Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Elderly population
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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Traffic Safety Facts, 2023 Data: Older Population
National data on traffic crashes involving drivers age 65 and older. Features statistics from 2014-2023 with breakdowns by sex, age group, blood alcohol concentrations, state, and rural or urban location.
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
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National data on traffic crashes involving drivers age 65 and older. Features statistics from 2014-2023 with breakdowns by sex, age group, blood alcohol concentrations, state, and rural or urban location.
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
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Compared With Urban Counties, Rural Counties Had a Lower Share of Working-Age Populations and a Higher Share of Residents Older Than 60 in 2023
Chart showing percentages of working-age populations and share of residents older than 60 in 2023, with breakdowns by urban and rural areas.
Author(s): Richelle L. Winkler
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Chart showing percentages of working-age populations and share of residents older than 60 in 2023, with breakdowns by urban and rural areas.
Author(s): Richelle L. Winkler
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Rural Dependency Ratios Higher Than Urban Ratios in 2023, Indicating a Greater Need in Rural Areas for Caregiving for Children and Older Adults
Bar graph showing dependency ratios comparing the number of youth or older people for every 100 working-age people in 2023. Features breakdowns by 5 levels of population density.
Author(s): Richelle L. Winkler
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Bar graph showing dependency ratios comparing the number of youth or older people for every 100 working-age people in 2023. Features breakdowns by 5 levels of population density.
Author(s): Richelle L. Winkler
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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As Rural Populations Grow Older, Communities Increasingly Rely on Smaller Labor Force
Reports on rural-urban differences in labor force availability and age dependency ratios caused by the growing demographic share of older people in the U.S. Breaks down data by county-level rurality, and discusses rural infrastructure, healthcare, and caregiving needs.
Author(s): Richelle L. Winkler
Citation: Amber Waves
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Reports on rural-urban differences in labor force availability and age dependency ratios caused by the growing demographic share of older people in the U.S. Breaks down data by county-level rurality, and discusses rural infrastructure, healthcare, and caregiving needs.
Author(s): Richelle L. Winkler
Citation: Amber Waves
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Delaying Screening Until Covered? Changes in Lung Cancer Screening at the Age of Nearly-Universal Medicare Insurance
Examines the impact of first-time screening of lung cancer at age 65, the age of nearly universal Medicare insurance coverage. Utilizes 2015-2020 American College of Radiology's Lung Cancer Screening Registry data to analyze differences in screening rates between ages 60-64 and 65-69. Includes additional data breakdowns such as patient demographics, smoking behaviors, eligibility for screening, and rural versus non-rural patient location.
Author(s): Marcelo C. Perraillon, Adam Warren, Lenka Goldman, Jamie L. Studts, Rebecca M. Myerson
Citation: Health Services Research
Date: 05/2025
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Examines the impact of first-time screening of lung cancer at age 65, the age of nearly universal Medicare insurance coverage. Utilizes 2015-2020 American College of Radiology's Lung Cancer Screening Registry data to analyze differences in screening rates between ages 60-64 and 65-69. Includes additional data breakdowns such as patient demographics, smoking behaviors, eligibility for screening, and rural versus non-rural patient location.
Author(s): Marcelo C. Perraillon, Adam Warren, Lenka Goldman, Jamie L. Studts, Rebecca M. Myerson
Citation: Health Services Research
Date: 05/2025
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