Community Supports for Rural Aging in Place and Independent Living resources via the Rural Health Information Hub

Resource: Older Medicare Beneficiaries' Use of Long Term Services and Supports, 2015-2021

Fri, 04 Sep 2026 09:47:01 -0500

Examines how the likelihood of living in nursing homes, lower intensity facilities, or community settings has varied over time among adults aged 65 and older, using 2015-2021 Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey data. Compares trends by rural or urban dwelling and other demographic and clinical factors. -- Maine Rural Health Research Center

News: Building Rural Age-Friendly Communities by Expanding CHW Training

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 08:40:02 -0500

The National Rural Health Association has trained 223 rural community health workers in Texas and Alabama to strengthen care for rural older adults through the National Rural Age-Friendly Initiative.

Resource: Choosing a Falls Prevention Program That Works for Your Community

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 12:46:05 -0500

Describes how to match a falls prevention program to community needs. Highlights evidence-based programs approved by the Administration for Community Living (ACL). Discusses rural considerations regarding training demands and delivery methods. -- National Council on Aging

News: Dartmouth Secures Millions to Research Rural Health-Care Access for Seniors

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 08:32:00 -0500

A new research program has been funded to study rural healthcare access for older adults with serious illness. Highlights common barriers to healthcare for rural residents and discusses planned projects for the institute.

Resource: Rural–Urban Variability in Home and Community-Based Service Use Among Veterans

Fri, 21 Aug 2026 16:20:10 -0500

Evaluates rural and urban differences in home and community-based services (HCBS) use among more than 6 million veterans. Includes analysis of variance in use by rural status of Veterans Administration medical centers, as well as rural and urban comparisons of the study population's demographics and comorbidities.

Resource: State Innovations in Improving Access to Care for Adults with Complex Needs in Rural Communities

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 10:02:34 -0500

Discusses Medicaid policy and financing strategies that can help improve rural delivery systems and access to care for rural older adults, people with disabilities, and others with complex health and social needs. Describes effective approaches undertaken in California, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Virginia across three promising strategies. Identifies four factors critical to successful program design and implementation and key considerations for states. -- Center for Health Care Strategies

Resource: Demographic Characteristics of Medicaid Beneficiaries Enrolled in the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 09:21:07 -0500

Describes the demographic characteristics and long-term nursing facility use of Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) enrollees in 2023, including rural residence. Compares data by PACE enrollees who are full-benefit dually eligible beneficiaries and those who are Medicaid-only enrollees. -- Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission

Resource: Family Caregivers of Adults Age 50-Plus: The Caregiving in the US 2025 Series

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 10:56:27 -0500

Explores demographics and other characteristics of family caregivers of adults aged 50 or older. Discusses their housing, types of care provided, finances, employment, and more. Offers comparisons with a rural break down of caregivers aged 18-49, as well as changes to caregivers between 2015 and 2020. -- AARP Public Policy Institute, National Alliance for Caregiving

Resource: Voices From the Field: Insights on Coordinating Health and Community Care in Rural, Frontier and Tribal Communities

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 15:48:43 -0500

Summarizes themes from 44 interviews with 24 rural and tribal community-based organizations highlighting benefits, challenges, and needs for coordination between health and social care through community care hubs. Discusses rural resiliency and specific concerns for tribal communities. -- USAging

Resource: Rural Health Transformation Program State Initiatives Summaries: Rural Healthy Aging Program Initiatives

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 10:04:37 -0500

Highlights activities supporting rural aging in state Rural Health Transformation Programs applications. -- National Rural Health Association

Resource: Supporting Rural Older Adults in Home and Community-Based Settings: Perspectives from Area Agencies on Aging

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 11:15:55 -0500

Explores the needs of older adults living in rural communities who are homebound. Presents findings and themes from a July 2025 listening session with representatives from rural-serving Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) from five states regarding challenges serving rural older adults who are homebound. -- University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center

Resource: Connected Communities for Healthy Aging

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 08:42:19 -0500

Provides resources that strengthen community infrastructure, promote healthy aging, and improve connectivity in rural Minnesota. Includes a toolkit that supports rural communities in forming, transforming, and sustaining healthy aging infrastructure.

Resource: Medicaid Home- and Community-Based Services Rebalancing Is Concentrated in Large Urban Areas

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 09:25:54 -0500

Compares rural and urban utilization of home and community-based services among Medicaid long-term services and supports users, using 2022 Transformed Medicaid Statistical Information System data sourced through an ATI Advisory LTSS user dashboard. Analyzes rural-urban disparities in access by level of rurality and by state.

Resource: Aging Well in Rural America: Partnerships, Policy, and Progress

Tue, 26 May 2026 16:12:43 -0500

Podcast episode describing the beginnings of and next steps for the National Rural Health Association's Age-Friendly Initiative. Discusses social connection in rural communities, community collaborations, and age-friendly care work in the Rural Health Transformation Program proposals. -- Trust for America's Health

Event: 2026 Annual APRIL (Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living) Conference

Thu, 21 May 2026 10:44:31 -0500

Niagara Falls NY
October 23, 2026 -- Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living

Event: 2027 National PACE Association Spring Policy Forum

Fri, 08 May 2026 11:20:41 -0500

Washington DC
March 14, 2027 -- National PACE Association

Resource: Experiences of People with Disabilities in Rural America 2026 Infographic ADSC

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 14:20:47 -0500

Infographic on disability in rural America using American Community Survey data. Includes data on prevalence, employment, and poverty.

Resource: Opportunities to Transform Care for Rural Older Adults: Using the Rural Health Transformation Program to Create Sustainable, Age-Friendly Healthcare

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 14:00:58 -0500

Recording of a March 2026 webinar discussing opportunities for including rural age-friendly care in Rural Health Transformation Program work. Includes information on PACE and community health workers.

Resource: 2026 Annual Disability Statistics Conference

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 13:33:13 -0500

Recordings and materials from the 2026 Annual Disability Statistics Conference where the Annual Disability Statistics Collection is released and presented. Session 3 discusses the challenges with finding and using rural disability data.

Resource: Annual Disability Statistics Compendium 2026

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 09:27:09 -0500

Presents statistics on Americans with disabilities across key social and economic indicators derived from American Community Survey (ACS) data, including employment, educational attainment, health and healthcare, and more. Section 10 presents data on people with disabilities in rural areas, and compares the prevalence of disability, demographic characteristics, employment status, income, and insurance coverage status across metropolitan, micropolitan, and noncore areas. -- National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research

Resource: Rural Healthy Aging: Policy and Infrastructure Opportunities for the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP)

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 08:53:15 -0600

Offers recommendations for integrating aging-related policies into existing Rural Health Transformation Program plans. Includes recommendations around planning, access to care, caregiving, technology, aging in place, and integrated care models. Includes resources for implementation and information on funding. -- National Rural Health Association, Stratis Health

Resource: Age-Friendly in Rural Communities: November 2025 Age-Friendly Public Health Systems Training

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 11:23:08 -0600

Webinar recording discussing the National Rural Age-Friendly Initiative (NRAFI) from the National Rural Health Association, how NRAFI fits within the Age-Friendly Ecosystem, and recent activities of NRAFI. Transcript available in video description. -- Trust for America's Health

Resource: What Makes a Rural Community Age-Friendly?

Fri, 09 Jan 2026 08:21:43 -0600

Brief discussing key factors for making a rural community age-friendly based on interviews with 25 older adults and 36 community leaders and service providers in 4 rural Iowa towns. Discusses rural challenges, volunteer run services, and social networks. Offers policy recommendations based on findings. -- Rural Population Research Network

Organization: The SCAN Foundation

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 09:45:12 -0600

The SCAN Foundation works in policy and programmatic grantmaking for systems-level changes and community-based solutions for older adults both in California and nationally.

Resource: Supporting Older Adults in Rural Communities: Home- and Community-Based Care

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 10:47:23 -0600

A collection of resources offering research, case studies, implementation tools, and policy considerations covering the continuum of care for older adults in rural communities. Includes information on the care models Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), community-based palliative care, and community paramedicine. -- Center for Health Care Strategies

Resource: 2025 Chartbook: AAAs Respond to Complex Community Needs: Trends and New Directions from the National Survey of Area Agencies on Aging

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 10:01:40 -0600

A chartbook offering data from the 2025 National Survey of Area Agencies on Aging. Rural topics discussed include transportation, social engagement, and areas served by Area Agencies on Aging (AAA). Also discusses AAAs services, caregiving, funding, the needs of specific communities, and more. -- USAging

Resource: PACE in Rural Communities: Emerging Evidence on Integrated Care for Older Adults

Fri, 21 Nov 2025 08:33:20 -0600

An interview conversation with Carrie Henning-Smith of the the University of Minnesota School of Public Health (UMN) Rural Health Research Center about All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE). Covers how PACE supports older adults, the impact of PACE in rural communities as well as potential barriers, and policy and partnership needs. -- Center for Health Care Strategies

Resource: Caregiving in the US: Rural Family Caregivers

Thu, 13 Nov 2025 10:46:24 -0600

A national profile of rural family caregivers and challenges they face. Offers data on living arrangements, access to affordable services, and employment. -- AARP, National Alliance for Caregiving

Resource: Older Americans Act: Greatest Economic and Social Needs of Rural Older Adults

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 10:07:13 -0500

Policy brief discussing the economic and social needs for rural older adults. Offers policy and action recommendations for the reauthorization of the Older Americans Act, discussing rural aging programs, affordable housing, access to nutrition, social isolation, healthcare workforce shortages, and caregiver support. -- National Rural Health Association

Resource: Caregiving in the US 2025: Caring Across States

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 09:04:12 -0500

Offers data on caregivers including demographics, tasks performed, finances and employment, and wellness. Includes rural, suburban, and urban breakdown for caregivers in 32 states. -- AARP, National Alliance for Caregiving