Related Guides on this Topic
You may also want to see these guides on related topics:
Long-Term Care, Transportation, Informal
Caregiving
Introduction
Today, older Americans are living longer.
In 2006, nearly 37.3 million people age 65 and over lived in the United States.
This number represents 12.4% of the U.S. population, about one in every eight Americans. Currently, 25% of all elderly in the United States live in rural areas. It is projected that by the year 2030, there will be about 71.5 million older persons, more than twice their number in 2000.
Health in old age is greatly determined by living patterns such as
sensory impairments, oral health, obesity, cigarette smoking, air quality, prescription drugs, access to health insurance, access to health care services, and opportunities for access to disease prevention and health promotion throughout the life cycle.
Elderly who live in rural areas face additional challenges. These include lack of transportation
such as rides for essential trips, medical appointments, business errands, shopping and senior activities; lack of access to medical care; unavailable cultural and social services; and lack of adequate housing.
Sources:
Older Americans Update 2006: Key Indicators of Well-Being
AoA: Statistics on the Aging Population
2004 Report to the Secretary: Rural Health and Human Service Issues
Frequently Asked Questions
Tools
AdvantAge Initiative
Web site
Helps counties, cities, and towns prepare for the growing number of older adults who are "aging in place" while creating livable communities for people of all ages. Produces surveys, reports, presentations, newsletters, and toolkits.
Aging
Web site
Provides information such as caregivers, data and statistics, diseases and conditions, health insurance, HHS agencies, nursing homes and care facilities, safety and wellness, and other agencies and resources for older people.
Aging and Disability Resource Centers
Web site
Developed to assist states in their efforts to create a single, coordinated system of information and access for all persons seeking long term support to minimize confusion, enhance individual choice, and support informed decision-making.
Cash & Counseling
Web site
Provides a flexible monthly allowance to recipients of Medicaid personal care services or home and community based services, which allows them to direct and manage their own personal assistance services and address their own specific needs.
Easter Seals Project ACTION National Accessible Travelers Database
Web site
A searchable database by state and city to assist travelers with disabilities seeking accessibility in transportation at destinations across the U.S. Contains thousands of accessible transportation services reported to ESPA by providers.
Eldercare Locator: Community Assistance for Seniors
Database
Connects older Americans and their caregivers with sources of information on senior services.
Links those who need assistance with state and local area agencies on aging and community-based organizations that serve older adults and their caregivers.
Find Senior Care Resources
Web site
Search by state or resource to find advice targeted for seniors regarding end of life care, financial planning and management, health care, home care, housing resources, legal resources, and transportation resources.
Five Wishes
Print publication
Helps you express how you want to be treated if you are seriously ill and unable to speak for yourself. It is unique among all other living will and health agent forms because it looks to all of a person's needs: medical, personal, emotional and spiritual. See website for ordering information.
Foundation Funding Guide: Aging
Web site
Lists state and national foundations with an interest in aging.
Internet Resources on Aging
Web site
Includes database on Internet resources, and links to more than 900 of the best sites for people age 50+.
National Family Caregiver Support Program Resource Room
Web site
Provides families, caregivers, and professionals with information including where you can turn for support and assistance, and providing services to caregivers.
National Institute on Aging
Web site
Provides health and research information on aging, including publications, statistics and data, grants, and training opportunities.
NIH SeniorHealth.gov
Web site
Features consumer health information for older adults.
Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE)
Web site
Developed to address the needs of long-term care clients, providers, and payers. Permits loved ones to continue living at home while receiving services rather than be institutionalized.
Rural Health Research: Aging
Web site
Provides summaries of current and completed rural health research projects and related publications addressing the topic of aging, produced by the Office of Rural Health Policy's funded rural health research centers.
Rural PACE Technical Assistance Program
Web site
Provides technical assistance to organizations interested in developing a PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) program to serve a rural area. Includes information on the Community Options for Rural Elders (CORE) Act.
Services for Seniors: Senior Citizens
Web site
Lists organizations for seniors on benefits, housing and more.
State Resource Directory on Elder Abuse Prevention
Web site
Provides a state listing of websites for adult protective services.
Maps & Map Collections
Elderly Population
Geographic coverage: United States
Printable map that shows the percent of population who are 65 years or older. Data source: U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Population and Housing, 2000.
Date: 2000
Regulations, Forms & Other Useful Documents
2004 Report to the Secretary: Rural Health and Human Service Issues
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
Report to the Secretary of the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services. Overview of key issues and trends affecting health and human service delivery in rural communities. Detailed information on the coordination of behavioral health and primary care, access to oral health care, and access to human services for the elderly.
Date: 04 / 2004
2006 Report to the Secretary: Rural Health and Human Service Issues
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
Report to the Secretary of the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services. Includes chapters focused on pharmaceuticals and pharmacy services, health information technology, and family caregiver support. Includes recommendations to address these topics.
Date: 01 / 2006
Aging Americans: Stranded Without Options
Author(s): Linda Bailey
Sponsoring organization: Surface Transportation Policy Project
Discusses the challenge of providing transportation to an aging population, and the increasing need for public transit and pedestrian-friendly options for those no longer able to drive. Includes a section on rural and small-town issues.
Date: 04 / 2004
Aging, Migration, and Local Communities: The Views of 60+ Residents and Community Leaders
Sponsoring organization: AARP
Reports on the migration of senior citizens age 60+, both from the perspective of the seniors themselves as well as of government, business and other leaders in their communities. Based on 1200 interviews in 40 communities across the nation.
Date: 09 / 2006
An Aging U.S. Population and the Health Care Workforce: Factors Affecting the Need for Geriatric Care Workers
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Identifies and critiques major long-term care projection models related to the demand for care of the elderly in three major settings: nursing homes, residential care, and home care.
Date: 02 / 2006
Beyond 50.05: A Report to the Nation on Livable Communities Creating Environments for Successful Aging
Author(s): Andrew Kochera, Audrey Straight, Thomas Guterbock
Sponsoring organization: AARP
Explores the connections between a livable community and community engagement among its residents and shows how both affect the "successful aging" of its residents. The report warns that communities are not well prepared to meet the needs of the growing number of older Americans.
Date: 2005
Complementary and Alternative Medicine: What People 50 and Older Are Using and Discussing with Their Physicians
Sponsoring organization: AARP
Reports on the findings of an AARP/NCCAM survey to measure Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) use among people age 50 and older and understand the communication practices between patients and their physicians regarding CAM.
Date: 2007
Data Sources on Older Americans 2006
Sponsoring organization: Federal Interagency Forum on Aging-Related Statistics
Highlights the contents of government-sponsored surveys and products containing statistical information about the older population.
Date: 2006
Developing Coordinated Transportation Systems for Older Persons: The Leadership Role of State Units on Aging
Author(s): Greg Link
An overview of transportation coordination and its implications for State Units on Aging (SUAs), including a discussion of the major challenges states are facing now; a look at past and present federal initiatives for developing coordinated transportation systems; and a look at the leadership role SUAs play in successful transportation strategy.
Date: 11 / 2004
Elderly Housing: Federal Housing Programs and Supportive Services
Author(s): David G. Wood
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
Overview of federal programs that provide housing for the elderly and which require the provision of supportive services. Includes information on rural housing programs for the elderly.
Date: 06 / 2005
Food Stamp Program's Elderly Nutrition Pilot Demonstration: Final Evaluation Design
Author(s): Merrile Sing
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Discusses the considerations for evaluating the impacts of the Elderly Nutrition Demonstrations.
Date: 03 / 2005
Food Stamp Program's Elderly Nutrition Pilot Demonstration: Initial Evaluation Design
Author(s): Merrile Sing
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Examines the low participation rates in the Food Stamp Program by poor elderly individuals.
Date: 03 / 2005
Forgotten Population
Author(s): Zak Stambor
Sponsoring organization: American Psychological Association
Describes the use of telehealth and home-based health-care interventions to address a mental health crisis among elderly Americans in rural areas.
Journal citation: APA Monitor on Psychology Volume 37 Issue 10 Pages: 52-53
Date: 11 / 2006
Forming Community Partnerships to Respond to Senior Employment Transportation Needs
Author(s): Pamela Friedman
Sponsoring organization: Community Transportation Association of America
Presents information about partnering opportunities and funding sources that can be used to facilitate coordination of transportation services to older adult workers.
Date: 01 / 2008
International Rural Aging Project 1997-2004: Conclusions and Recommendations for Policies on Rural Aging in the First Decades of the 21st Century
Sponsoring organization: West Virginia University Center on Aging
Outlines the main strategic themes for healthy and active aging in rural areas in the first decades in the 21st century. Addresses the key issues in rural aging.
Date: 2004
Maturing of America: Getting Communities on Track for an Aging Population
Sponsoring organization: MetLife Foundation
Five national organizations joined forces to identify ways to prepare for the aging population in order to help cities and counties better meet the needs of their aging citizens, and to harness the experience and talent of their older adults.
Date: 2006
Measuring the Years: State Aging Trends & Indicators
Author(s): Laura Summer
Sponsoring organization: National Governors Association Center for Best Practices
Identifies current trends and future directions confronting state policy makers. Provides a wealth of information on topics ranging from
demographic shifts, health care concerns, and long term care workforce shortages.
Date: 11 / 2004
Medical Transportation: Challenges of the Future
Author(s): Jon E. Burkhardt
Sponsoring organization: Community Transportation Association of America
Discusses how trends in aging and access to healthcare interact with funding programs such as Medicare and Medicaid, and the challenges they present.
Date: 2006
Mentally Healthy Aging: A Report on Overcoming Stigma for Older Americans
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Results of roundtable discussions on research findings on older adults and mental illness, manifestations of stigma and discrimination, and strategies to overcome these barriers.
Date: 2005
National Meals On Wheels Rolls Out Into Rural Areas
Author(s): Hilary Gibson
Sponsoring organization: Caregiver.com Inc.
Discusses Meals on Wheels and their recent expansion into rural parts of our country due to the ability to offer individually packaged, frozen meals with foods that are simple to reheat as needed and can be ordered a month at a time.
Journal citation: Rural Caregiver Pages: 1
Date: 2005
Nursing Home Selection: How Do Consumers Choose?
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Reports on a study to: review the existence and accessibility of Internet-based resources intended to support the decision to enter a nursing facility and select the appropriate facility; examine how consumers select a nursing home; explore if and how existing information resources are used in the decision-making process; and identify gaps in needed information resources.
Date: 12 / 2006
Older Americans Act: The Road to Reauthorization Toolkit 2006
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Area Agencies on Aging
Includes information on the Older Americans Act including talking points, advocacy, and legislative materials.
Date: 2006
Older Americans Update 2006: Key Indicators of Well-Being
Sponsoring organization: Federal Interagency Forum on Aging-Related Statistics
Third in a series of reports published by the Federal Interagency Forum on Age-Related Statistics. Provides data on the overall status of the U.S. Population 65 and over.
Date: 05 / 2006
Physician-Patient Communication About Prescription Medication Nonadherence: A 50-State Study of America's Seniors: Executive Summary
Author(s): I. B. Wilson, C. Schoen, P. Neuman et al.
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
Reports on a study that found a high number of America's elderly are not talking to their physicians about problems they are having with prescription medications.
Date: 01 / 2007
Place to Call Home: What the Future of Elder Care Should Be
Sponsoring organization: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Discusses the Green House, which is a place where elders can receive assistance and support with daily living and clinical care without the assistance and care becoming the focus of their existence. Also discusses the Green House model, developing a business plan, and how it could be replicated.
Date: 12 / 2007
Plan of Action on Rural Aging: Findings from Six Demonstration Projects for Rural Older Adults
Author(s): R. Turner Goins
Sponsoring organization: West Virginia University Center on Aging
Results of a study which developed and evaluated rural-based demonstration projects in cooperation with rural senior centers in six counties in West Virginia and Ohio.
Date: 01 / 2004
Population Aging, Entitlement Growth, and the Economy
Author(s): John R. Gist
Sponsoring organization: AARP Public Policy Institute
Identifies how the aging of the baby boom generation and increased longevity are transforming the demographic composition of the U.S. population. Also discusses how this change in demographics will increase federal spending and effect the national economy.
Date: 01 / 2007
Profile of Older Americans: 2005
Sponsoring organization: AARP
Provides demographic and health statistics about Americans age 65 and older. Also includes a special section regarding their access to computers.
Date: 2006
Retooling for an Aging America: Building the Health Care Workforce
Sponsoring organization: Institute of Medicine
Results of a study to determine the health care needs of Americans over 65 years of age and to assess those needs through an analysis of the forces that shape the health care workforce, including education and training, models of care, and public and private programs. Executive summary is available as a PDF.
Date: 04 / 2008
Rural America: Older Rural People
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
This entire issue of Rural America is devoted to rural aging and examines the aging of the rural population; describing the elderly population in rural America, recent trends in older population change in nonmetro areas, characteristics of older farmers, and federal funding in nonmetro elderly counties.
Journal citation: Rural America Volume 17 Issue 3
Date: 12 / 2002
Rural Life Not Always Idyllic for Retirees
Author(s): Thomas D. Rowley
Sponsoring organization: Rural Assistance Center
Discusses the lack of services in rural areas such as access to medical care, housing, social services and transportation and the impact on retirees.
Journal citation: Rural Monitor Volume 11 Issue 2
Date: 11 / 2004
Rural Population and Migration
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
Provides statistics on aging and rural diversity, demographic and social characteristics, health status, poverty, social security income, economic assets, and rural implications.
Date: 02 / 2007
Rural Populations and Health Care Providers: A Map Book
Author(s): Randy Randolph, Katherine Gaul, Rebecca Slifkin
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center (Cecil G. Sheps Center)
Uses 2000 Census data to reassess and provide a visual picture of where rural people live, how the racial and ethnic nature of rural populations is changing, and whether the distribution of health care providers matches
the population distribution.
Date: 09 / 2002
State of 50+ America 2007
Author(s): John Gist, Laurel Beedon, Lisa Southworth
Sponsoring organization: AARP Public Policy Institute
A "report card" on the quality of life of the nation's age 50+ population. Examines the changes in 25 economic, health, social and lifestyle indicators over the most recent year, as well as multi-year periods.
Date: 01 / 2007
State of Aging and Health in America 2007
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Provides national data available on 15 key health indicators for older adults related to health status, health behaviors, preventive care and screening, and injuries.
Date: 03 / 2007
Strategic Action Plan 2007-2012
Sponsoring organization: Administration on Aging
Focuses on modernizing the Aging Services Network’s role in long-term care, and gives particular attention to implementing the new provisions contained in the Older Americans Act Amendments of 2006. Establishes five goals and 13 objectives.
Date: 04 / 2007
Sustainable Communities for All Ages: A Viable Futures Toolkit
Sponsoring organization: Blue Moon Fund
Aimed at designing solutions to meet the needs of older generations that will also meet the needs of younger generations. Examples from around the country include developing new school curricula that encourage young people to go into health care fields, designing walkable communities that improve the health of all generations, and having after school programs share sites with senior centers. A user guide complements the toolkit.
Date: 2007
Work and Retirement: Facts and Figures
Sponsoring organization: Urban Institute
Highlights current and future demographic trends and discusses the challenges of an aging population and the benefits of encouraging American's to work longer. Encouraging delayed retirement by just five years could increase annual retirement spending by 56 percent and cut the projected Social Security shortfall in 2045 by more than 50 percent.
Date: 08 / 2006
Journals
Gerontologist
Provides a multidisciplinary perspective on human aging through the publication of research and analysis in gerontology, including social policy, program development, and service delivery. Reflects and informs the broad community of disciplines and professions involved in understanding the aging process and providing service to older people.
Journal of Aging and Health
Explores the relationship between gerontology and health. Covers a wide range of topics, including active life expectancy, diet/nutrition, disease prevention, ethics in health care, health behaviors and beliefs, health service utilization, longevity and mortality, long-term care, mental health, social support and health, recovery process, alcoholism, and suicide.
Native Aging Visions
Newsletter of the National Resource Center on Native American Aging.
Social Security Update
Designed to keep the public up to date about Social Security issues with a particular focus on disability issues.
Spotlight on Aging Research
Electronic newsletter containing news and notes from the National Institute on Aging. Includes information for researchers, aging services providers, health care professionals, policy makers, media, and others.
Organizations
AARP
National organization
Administers programs, funded by grants or cooperative agreements with governments or private organizations, that assist older Americans in a wide variety of services including job training, tax assistance, assistance with important lawsuits being decided by the courts, and much more.
Administration on Aging (AoA)
Federal government
Advocates for older persons and their concerns at the federal level. AoA works closely with its nationwide network of State and Area Agencies on Aging (AAA). Provides home and community-based services to millions of older persons through the programs funded under the Older Americans Act.
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
Federal government
Sponsors and conducts research that provides evidence-based information on health care outcomes; quality; and cost, use, and access. The information helps health care decisionmakers - patients and clinicians, health system leaders, purchasers, and policymakers - make more informed decisions and improve the quality of health care services.
Alzheimer's Association
National organization
Comprises the largest voluntary health organization dedicated to finding prevention methods, treatments and an eventual cure for Alzheimer's. Works to eliminate Alzheimer's disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health.
American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (AAHSA)
National organization
Represents 5,600 mission-driven, not-for-profit nursing homes, continuing care retirement communities, assisted living and senior housing facilities, and home and community-based service providers. Committed to advancing the vision of healthy, affordable, ethical aging services for America.
American Federation for Aging Research (AFAR)
National organization
Supports both basic and clinical biomedical research into aging and age-related diseases and conditions. Probes a wide range of illnesses and issues from Alzheimer disease to osteoporosis, from heart disease to glaucoma, from the processes of cell death to cancer.
American Geriatrics Society (AGS)
National organization
Comprised of health care providers dedicated to improving the health and well-being of all older adults. Helps in shaping attitudes, policies and practices regarding health care for older people.
American Society on Aging (ASA)
National organization
Enhances the knowledge and skills of people working with older adults and their families through resources, publications, and educational opportunities.
Gerontological Society of America (GSA)
National organization
Provides researchers, educators, practitioners, and policy makers with opportunities to understand, advance, integrate, and use basic and applied research on aging to improve the quality of life as one ages.
Meals on Wheels Association of America (MOWAA)
National organization
Works to bring meals to seniors in need including men and women who are elderly, homebound, disabled, frail, or at risk. Is the oldest and largest organization in the United States representing those who provide meal services to people in need.
National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a)
National organization
Serves as the umbrella organization for the 655 area agencies on aging and more than 230 Title VI Native American aging programs in the U.S. Advocates on behalf of the local aging agencies to ensure that needed resources and support services are available to older Americans. Works to provide services which make it possible for older individuals to remain in their home.
National Association of State Units on Aging (NASUA)
National organization
State Units on Aging (SUAs) are agencies of state and territorial governments designated by governors and state legislatures to administer, manage, design and advocate for benefits, programs and services for the elderly and their families and, in many states, for adults with physical disabilities.
National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA)
National organization
Provides resources on elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
National Council on the Aging (NCOA)
National organization
Serves as a strong public advocate on behalf of older adults living in rural America. Develops, recommends, and promotes social policy to enhance the quality of life for rural older adults.
National Foundation of Dentistry for the Handicapped (NFDH)
National organization
Provides qualified disabled and elderly people in numerous states free, comprehensive donated treatment by volunteer dentists.
National Indian Council on Aging (NICOA)
National organization
Works to better the lives of the nation's indigenous seniors through advocacy, employment training, dissemination of information, and data support.
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
National organization
Leads a broad scientific effort to understand the nature of aging and to extend the healthy, active years of life. Provides leadership in aging research, training, health information dissemination, and other programs relevant to aging and older people.
National PACE Association (NPA)
National organization
Exists to advance the efforts of Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE). PACE programs coordinate and provide all needed preventive, primary, acute and long term care services so that older individuals can continue living in the community.
National Resource Center on Native American Aging (NRCNAA)
National organization
Works closely with the local service providers throughout the nation to address the needs of American Indian, Alaskan Native and Native Hawaiian elders.
Rural PACE Technical Assistance Program
Federal government
Assists rural health care providers in developing Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) to serve rural communities. The goals of the program are to develop strategies for successfully adapting PACE to rural communities, identify health professional training needs to support PACE in rural communities, and to provide education and technical assistance to rural providers.
USDA Economic Research Service (USDA ERS)
Federal government
Provides economic analyses to support a competitive agricultural system, a safe food supply, a healthy, well-nourished population,
harmony between agriculture and the environment, and enhanced quality of life for rural Americans.
West Virginia University Center on Aging
Academic/Research
Works to improve the health, wellbeing and security of older people and those who care for them, in West Virginia and across the nation, through research, education, clinical service, technology and advocacy.
Terms & Acronyms
Dial-a-Ride Non-fixed route service utilizing vans or buses with passengers boarding and alighting at pre-arranged times at any location within the system's service area.
Geriatric Care Manager (GCM) A health and human services professional, such as a gerontologist, nurse, social worker, or psychologist with a specialized focus on issues related to aging and elder care. Geriatric care managers work privately with older adults and their families to create a plan of care that meets the needs of the older adult. They will meet with you to help you understand your loved one's needs and to learn what resources and options are available to meet those needs.
Out-Migration Process when people leave their areas of residence without intention of returning. In rural areas, this is primarily the trend of younger people who migrate to larger urban areas.
PACE PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) programs serve individuals with long term care needs by providing access to the entire continuum of health care services, including preventive, primary, acute and long term care. A basic tenet of the PACE philosophy is that it is better for both the senior with long term care needs and the health care system to focus on keeping the individual living as independently as possible in the community for as long as possible.
Population Aging Changes in the age structure of a population, caused by changes in birth rate, mortality, and migration. The result of these changes is the increase in the relative size of the population age 65 and over.
Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) A program funded by the Department of Energy that reduces heating and cooling costs for low-income families, particularly for the elderly, people with disabilities, and children, by improving the energy efficiency of their homes while ensuring their health and safety.
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