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Rural Health Information Hub

Age-Friendly Community Models for Rural Healthy Aging

The World Health Organization (WHO) played a foundational role in creating the concept of "age-friendly environments" to help communities support older adults. Building an age-friendly environment involves action in many areas, like health, long-term care, transportation, and housing.

To prepare for a growing population of older adults, rural communities can use the age-friendly model by working together across different areas. Since creating these communities takes time, resources, and partnerships, rural areas can see it as a long-term step in supporting healthy aging.

There are eight key areas in age-friendly communities:

  • Outdoor spaces and buildings
  • Transportation
  • Housing
  • Respect and social inclusion
  • Social participation
  • Civic participation and employment opportunities
  • Communication and information
  • Community support and health services

The AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities is a program that encourages local governments to adopt the age-friendly model by creating environments that support healthy aging and improve the quality of life for people of all ages. Communities that join the network assess their age-friendliness, plan improvements, and track their progress. The focus is on areas like housing, transportation, social participation, and health services to make communities more livable. Membership is free, and towns, cities, counties, and states can join. By participating, communities get access to resources, planning models, and best practices to help them become more age friendly.

Hundreds of towns, cities, and counties across the nation have joined the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities or received a "quick-action" AARP Community Challenge grant. An interactive map shows these communities.

Examples of age-friendly programs include:

  • Age Strong Vermont. Several counties in Vermont have worked with AARP's Age-Friendly Communities program to improve transportation options in rural areas and create activities that bring different generations together.
  • Johnson County Livable Community for Successful Aging. Iowa created local action plans to improve housing, transportation, and healthcare access in rural towns, making them more livable for all residents.
  • Lifelong Colorado Initiative Colorado joined the AARP Age-Friendly States network to tackle the challenges of aging in rural areas and improve support for older adults.
  • Maine's Lifelong Communities Program Maine's Office of Aging and Disability Services helps rural towns become more age-friendly, supporting older adults and improving their quality of life.
  • Rural communities in Oregon, New Mexico, and Wisconsin have used AARP resources to create customized solutions, such as making housing more accessible and setting up volunteer driver programs.

The National Rural Health Association (NRHA) launched the National Rural Age-Friendly Initiative, supported by a grant from The John A. Hartford Foundation, to improve healthcare for older adults in rural areas. The initiative focuses on challenges like limited access to care, social isolation, and provider shortages.

Key components of the initiative include:

  • Creating a national rural age-friendly interest group to identify priorities and best practices for aging in rural areas.
  • Sharing resources and best practices to improve care for rural older adults.
  • Including age-friendly topics in educational events to raise awareness and assist state rural health associations in creating statewide strategies.
  • Developing a community health worker training curriculum focused on age-friendly care, including plans for pilot projects in rural areas.

By using these strategies, NRHA aims to create supportive environments that promote healthy aging in rural communities and ensure older adults receive comprehensive, compassionate healthcare.

Considerations for Implementation

To support healthy aging, rural communities can adopt the eight key areas of the age-friendly communities' model. Creating an age-friendly community takes time, teamwork, and planning.

Steps to make communities age-friendly:

  • Assess and Plan. Communities should look at what they already have and plan for improvements. Joining programs like the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities helps by providing tools and ideas.
  • Create Tailored Solutions. Communities can make changes based on their needs. For example, a program in Vermont worked on better transportation, and an Iowa initiative focused on housing and healthcare. Oregon, New Mexico, and Wisconsin developed programs for volunteer drivers and better housing.
  • Work Together. Local governments, health organizations, and community groups can team up to make the community better for older adults. The National Rural Health Association helps by offering training and resources to improve healthcare in rural areas.
  • Track Progress. It is important for communities to check how things are going and make changes if needed. Programs like the AARP Community Challenge can help to quickly start projects to improve the community.

By following these steps, rural communities can become places that support healthy aging and improve the lives of older adults.

Resources to Learn More

AARP Livable Communities Resource
Document
Shares links to maps, toolkits and other resources that can be used to develop plans for age-friendly communities.
Organization(s): AARP
Date: 2/2025

Age-Friendly Health Systems Recognition
Website
Discusses the Age-Friendly Health Systems Recognition process that recognizes health organizations that have implemented the 4Ms framework: What Matters, Medications, Mentation, and Mobility.
Organization(s): Institute for Healthcare Improvement