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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Elderly population

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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Health Conditions and an Older Population Increase COVID-19 Risks in Rural America
Examines the influence of age and pre-existing health conditions on the likelihood of hospitalization or death from COVID-19 infection in rural America. Compares COVID-19 case rates and deaths by metropolitan status. Includes county-level maps on estimated risks among those infected with COVID-19 and current incidence as of August 2020.
Author(s): Kenneth M. Johnson
Date: 08/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Carsey School of Public Policy
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Rural-Urban Differences among Older Adults
Chartbook describing characteristics of older adults in rural counties, and differences in demographics, socioeconomic characteristics, healthcare access and use, and health characteristics among urban and rural older adults. Features statistics including veteran status, racial and ethnic composition, percentage of older adults living alone, financial insecurity, health plan enrollment, health conditions, and disability status.
Author(s): Cody Tuttle, Jill Tanem, Megan Lahr, et al.
Date: 08/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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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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Assessment of Racial Disparities in Mortality Rates Among Older Adults Living in US Rural vs Urban Counties From 1968 to 2016
Study using CDC WONDER data from 3,131 counties over a 49-year period. Features statistics on adjusted and unadjusted mortality rates among people 65 years and older, with breakdowns by race, gender, and urban, rural adjacent, and rural nonadjacent locations.
Author(s): Nasim B. Ferdows, Maria P. Aranda, Julie A. Baldwin, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 3(8)
Date: 08/2020
Type: Document
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Rural Health and COVID-19
Information to help hospital and health system emergency planners and state and local public health emergency planners understand the challenges rural communities face related to COVID-19. Addresses issues facing healthcare facilities and those related to at-risk residents. Includes proposed solutions and mitigation steps.
Date: 08/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response
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The Role of Transportation in Addressing Social Isolation in Older Adults
Summarizes the findings of a research project that included a literature review and interviews of experts to determine if a lack of transportation is associated with the probability of social isolation among older adults. Highlights common themes among three examples of transit programs, identifies funding sources for rural and urban organizations, and offers recommendations for additional research.
Additional links: Condensed Report
Author(s): Carrie Henning-Smith, Christina Worrall, Madelyn Klabunde, Yingling Fan
Date: 07/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: National Center for Mobility Management, State Health Access Data Assistance Center, University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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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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