and older, compared to urban older adults. Includes rural-urban data on population size for the nation, by region, and by state. Also covers demographic, social, and economic characteristics, age distribution, and sex ratio by age. Some data is available by level of rurality for mostly urban, mostly rural, and completely rural counties.
Author(s): Amy Symens Smith, Edward Trevelyan
Date: 09/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau
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ACA and Medicaid Expansion Associated with Increased Insurance Coverage for Rural Americans with Disabilities
Fact sheet exploring ways in which Affordable Care Act (ACA) policy changes and Medicaid expansion affected people with disabilities, especially those in rural areas. Features statistics including changes in insurance coverage for urban and rural people with and without disabilities from 2006-2017, and differences in coverage in Medicaid expansion or non-expansion states, with breakdowns by urban or rural locations.
Author(s): Research and Training Center on Disability in Rural Communities
Date: 09/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: University of Montana: Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities
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The Impact of Geographic Isolation on Mental Disability in the United States
Examines the association between geographic isolation and mental disability using the 2000 decennial census and supplementary county-level data from other sources. Analyzes factors including social isolation, socioeconomic status, and income inequality. Discusses theoretical explanations for the relationship between isolation and mental disability, and summarizes other factors which were not modeled in the study but which may be associated with poor mental health outcomes in rural areas.
Author(s): Christopher G. Hudson, Nathan J. Doogan
Citation: SSM - Population Health, 8, 100437
Date: 08/2019
Type: Document
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Home Equity: A Vision of Housing Security, Health and Opportunity
Provides data demonstrating the interrelationship between housing insecurity and health equity. Examines how policies and racism have impacted housing stability in Colorado's rural, urban, and suburban communities. Looks at the challenges to housing security faced by communities of color, undocumented immigrants, people with disabilities, families with children, low income households, rural communities, and homelessness populations. Suggests housing policies that may impact communities and improve housing security.
Date: 08/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Colorado Health Institute
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Select Maps on the Population 65 and Older in the United States by County: 2013-2017
Collection of maps showing county-level data on adults age 65 and older, with a focus on disability. Includes maps showing disability combined with living alone, widowhood, poverty status, and labor force participation.
Date: 08/2019
Type: Map/Mapping System
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau
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Support and Services at Home (SASH) Evaluation: SASH Evaluation Findings, 2010-2016
Evaluates the Support and Services at Home (SASH) program in Vermont, which provides support services and care coordination for older adults and people with disabilities in conjunction with affordable housing. Addresses Medicaid and Medicare expenditures, medication management, property management, challenges, and lessons learned. Identifies the percent of rural SASH host properties and differences for rural areas.
Additional links: Highlights
Author(s): Amy Kandilov, Vincent Keyes, Noƫlle Siegfried, et al.
Date: 07/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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High Rates of Disability Among Farmers Are Concentrated in the South
Map of the continental U.S. showing the average farmer disability rate by state for 2008-2016.
Date: 06/2019
Type: Map/Mapping System
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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In Support of Family Caregivers: A Snapshot of Five States
Examines policies developed in Washington, Minnesota, Hawaii, Tennessee, and Maine to support family caregivers, including those in rural areas. Features demographic characteristics of the states profiled, state expenditures by the Administration for Community Living in FY2016 on older adults and caregivers, and data on state Medicaid policies affecting these groups.
Additional links: Executive Summary
Author(s): Jennifer Aufill, Julia Burgdorf, Jennifer Wolff
Date: 06/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Milbank Memorial Fund, The John A. Hartford Foundation
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2018 Transportation Trends
Identifies issues affecting the availability of accessible transportation for older adults and people with disabilities. Includes examples of programs underway in rural and frontier areas to address transportation needs.
Date: 04/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Aging and Disability Transportation Center
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Disabilities in the U.S. Farm Population
Reports summary information on disability rates among farmers and farmworkers between 2008 and 2016. Includes some state-specific information.
Author(s): Cristina Miller
Citation: Amber Waves
Date: 04/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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