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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Aging and aging-related services

Wabanaki Public Health Serves Native People, Community, and Culture During COVID-19 Crisis
Features a Maine public health agency that serves five tribal communities and has used federal funding to address a wide range of health issues, including responding to issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Discusses initiatives focused on food access, support for elders, and substance use treatment.
Author(s): Kathryn Rutz
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 09/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Transit for Healthcare: Volunteer Drivers in Aging Rural Minnesota
Covers supply and demand for volunteer drivers and discusses how insufficient transportation services negatively affect healthcare access for elderly and disabled populations in rural Minnesota. Examines obstacles facing volunteer drivers, including mileage reimbursement, distance to client's home, vehicle insurance, and more.
Author(s): Whitney Oachs
Date: 09/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Policy and Development
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Policy Goals to Improve Behavioral Health Needs of Individuals, Employers and Communities in Rural New Mexico
Report examining behavioral health workforce needs and the growing older adult population in rural New Mexico. Presents data analysis, survey results, and group discussion with stakeholders in Grant, Socorro, Sierra, Valencia, and Catron counties. Offers policy recommendations related to training and certification of behavioral healthcare workers.
Author(s): Susan Wilger, Anne Hayes Egan, Alexis Brandt, Micaela Imar de la Rosa
Date: 08/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Innovation
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Policy Goals to Support the Healthcare Workforce in Healthy Aging Communities
Report describing a research project funded by the New Mexico Department of Health that examines behavioral healthcare workforce needs and the growing elderly population in rural Grant, Sierra, Socorro, Catron, and Valencia counties. Presents key points from discussions with project participants, including professionals in health promotion, hospital, community health centers, local government, and educational institutions. Offers policy goals related to regional services, economic planning, and expansion of Medicaid and Medicare reimbursable services.
Author(s): Susan Wilger, Anne Hayes Egan, Alexis Brandt, Micaela Imar de la Rosa
Date: 08/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Innovation
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Blind Spot: Mobility and Aging in Rural America
Examines mobility challenges older adults face in rural America. Highlights programs that support the transit needs of older adults in rural Arizona. Outlines opportunities for philanthropies to engage with communities on mobility initiatives.
Date: 08/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Age Friendly Arizona
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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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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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Caregiving among Rural Adults
Infographic that presents findings from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) on characteristics of individuals in rural areas who provide care to a friend or family member. Includes caregiver demographics, time spent on caregiving, and types of care provided.
Date: 07/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Subjective Cognitive Decline among Rural Adults
Infographic that presents findings from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) describing subjective cognitive decline (SCD) in rural adults aged 45 years old or older. Identifies the prevalence of SCD and the impact of SCD on day-to-day and social activities.
Date: 06/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Alzheimer's Association, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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