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.
Meeting the Social Needs of Older Adults in Rural Areas
Discusses the risks of social isolation and loneliness among rural older adults. Details interventions to address this issue, as well as models that improve social connectedness for older adults.
Author(s): Carrie Henning-Smith
Citation: JAMA Health Forum
Date: 11/2020
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Discusses the risks of social isolation and loneliness among rural older adults. Details interventions to address this issue, as well as models that improve social connectedness for older adults.
Author(s): Carrie Henning-Smith
Citation: JAMA Health Forum
Date: 11/2020
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Differences in Characteristics of Adult Day Services Centers, by Level of Medical Service Provision
Presents results from the adult day services centers (ADSCs) component of the 2016 National Study of Long-Term Care Providers. Describes ADSCs by level of medical service provision, organizational characteristics, participant case-mix, and geographic characteristics. Figure 15 identifies the percentage of ADSCs according to metropolitan statistical area status and by level of medical services provided.
Author(s): Vincent Rome, Jessica Penn Lendon, Lauren Harris-Kojetin
Date: 10/2020
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Presents results from the adult day services centers (ADSCs) component of the 2016 National Study of Long-Term Care Providers. Describes ADSCs by level of medical service provision, organizational characteristics, participant case-mix, and geographic characteristics. Figure 15 identifies the percentage of ADSCs according to metropolitan statistical area status and by level of medical services provided.
Author(s): Vincent Rome, Jessica Penn Lendon, Lauren Harris-Kojetin
Date: 10/2020
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Rural America's Senior Citizens: Considerations for Transportation, Healthcare Access, Connectedness, Nutrition and Economics
Policy paper providing an overview of rural older adults. Examines the challenges rural older adults face in accessing healthcare. Discusses how transportation, social isolation, nutrition, and economics impact the health outcomes of this population.
Author(s): Tasha Brown, Kay Miller Temple, Josie Rudolphi
Date: 10/2020
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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Policy paper providing an overview of rural older adults. Examines the challenges rural older adults face in accessing healthcare. Discusses how transportation, social isolation, nutrition, and economics impact the health outcomes of this population.
Author(s): Tasha Brown, Kay Miller Temple, Josie Rudolphi
Date: 10/2020
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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Blind Spot: Mobility and Aging in Rural America
Examines mobility challenges older adults face in rural America. Highlights programs that support the transit needs of older adults in rural Arizona. Outlines opportunities for philanthropies to engage with communities on mobility initiatives.
Date: 08/2020
Sponsoring organization: Age Friendly Arizona
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Examines mobility challenges older adults face in rural America. Highlights programs that support the transit needs of older adults in rural Arizona. Outlines opportunities for philanthropies to engage with communities on mobility initiatives.
Date: 08/2020
Sponsoring organization: Age Friendly Arizona
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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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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 health care 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 and Medicaid Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
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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 health care 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 and Medicaid Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
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Supporting the Health and Wellbeing of Middle-Aged Adults Living Alone in Rural Counties
Results of a study exploring the characteristics of adults ages 35-64 who live alone, and the heightened health risks and challenges related to social isolation, especially in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Uses data from a survey of 14 healthcare providers in rural counties with a high percentage of middle-aged adults living alone. Features a county-level map with breakdowns by percentage of people living alone in rural areas.
Author(s): Carrie Henning-Smith, Mariana Tuttle, Ashley Hernandez, Jonathan Schroeder, Katy Kozhimannil
Date: 07/2020
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Results of a study exploring the characteristics of adults ages 35-64 who live alone, and the heightened health risks and challenges related to social isolation, especially in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Uses data from a survey of 14 healthcare providers in rural counties with a high percentage of middle-aged adults living alone. Features a county-level map with breakdowns by percentage of people living alone in rural areas.
Author(s): Carrie Henning-Smith, Mariana Tuttle, Ashley Hernandez, Jonathan Schroeder, Katy Kozhimannil
Date: 07/2020
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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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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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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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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Caregiving in the U.S. 2020
A national profile of unpaid family caregivers. Describes care recipients' living situations and health status, caregiving activities, caregiver well-being, and related topics. Includes information specific to rural caregivers, with comparisons of their experiences in 2015 and 2020 as well as comparisons to non-rural caregivers' experiences. Also offers profiles of different types of caregivers.
Additional links: Fact Sheet: The "Typical" Caregiver of a Care Recipient Living in a Rural Area, Full Report
Date: 05/2020
Sponsoring organizations: AARP, National Alliance for Caregiving
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A national profile of unpaid family caregivers. Describes care recipients' living situations and health status, caregiving activities, caregiver well-being, and related topics. Includes information specific to rural caregivers, with comparisons of their experiences in 2015 and 2020 as well as comparisons to non-rural caregivers' experiences. Also offers profiles of different types of caregivers.
Additional links: Fact Sheet: The "Typical" Caregiver of a Care Recipient Living in a Rural Area, Full Report
Date: 05/2020
Sponsoring organizations: AARP, National Alliance for Caregiving
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Additional resources are available related to this guide. See the full list of resources by topic for:
- Aging and aging-related services
- Elderly population
- Home and community-based services
- Informal caregivers
- People with disabilities
Last Updated: 6/18/2025