Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Elderly population
The Need for Medicare Dental Coverage
Details the oral health risks of limited dental coverage by Medicare. Discusses aging-related oral healthcare conditions, the economic barriers to care caused by lack of coverage, and how rurality can affect preexisting oral health disparities.
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: CareQuest Institute for Oral Health
view details
Details the oral health risks of limited dental coverage by Medicare. Discusses aging-related oral healthcare conditions, the economic barriers to care caused by lack of coverage, and how rurality can affect preexisting oral health disparities.
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: CareQuest Institute for Oral Health
view details
Barriers to Accessible and Affordable Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Care for Older Adults
Discusses challenges in accessing healthcare for mental health and substance use disorders for older adults. Challenges discussed include workforce shortages in rural areas, Medicare regulations, stigma, health insurance coverage, and more.
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: AARP Public Policy Institute
view details
Discusses challenges in accessing healthcare for mental health and substance use disorders for older adults. Challenges discussed include workforce shortages in rural areas, Medicare regulations, stigma, health insurance coverage, and more.
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: AARP Public Policy Institute
view details
Expanding Access to Integrated Medicare-Medicaid Programs in Rural Communities
Discusses the rural population who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid and their unique physical health, mental health, and health-related social needs (HRSNs). Includes information on dual eligibility issues related to access, integrated care, and managed care infrastructure. Provides a literature review and stakeholder interview feedback focused on potential strategies to improve healthcare integration.
Author(s): Molly Knowles, Nida Joseph, Nancy Archibald, Ellen Breslin
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
view details
Discusses the rural population who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid and their unique physical health, mental health, and health-related social needs (HRSNs). Includes information on dual eligibility issues related to access, integrated care, and managed care infrastructure. Provides a literature review and stakeholder interview feedback focused on potential strategies to improve healthcare integration.
Author(s): Molly Knowles, Nida Joseph, Nancy Archibald, Ellen Breslin
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
view details
Tennessee State Health Plan 2025: An Update to the 2024-2026 State Health Plan
Outlines how the Tennessee Department of Health is utilizing the actions identified in the State Health Plan to promote health in Tennessee. Features sections on nutritional security, maternal and infant health, chronic conditions, older adults, transportation, cancer screenings, and workforce.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Tennessee Department of Health
view details
Outlines how the Tennessee Department of Health is utilizing the actions identified in the State Health Plan to promote health in Tennessee. Features sections on nutritional security, maternal and infant health, chronic conditions, older adults, transportation, cancer screenings, and workforce.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: Tennessee Department of Health
view details
Missoula Veteran Directed Care Program Supports Veterans and Caregivers
Case study highlighting a partnership between a Montana Area Agency on Aging and the Veterans Administration to provide Veteran Directed Care, a program assisting veterans to manage their own care to promote aging in place. Notes the high rates of Montana veterans in rural areas.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: USAging
view details
Case study highlighting a partnership between a Montana Area Agency on Aging and the Veterans Administration to provide Veteran Directed Care, a program assisting veterans to manage their own care to promote aging in place. Notes the high rates of Montana veterans in rural areas.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: USAging
view details
The Appalachian Region: A Data Overview from the 2019-2023 American Community Survey Chartbook
State- and county-level information on population, age, household characteristics, housing occupancy, education, labor force, employment, transportation, income, health insurance coverage, disability, and veteran status, for the 13 Appalachian states. Features statistics with breakdowns by 5 levels of population density. Includes data explorer options for Appalachian categories such as population and age, education, income and poverty, computer and broadband access, rural Appalachia versus rural America, and employment and commuting.
Additional links: Full Report
Author(s): Sara Srygley, Nurfadila Khairunnisa, Diana Elliott
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Appalachian Regional Commission, Population Reference Bureau
view details
State- and county-level information on population, age, household characteristics, housing occupancy, education, labor force, employment, transportation, income, health insurance coverage, disability, and veteran status, for the 13 Appalachian states. Features statistics with breakdowns by 5 levels of population density. Includes data explorer options for Appalachian categories such as population and age, education, income and poverty, computer and broadband access, rural Appalachia versus rural America, and employment and commuting.
Additional links: Full Report
Author(s): Sara Srygley, Nurfadila Khairunnisa, Diana Elliott
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Appalachian Regional Commission, Population Reference Bureau
view details
Older-Age Counties: 2000, 2010, 2020, and 2023.
Maps showing counties with less than 20 percent of people age 65 and older, and those with 20 percent or more, with breakdowns by metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas.
Author(s): John Cromartie, Justin B. Winikoff
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
view details
Maps showing counties with less than 20 percent of people age 65 and older, and those with 20 percent or more, with breakdowns by metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas.
Author(s): John Cromartie, Justin B. Winikoff
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
view details
Payment Source Shift for Surgical Care Among Veterans Enrolled in Medicare Advantage Plans
Examines the likelihood of veterans enrolled in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans to shift payments for inpatient surgical care from MA to the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Analyzes 54,754 inpatient surgeries of VHA enrollees to observe payment trends, with data broken down by demographics, insurance characteristics, region, and rurality.
Author(s): Winta T. Mehtsun, Yanlei Ma, Ellen Latsko, et al.
Citation: JAMA Health Forum, 6(6)
Date: 06/2025
view details
Examines the likelihood of veterans enrolled in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans to shift payments for inpatient surgical care from MA to the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Analyzes 54,754 inpatient surgeries of VHA enrollees to observe payment trends, with data broken down by demographics, insurance characteristics, region, and rurality.
Author(s): Winta T. Mehtsun, Yanlei Ma, Ellen Latsko, et al.
Citation: JAMA Health Forum, 6(6)
Date: 06/2025
view details
Maryland Hunger Profiles
Provides state- and county-level data on age of population, median household income, childhood and older adult poverty levels, and food program usage in Maryland. Discusses strategies to end hunger in the state.
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: Maryland Hunger Solutions
view details
Provides state- and county-level data on age of population, median household income, childhood and older adult poverty levels, and food program usage in Maryland. Discusses strategies to end hunger in the state.
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: Maryland Hunger Solutions
view details
National Elder Abuse Victim Services Needs Assessment
A needs assessment investigating services available to older adults who have experienced abuse, gaps in those services, barriers in offering and accessing services, and resources needed for elder justice professionals. Offers recommendations based on assessment findings. Discusses rural throughout.
Author(s): Alana M. Henninger, Christine Doelger, Rachel Castellano, et al.
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organizations: ICF, U.S. Department of Justice
view details
A needs assessment investigating services available to older adults who have experienced abuse, gaps in those services, barriers in offering and accessing services, and resources needed for elder justice professionals. Offers recommendations based on assessment findings. Discusses rural throughout.
Author(s): Alana M. Henninger, Christine Doelger, Rachel Castellano, et al.
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organizations: ICF, U.S. Department of Justice
view details