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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Elderly population

Deaths From Unintentional Injury Among Adults Aged 65 and Over: United States, 2000–2013
Provides data on unintentional death rates in the U.S., and highlights differences by age, race/ethnicity, and urbanization. Figure 5 compares unintentional deaths for metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas by cause of death. Includes rural and urban data on deaths caused by falls, motor vehicle accidents, suffocation, poisoning, and fire.
Author(s): Ellen Kramarow, Li-Hui Chen, Holly Hedegaard, Margaret Warner
Date: 05/2015
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Official Poverty Statistics Mask the Economic Vulnerability of Seniors: A Comparison of Maine to the Nation
Compares senior and child poverty rates in rural and urban Maine and the U.S. for the past 50 years. Poverty rates were calculated using 2 different measures: the Official Poverty Measure (OPM) which does not take into account in-kind benefits, refundable tax credits and spending on medical care; and the Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM) which does take into account these same factors.
Author(s): Andrew Schaefer, Marybeth Mattingly
Date: 2015
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Carsey School of Public Policy
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Health in Rural Missouri: Older Adults and Senior Health
Describes the health status of rural, older adults in Missouri. Includes a comparison of health status for rural versus urban adults in the state. Provides county-level data on the population aged 65 and older. Discusses issues of concern, including elder abuse, oral health, injuries from falls, and transportation. Identifies senior and disability services available in the state.
Date: 2015
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Missouri Office of Rural Health and Primary Care
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Rural Healthy People 2020: A Companion Document to Healthy People 2020, Volume 1
Provides a rural focus for the Healthy People 2020 priorities. Includes overviews of the top 10 rural health priority areas identified by rural stakeholders. (Volume 2 discusses priorities 11-20.) Topics addressed include: health insurance, primary care, emergency services, nutrition and weight status, diabetes, mental health, substance abuse, heart disease and stroke, physical activity, older adults, maternal and child health, and tobacco use. Each overview includes reviews of the relevant literature and models that rural communities can use to address the issues. Document is available for free download, after providing brief information about intended use.
Author(s): Jane N. Bolin, Gail Bellamy, Alva O. Ferdinand, Bita Kash, Janet W. Helduser
Date: 2015
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Southwest Rural Health Research Center
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Geriatrician and Other Physician Disciplines as the Usual Source of Care for Rural and Urban Older Adults: 2004-2010 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey
Discusses rates that rural and urban older adults use family practitioners, internists, or geriatricians as their usual source care using data from the 2004 to 2010 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey.
Author(s): Wei-Chen Lee, Ciro V. Sumaya
Citation: Online Journal of Rural Research and Policy, 10(1), 1-17
Date: 2015
Type: Document
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Cost-Effective Strategies for Rural Community Outreach, Hawaii, 2010-2011
Compares the cost-effectiveness of three recruitment strategies designed to maximize attendance by older adults and their caregivers at classes on chronic disease medication safety in the three rural counties of Kauai, Maui, and Hawaii.
Author(s): Karen L. Pellegrin, Anna Barbato, R. Scott Holuby, Anita E. Ciarleglio, Ronald Taniguchi
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 11
Date: 12/2014
Type: Document
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Older Americans With a Disability: 2008-2012
Provides information on adults 65 and over with a disability, based on 2008-2012 American Community Survey data. Includes three national maps showing county-level data for this population.
Author(s): Wan He, Luke J. Larsen
Date: 12/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau
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Intensity of Service Provision for Medicare Beneficiaries Utilizing Home Health Services: A Closer Look at Cerebrovascular Disease, Diabetes, and Joint Replacement
Reports on the impact of home health services provided to the rural elderly receiving Medicare based on the number of visits, the use of rehabilitation specialists, and the median payment per claim. Includes a rural/urban comparison throughout the report.
Additional links: Fact Sheet
Author(s): Medha Iyer, Janice C. Probst, Kevin Bennett, Grishma Bhavsar
Date: 11/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Minority Health Research Center (formerly the South Carolina Rural Health Research Center)
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Housing an Aging Rural America: Rural Seniors and Their Homes
Discusses housing options to help rural seniors age in place. Topics covered include assisted living, home modification, transportation, and other supportive services. Also addresses housing quality and affordability.
Date: 10/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Housing Assistance Council
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Health Equity Series: Older Adult Health Disparities in Missouri
Discusses health disparities and risk factors for Missouri adults age 65 and older. Includes information on provider shortages and access to transportation services in rural areas.
Author(s): Cristina Cousins
Date: 10/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Missouri Foundation for Health
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