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Community Supports for Rural Aging in Place and Independent Living – Resources

Selected recent or important resources focusing on Community Supports for Rural Aging in Place and Independent Living.

Serving Rural Veterans with Disabilities: A National Survey of Centers for Independent Living
Describes results of a 2019 survey exploring how Centers for Independent Living (CILs) serve veterans in rural communities. Discusses CIL collaborations with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, specific needs of rural veterans, and how CILs could better meet these needs.
Author(s): Jennifer Hale-Gallardo, Consuelo M. Kreider, Yuxin Ni, et al.
Citation: Journal of Community Health, 46(4), 740-751
Date: 2021
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Home Modification and Repair Services and Needs in Indian Country
Discusses the importance of home modifications and repairs to promote successful aging in place and independent living, with a focus on tribal elders. Describes the types of home modification and repair services offered by Title VI Native American Aging Programs, funding sources, and unmet needs and barriers to services.
Date: 2021
Sponsoring organizations: University of Southern California Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, USAging
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Rural-Urban Differences among Older Adults
Chartbook describing characteristics of older adults in rural counties, and differences in demographics, socioeconomic characteristics, healthcare access and use, and health characteristics among urban and rural older adults. Features statistics including veteran status, racial and ethnic composition, percentage of older adults living alone, financial insecurity, health plan enrollment, health conditions, and disability status.
Author(s): Cody Tuttle, Jill Tanem, Megan Lahr, et al.
Date: 08/2020
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Living at Home in Rural America: Improving Accessibility for Older Adults and People with a Disability
Information on current federal resources, programs, and initiatives intended to improve home safety and accessibility for rural older adults and people with disabilities. Supports the Rural Health Strategy, launched by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in 2018 to improve healthcare in rural America by leveraging partnerships on the federal, regional, state, and local levels.
Date: 08/2020
Sponsoring organizations: Administration for Community Living, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
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Geographic Distribution of Disability Among Older Veterans, United States, 2013–2017
Provides nationally representative data from 2013-2017 on county-level disability prevalence among military veterans older than 64. Individuals were considered disabled if they reported having hearing, vision, cognitive, ambulatory, independent living, or self-care disabilities.
Author(s): Justin McDaniel
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 17
Date: 05/2020
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America at a Glance: How Do Working-Age Adults with Travel-Limiting Disabilities Get Around?
Examines the travel behaviors, employment status, and health of rural and urban residents with travel-related disabilities. Explores the use of public transit and other transportation services by rural and urban residence.
Date: 05/2020
Sponsoring organizations: Research and Training Center on Disability in Rural Communities, University of Montana: Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities
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Characteristics of Counties with the Highest Proportion of the Oldest Old
Policy brief examining the characteristics of communities having the greatest percent of residents ages 85 and older. Discusses documented differences in rural-urban locations in long-term care availability and caregiver supports. Includes a list of counties with the highest proportion of the oldest old, a county-level map with shadings showing proportions of the oldest old, and statistics on county characteristics, with breakdowns by highest-prevalence rural counties, all counties, rural counties, and noncore rural counties.
Author(s): Carrie Henning-Smith, Megan Lahr, Jonathan Schroeder, Cody Tuttle, Samantha Mills
Date: 05/2020
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Older Americans Act: Nutrition Services Program
Provides an overview of the Nutrition Services Program authorized under the Older Americans Act. Describes the administration of the Nutrition Services Program, its funding, service delivery, program participation, and program evaluation. Includes brief rural references throughout.
Date: 05/2020
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Older Americans Act
Official compilation of the Older Americans Act of 1965, as amended through P.L. 116-131, enacted March 25, 2020. Provides federal funding for programs that support services for older adults. Provides states and localities with the flexibility to decide the allocation of National Family Caregiver Services between the populations served and extends authorization of the RAISE Family Caregiver Act and the Supporting Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Act by one additional year. Includes discussion of services to help rural older adults.
Date: 04/2020
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Prevalence of Children Aged 3-17 Years With Developmental Disabilities, by Urbanicity: United States, 2015-2018
Results of a study examining geographic disparities in diagnoses of developmental disabilities and use of related services. Features statistics with breakdowns by prevalence of various conditions and by urban or rural location.
Author(s): Benjamin Zablotsky, Lindsey I. Black
Date: 02/2020
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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