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.
Examining the Potential for Additional Rebalancing of Long-Term Services and Supports
Explores efforts to rebalance long-term services and supports (LTSS) for older adults and people with disabilities toward home and community-based settings. Profiles five states with lower levels of rebalancing compared to the national average: Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey, North Dakota, and West Virginia. Presents findings from interviews with federal and state officials, as well as other stakeholders involved with Medicaid LTSS systems and beneficiaries. Discusses how the COVID-19 public health emergency and flexibilities influenced LTSS services in these states. Offers future considerations for federal and state governments when addressing barriers to home and community-based services.
Date: 04/2021
Sponsoring organizations: Center for Health Care Strategies, Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission, RTI International
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Explores efforts to rebalance long-term services and supports (LTSS) for older adults and people with disabilities toward home and community-based settings. Profiles five states with lower levels of rebalancing compared to the national average: Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey, North Dakota, and West Virginia. Presents findings from interviews with federal and state officials, as well as other stakeholders involved with Medicaid LTSS systems and beneficiaries. Discusses how the COVID-19 public health emergency and flexibilities influenced LTSS services in these states. Offers future considerations for federal and state governments when addressing barriers to home and community-based services.
Date: 04/2021
Sponsoring organizations: Center for Health Care Strategies, Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission, RTI International
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Demographics and Disability Status of Adults Living Alone in Rural Areas
Policy brief examining differences in age and disability status of people who live alone in rural and urban areas. Describes health impacts of living alone and explores American Community Survey (ACS) data from 2014-2018 to represent demographic characteristics and prevalence of disabilities for rural and urban adults living alone.
Author(s): Jonathan Schroeder, Carrie Henning-Smith, Mariana Tuttle
Date: 04/2021
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Policy brief examining differences in age and disability status of people who live alone in rural and urban areas. Describes health impacts of living alone and explores American Community Survey (ACS) data from 2014-2018 to represent demographic characteristics and prevalence of disabilities for rural and urban adults living alone.
Author(s): Jonathan Schroeder, Carrie Henning-Smith, Mariana Tuttle
Date: 04/2021
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Meeting the Needs of Older Adults Living in Rural Communities: The Roles of Area Agencies on Aging
Presents results from the 2019 National Survey of Area Agencies on Aging. Describes the role of Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) in serving older adults in rural communities. Compares the organizational structure, services and programs offered, budget, and workforce of rural and non-rural AAAs.
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: USAging
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Presents results from the 2019 National Survey of Area Agencies on Aging. Describes the role of Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) in serving older adults in rural communities. Compares the organizational structure, services and programs offered, budget, and workforce of rural and non-rural AAAs.
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: USAging
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State Disability Maps
Interactive maps displaying state- and county-level data on disability prevalence and participation rates in the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (DI) programs among adults aged 18 to 64.
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: Mathematica
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Interactive maps displaying state- and county-level data on disability prevalence and participation rates in the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (DI) programs among adults aged 18 to 64.
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: Mathematica
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Social Isolation and Loneliness in Rural Communities and the Role of Cross-Sector Partnerships
Discussion with Carrie Henning-Smith around social isolation and loneliness in rural communities and obstacles to address these issues. Profiles how two Minnesota communities took steps to improve accessibility and social cohesion. Describes how cross-sector partnerships can promote recovery of rural communities after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Date: 02/2021
Sponsoring organization: Build Healthy Places Network
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Discussion with Carrie Henning-Smith around social isolation and loneliness in rural communities and obstacles to address these issues. Profiles how two Minnesota communities took steps to improve accessibility and social cohesion. Describes how cross-sector partnerships can promote recovery of rural communities after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Date: 02/2021
Sponsoring organization: Build Healthy Places Network
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Serving Rural Veterans with Disabilities: A National Survey of Centers for Independent Living
Describes results of a 2019 survey exploring how Centers for Independent Living (CILs) serve veterans in rural communities. Discusses CIL collaborations with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, specific needs of rural veterans, and how CILs could better meet these needs.
Author(s): Jennifer Hale-Gallardo, Consuelo M. Kreider, Yuxin Ni, et al.
Citation: Journal of Community Health, 46(4), 740-751
Date: 2021
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Describes results of a 2019 survey exploring how Centers for Independent Living (CILs) serve veterans in rural communities. Discusses CIL collaborations with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, specific needs of rural veterans, and how CILs could better meet these needs.
Author(s): Jennifer Hale-Gallardo, Consuelo M. Kreider, Yuxin Ni, et al.
Citation: Journal of Community Health, 46(4), 740-751
Date: 2021
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Home Modification and Repair Services and Needs in Indian Country
Discusses the importance of home modifications and repairs to promote successful aging in place and independent living, with a focus on tribal elders. Describes the types of home modification and repair services offered by Title VI Native American Aging Programs, funding sources, and unmet needs and barriers to services.
Date: 2021
Sponsoring organizations: University of Southern California Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, USAging
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Discusses the importance of home modifications and repairs to promote successful aging in place and independent living, with a focus on tribal elders. Describes the types of home modification and repair services offered by Title VI Native American Aging Programs, funding sources, and unmet needs and barriers to services.
Date: 2021
Sponsoring organizations: University of Southern California Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, USAging
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The Impact of COVID-19 on Title VI Native American Aging Programs and Services
Infographic summarizing results of a survey of Title VI Native American aging program directors on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their programs and communities. Provides information on the needs of Native American elders during the pandemic, expanded or new services offered by Title VI programs, and workforce concerns.
Date: 2021
Sponsoring organizations: Miami University Scripps Gerontology Center, USAging
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Infographic summarizing results of a survey of Title VI Native American aging program directors on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their programs and communities. Provides information on the needs of Native American elders during the pandemic, expanded or new services offered by Title VI programs, and workforce concerns.
Date: 2021
Sponsoring organizations: Miami University Scripps Gerontology Center, USAging
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Modernizing Demand-Responsive Transportation for the Age of New Mobility
Provides an overview of demand-responsive transportation (DRT) and its role in supporting people with disabilities, older adults, people with lower incomes, and rural residents. Explores how a new data specification, the transactional data specification (TDS), can be used to modernize DRT services. Presents case studies of systems adopting TDS, including ITNAmerica, a national transportation network serving older adults in rural communities, and a pilot program in rural Oregon. Offers recommendations to policymakers and stakeholders to promote wide-scale adoption of TDS by DRT providers.
Author(s): Jana Lynott
Date: 12/2020
Sponsoring organization: AARP Public Policy Institute
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Provides an overview of demand-responsive transportation (DRT) and its role in supporting people with disabilities, older adults, people with lower incomes, and rural residents. Explores how a new data specification, the transactional data specification (TDS), can be used to modernize DRT services. Presents case studies of systems adopting TDS, including ITNAmerica, a national transportation network serving older adults in rural communities, and a pilot program in rural Oregon. Offers recommendations to policymakers and stakeholders to promote wide-scale adoption of TDS by DRT providers.
Author(s): Jana Lynott
Date: 12/2020
Sponsoring organization: AARP Public Policy Institute
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Meeting the Social Needs of Older Adults in Rural Areas
Discusses the risks of social isolation and loneliness among rural older adults. Details interventions to address this issue, as well as models that improve social connectedness for older adults.
Author(s): Carrie Henning-Smith
Citation: JAMA Health Forum
Date: 11/2020
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Discusses the risks of social isolation and loneliness among rural older adults. Details interventions to address this issue, as well as models that improve social connectedness for older adults.
Author(s): Carrie Henning-Smith
Citation: JAMA Health Forum
Date: 11/2020
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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: 3/31/2025