Skip to main content
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Elderly population

Addressing Rural Co-Morbidities of Mental Health and Social Conditions
Three-part webinar series discusses the way mental and social co-morbidities can compound already existing barriers to mental healthcare in rural areas. Part One: Employing Treatment and Environmental Interventions to Support Rural Populations explores how rural areas shape mental health needs and interventions. Part Two: Supporting Rural Aging Populations addresses the social and mental health needs of rural elders. Part Three: Using Faith Supports to Increase Mental Health in Rural Communities details the role communities and leaders of faith can play in supporting mental health interventions.
Additional links: Part 1 Slides, Part 1 Video Recording, Part 2 Slides, Part 2 Video Recording, Part 3 Slides, Part 3 Video Recording
Author(s): Ken Flanagan
Date: 10/2021
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: Mountain Plains Mental Health Technology Transfer Center
view details
Health Care in Rural America: Focus on Internet and Telehealth Use
Presents results of a survey of rural adults age 40 and older conducted between November-December 2020, addressing access to specialty health services, infrastructure gaps in rural areas, and utilization of telehealth services. Provides data on internet use relative to overall health, internet access at home and with smartphones, cost issues, and highlights concerns and barriers to telehealth utilization.
Additional links: Annotated Questionnaire
Date: 10/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: AARP
view details
Health Care in Rural America: A Focus on Dental Care
Presents findings from a survey of rural adults age 40 and over conducted from November 20 to December 18, 2020, addressing challenges rural populations face in maintaining oral health and consistently accessing oral health providers. Also addresses difficulty paying dental bills and delays in seeking care as a result. Presents data on dental visits by health status, income, insurance coverage, and reasons for delaying or forgoing care.
Additional links: Annotated Questionnaire
Date: 10/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: AARP
view details
Health Care in Rural America: Use, Affordability, and Access
Report on rural access to healthcare and the overall health of rural adults age 40 and older based on a survey from November 20 to December 18, 2020. Addresses disparities in health, income, and access to health insurance. Presents data on household income, mental health status, chronic conditions, concerns related to visiting healthcare facilities due to COVID-19, and more.
Additional links: Annotated Questionnaire
Date: 10/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: AARP
view details
Rural–Urban Health Disparities among US Adults Ages 50 and Older
Report examining health disparities for Americans ages 50 and older by rural/urban location and by race/ethnicity. Analyzes rates of healthcare access, health behaviors, and chronic health conditions based on 2019 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data.
Author(s): Beth Carter, Olivia Dean
Date: 10/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: AARP Public Policy Institute
view details
Going to the Doctor: Rideshare as Nonemergency Medical Transportation
Discusses the role of rideshare-based non-emergency medical transportation (RB-NEMT) in serving the transportation needs across the country, including in rural areas. Details the different types of RB-NEMT services, such as door-to-door, curb-to-curb, hand-to-hand, and area-to-area. Breaks down the different groups that benefit from RB-NEMT by transportation limitations, age, and insurance type, among other factors. Discusses RB-NEMT's efficacy for rural areas, medical and logistical barriers, and makes policy recommendations.
Date: 10/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: RAND Corporation
view details
Statewide Age-Friendly Initiatives: An Environmental Scan
Policy brief examining statewide programs that support the health, independence, and well-being of elders as they age in place. Categorizes 33 initiatives in 22 states, distinguishing those that include specific rural focus, which are examined in greater detail in the additional policy brief.
Additional links: Examples of Statewide Age-Friendly Initiatives
Author(s): Jill Tanem, Carrie Henning-Smith, Megan Lahr
Date: 10/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
view details
Dementia and Cognitive Decline in Older Adulthood: Are Agricultural Workers at Greater Risk?
Results of a study examining whether long-term exposure to agricultural work is associated with dementia prevalence and the rate of cognitive change in older adulthood. Features demographics and statistics on various types of cognitive function.
Author(s): Kanika Arora, Lili Xu, Divya Bhagianadh
Citation: The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, 76(8), 1629–1643
Date: 09/2021
Type: Document
view details
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
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Aging and Disability Transportation Center
view details
Changes in Hospitalizations and In-Hospital Deaths for Adults Aged 65 Years and Older in the Initial Period of the COVID-19 Pandemic (April-September 2020), 13 States
Presents data from 13 states on the number of all-cause hospitalizations and in-hospital deaths among adults aged 65 years old and over between April–September 2020 and compares this data to statistics from the same quarter in 2016-2019. Presents data by patient characteristics, including urban or rural status. Includes data on the percent of hospitalizations and deaths related to COVID-19 in 2020.
Author(s): Lawrence D. Reid, Pamela L. Owens
Date: 09/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
view details