Community Supports for Rural Aging in Place and Independent Living – Resources
Selected recent or important resources focusing on Community Supports for Rural Aging in Place and Independent Living.
Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on People with Disabilities: Research Findings
Summarizes findings from research funded by the Administration for Community Living's National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) on the experiences of people with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Highlights research on rural communities and telehealth.
Date: 04/2022
Sponsoring organization: Administration for Community Living
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Summarizes findings from research funded by the Administration for Community Living's National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) on the experiences of people with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Highlights research on rural communities and telehealth.
Date: 04/2022
Sponsoring organization: Administration for Community Living
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America at a Glance: An Update on Rural-Urban Differences in Disability Rates
Examines data from the American Community Survey (ACS) 2015-2019 estimate to describe disability rates in rural communities. Presents data on metropolitan, micropolitan, and noncore disability rates by type, age, and race/ethnicity. Describes how these rates have changed since the ACS 2010-2014 estimate.
Date: 02/2022
Sponsoring organization: Research and Training Center on Disability in Rural Communities
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Examines data from the American Community Survey (ACS) 2015-2019 estimate to describe disability rates in rural communities. Presents data on metropolitan, micropolitan, and noncore disability rates by type, age, and race/ethnicity. Describes how these rates have changed since the ACS 2010-2014 estimate.
Date: 02/2022
Sponsoring organization: Research and Training Center on Disability in Rural Communities
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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
Sponsoring organization: National Aging and Disability Transportation Center
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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
Sponsoring organization: National Aging and Disability Transportation Center
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State Summaries of Lifespan Respite Grant Activities and Outcomes: Final Reports, FY2017 – FY2018 Grantees
Summaries of final reports from the fiscal year 2017 and 2018 Administration for Community Living (ACL) State Lifespan Respite Care program grantees. The State Lifespan Respite Care program aims to create coordinated systems of accessible, community-based respite care services for family caregivers of children and adults of all ages with special needs. Describes each of the project's outcomes, accomplishments, and partnerships. Highlights programs serving rural areas.
Date: 2022
Sponsoring organization: ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center
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Summaries of final reports from the fiscal year 2017 and 2018 Administration for Community Living (ACL) State Lifespan Respite Care program grantees. The State Lifespan Respite Care program aims to create coordinated systems of accessible, community-based respite care services for family caregivers of children and adults of all ages with special needs. Describes each of the project's outcomes, accomplishments, and partnerships. Highlights programs serving rural areas.
Date: 2022
Sponsoring organization: ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center
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COVID-19: Selected States Modified Meal Provision and Other Older Americans Act Services to Prioritize Safety
Examines how four states utilized COVID-19 funding and regulatory flexibilities to address challenges to serving older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Identifies strategies states and localities used to meet nutrition and other needs of older adults. Includes perspectives from rural localities and service providers.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 12/2021
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Examines how four states utilized COVID-19 funding and regulatory flexibilities to address challenges to serving older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Identifies strategies states and localities used to meet nutrition and other needs of older adults. Includes perspectives from rural localities and service providers.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 12/2021
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Social Isolation and Loneliness Among Rural and Urban People with Disabilities
Explores the prevalence of social isolation and loneliness among people with disabilities. Examines data from the Health and Retirement Survey (HRS) as well as the National Survey on Health and Disability (NSHD) to identify factors associated with social isolation and loneliness, including living in a rural location and transportation problems.
Author(s): Catherine Ipsen, Gilbert Gimm
Date: 11/2021
Sponsoring organization: Research and Training Center on Disability in Rural Communities
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Explores the prevalence of social isolation and loneliness among people with disabilities. Examines data from the Health and Retirement Survey (HRS) as well as the National Survey on Health and Disability (NSHD) to identify factors associated with social isolation and loneliness, including living in a rural location and transportation problems.
Author(s): Catherine Ipsen, Gilbert Gimm
Date: 11/2021
Sponsoring organization: Research and Training Center on Disability in Rural Communities
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Barriers to Aging in Place in Rural Communities: Perspectives from State Offices of Rural Health
Summarizes findings from a survey of State Offices of Rural Health (SORHs) describing barriers for older adults in successfully aging in place in rural communities, including transportation, access to care, workforce issues, and cost of care. Presents respondents' policy and programmatic recommendations that would be beneficial for supporting older adults aging in place in rural areas.
Author(s): Megan Lahr, Carrie Henning-Smith
Date: 11/2021
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Summarizes findings from a survey of State Offices of Rural Health (SORHs) describing barriers for older adults in successfully aging in place in rural communities, including transportation, access to care, workforce issues, and cost of care. Presents respondents' policy and programmatic recommendations that would be beneficial for supporting older adults aging in place in rural areas.
Author(s): Megan Lahr, Carrie Henning-Smith
Date: 11/2021
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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The Impact of Aging Baby Boomers in Rural America
Policy brief discussing the impact of the increasing proportion of the population turning 65 years old on rural communities. Offers policy recommendations for addressing barriers rural older adults face accessing healthcare and social services.
Author(s): Sarah Huling, Elizabeth Crouch, Whitney Zahnd
Date: 11/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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Policy brief discussing the impact of the increasing proportion of the population turning 65 years old on rural communities. Offers policy recommendations for addressing barriers rural older adults face accessing healthcare and social services.
Author(s): Sarah Huling, Elizabeth Crouch, Whitney Zahnd
Date: 11/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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NADTC Best Practices Compendium
Highlights innovative programs, best practices, and lessons learned by 16 programs funded by the National Aging and Disability Transportation Center (NADTC) between 2017-2019. Identifies common themes across the programs that serve as key considerations for communities that want to expand accessible transportation options for older adults and people with disabilities. Includes a section focused on rural transportation programs.
Date: 09/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Aging and Disability Transportation Center
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Highlights innovative programs, best practices, and lessons learned by 16 programs funded by the National Aging and Disability Transportation Center (NADTC) between 2017-2019. Identifies common themes across the programs that serve as key considerations for communities that want to expand accessible transportation options for older adults and people with disabilities. Includes a section focused on rural transportation programs.
Date: 09/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Aging and Disability Transportation Center
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Preferences for Long-Term Care Arrangements among Rural and Urban Older Adults
Describes long-term care preferences of 4,333 older people with functional limitations. Features statistics on characteristics of respondents, with breakdowns by urban or rural location.
Author(s): Carrie Henning-Smith, John Mulcahy, Megan Lahr, Jill Tanem
Date: 05/2021
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Describes long-term care preferences of 4,333 older people with functional limitations. Features statistics on characteristics of respondents, with breakdowns by urban or rural location.
Author(s): Carrie Henning-Smith, John Mulcahy, Megan Lahr, Jill Tanem
Date: 05/2021
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Additional resources are available related to this guide. See the full list of resources by topic for:
- Aging and aging-related services
- Elderly population
- Home and community-based services
- Informal caregivers
- People with disabilities
Last Updated: 3/25/2025