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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Elderly population

Rural Promising Practice Issue Brief: Geriatric Scholars Training Program
Details a Veterans Administration training program model for providers practicing in Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) or in home-based primary care serving elderly (65+) rural veterans. Features examples of promising results, implementation information, and adoption considerations.
Additional links: Overview
Date: 11/2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Veterans Health Administration's Office of Rural Health
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Utility of the Living (Well Through) Intergenerational Fitness and Exercise Program as a County-Delivered Extension Program
Evaluates the suitability of the county Extension to deliver the Living (well through) Intergenerational Fitness and Exercise (LIFE) program, a group-based exercise program for rural residing older adults providing low-cost, effective physical activities to address chronic health conditions and improve health-related quality of life.
Author(s): Ashleigh J. Sowle, Sarah L. Francis, Jennifer A. Margrett, Warren D. Franke
Citation: Journal of Extension, 54(4), rb5
Date: 08/2016
Type: Document
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Aging Gracefully: The PACE Approach to Caring for Frail Elders in the Community
Provides an overview of the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) model, which offer participants comprehensive medical and long-term services and supports. Highlights Mountain Empire's PACE, which serves older adults in rural Virginia.
Author(s): Martha Hostetter, Sarah Klein, Douglas McCarthy
Date: 08/2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
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Health Status and Social Networks as Predictors of Resilience in Older Adults Residing in Rural and Remote Environments
Examines the relationship of health status and social networks with the resilience of older adults living in a very rural (frontier) Wyoming county. Discusses how family and friend networks, and physical and mental health status may predict resiliency and impact the ability of older adults to remain in their homes.
Author(s): Christine McKibbin, Aaron Lee, Bernard A. Steinman, Catherine Carrico, Katelynn Bourassa, et al.
Citation: Journal of Aging Research, 2016
Date: 07/2016
Type: Document
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Vulnerable Rural Counties: The Changing Rural Landscape, 2000-2010
Examined how rural counties were impacted by the 2008 recession, specifically focused on an increase in poverty levels, shifts in population, and loss or reduction of healthcare services and facilities. Includes county-by-county maps with data such as poverty and unemployment rates, elderly population, educational level, non-White population, health insurance coverage, availability of primary care and other specialties, and change in number of hospitals and other healthcare facilities. Appendices include tables comparing urban and rural/remote county statistics.
Additional links: Fact Sheet
Author(s): Kevin J. Bennett, Yu-Hsiu Lin, Matthew Yuen, Deshia Leonhirth, Janice C. Probst
Date: 07/2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Minority Health Research Center (formerly the South Carolina Rural Health Research Center)
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Adoption of a Tai Chi Intervention, Tai Ji Quan: Moving for Better Balance, for Fall Prevention by Rural Faith-Based Organizations, 2013-2014
Results of a study of fall-prevention exercises geared toward adults ages 65 or above, conducted by 19 trained instructors through faith-based organizations in 7 rural West Virginia counties.
Author(s): Dina L. Jones, Rachael W. Starcher, Jennifer L. Eicher, Sara Wilcox
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 13
Date: 07/2016
Type: Document
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Rural-Urban Differences in Chronic Disease and Drug Utilization in Older Oregonians
Provides secondary analysis of 3 longitudinal brain-aging studies of adults 85 years of age or older in Oregon. Compares the results of a study with a rural cohort and 2 studies with urban cohorts to identify the disease burden and medication usage of each elderly population. Analysis uses Modified Cumulative Illness Rating Scale (MCIRS) to measure chronic illness, and medication usage is estimated based on the mean number of total self-reported prescription and non-prescription medications per cohort.
Author(s): Leah M. Goeres, Allison Gille, Jon P. Furuno, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 32(3), 269-279
Date: 06/2016
Type: Document
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Looking Ahead: Rural-Urban Differences in Anticipated Need for Aging-Related Assistance
Findings brief using information collected through the 2011-2012 National Health Interview Survey, describing the degree to which rural and urban adults ages 40-64 anticipate that they may need help later in life, and where they expect they will find it. Features statistics with breakdowns by race or ethnicity, urban or rural location, insurance status, overall health quality, amount of anticipated need for assistance, and reported activity limitations.
Additional links: Fact Sheet
Author(s): Janice C. Probst, Karen M. Jones
Date: 06/2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Minority Health Research Center (formerly the South Carolina Rural Health Research Center)
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Are Rural Older Adults Benefiting from Increased State Spending on Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services?
Discusses the availability and use of home and community-based services (HCBS) by rural and urban elderly receiving Medicaid funding for long-term services and supports (LTSS) using national Medicaid Analytical Extract claims data.
Author(s): Andrew F. Coburn, Eileen Griffin, Deborah Thayer, Zachariah T. Croll, Erika C. Ziller
Date: 06/2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Maine Rural Health Research Center
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Challenges and Barriers to Health Care and Overall Health in Older Residents of Alaska: Evidence from a National Survey
Analyzes healthcare access and preventative health behaviors of the growing Alaskan senior population. Compares health status, healthcare coverage, and length of time between check-ups to seniors in the continental U.S. Describes the barriers of geographic isolation, climate, and poverty impacting Alaskan older adults.
Author(s): Julia D. Foutz, Steven A. Cohen, Sarah K. Cook
Citation: International Journal of Circumpolar Health, 75(1)
Date: 04/2016
Type: Document
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