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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Elderly population

Helping Older Adults Age Well in Rural America
Provides an overview of strategies that mitigate challenges related to aging in rural communities. Provides data on healthcare access in rural areas and presents successful models that focus on transportation, social services, and alternative care models, such as paramedicine and hybrid care.
Author(s): Martha Hostetter, Sarah Klein
Date: 11/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
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Malnutrition-Related Mortality Trends in Older Adults in the United States from 1999 to 2020
Analyzes trends in malnutrition mortality from 1999 to 2020 in adults over 65 years old. Examines mortality rates broken down by gender, race, Census region, age group, and location on the urban-rural continuum.
Author(s): Naydeen Mostafa, Ahmed Sayed, Omar Rashad, Omar Baqal
Citation: BMC Medicine, 21, 421
Date: 11/2023
Type: Document
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A Place to Thrive: Creating Opportunities to Age Well in North Carolina
Reports on North Carolina's aging population, and provides recommendations and strategies for improved health and livability for an aging population. Key topics include social and economic factors affecting older adults, the culture of aging, services and programs that support aging in place, and workforce supporting older adults' needs. Mentions rural population throughout as a disproportionately affected group.
Date: 10/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Institute of Medicine
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Do SNAP Eligibility and Benefit Determinations Sufficiently Reflect Expenses of Older Households?
Report investigating Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) eligibility guidelines to determine whether they are in line with the spending patterns of low-income households with adults over 50. Offers policy recommendations based on findings. Table 1 of the appendix compares the rural and urban share of total expenditures for these households.
Author(s): Olivia Dean, Joshua Leftin, Nicardo McInnis, Andrew Wen
Date: 10/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: AARP Public Policy Institute
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Three USDA Rural Broadband Programs: Areas and Populations Served
Evaluation of funded and unfunded grants and loans for 3 U.S. Department of Agriculture rural broadband programs between 2009 and 2021. Determines geographic and population distribution trends and characteristics of successfully funded projects.
Author(s): John Pender, Joshua Goldstein, Devika Mahoney-Nair, Hanna Charankevich
Date: 10/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Pennsylvania Population Projections 2050: A First Look
Report projecting county-level population changes for Pennsylvania through 2050. Discusses the aging population and the implications for rural healthcare, workforce, and more.
Date: 10/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Pennsylvania
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National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services Meeting Summary, Colorado Springs, Colorado, September 6-8, 2023
Summarizes the 93nd meeting of the National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services (NACRHHS), which was held in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Presents an overview of national and state perspectives on disability and independence in rural communities.
Additional links: Lincoln County Human Services Site Visit Summary
Date: 09/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
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Action Guide: Partnering to Expand Access to Home Modifications, Repairs, and Weatherization for Community Living
Offers strategies for partnership building for improving accessibility and safety of existing homes for residents that are aging or have disabilities. Includes examples of successful partnerships across the country and discusses rural specific challenges.
Date: 09/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: USAging
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2023 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 the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on food access as well as strategies to end hunger in the state.
Date: 09/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Maryland Hunger Solutions
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Take Control in 1, 2, 3: Disaster Preparedness Guide for Older Adults
Offers recommendations for becoming prepared for disasters, in 3 steps: Assessing needs, making a plan, and engaging with a support network. Includes sections geared toward older adults with disabilities or with limited resources, and rural older adults.
Date: 09/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Federal Emergency Management Agency
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