Publication Date: August 27th, 2020
Publication Type(s): Chartbook
Topic(s): Aging, Health Disparities and Health Equity, Rural Statistics and Demographics, Social Determinants of Health
Author(s): Tuttle C; Tanem J; Lahr M; Schroeder J; Tuttle MS; Henning-Smith C
Rural populations are older, on average, than urban populations, and the proportion of older adults is increasing more quickly in rural communities due to declining birth rates and migration patterns among younger adults. Additionally, the demographics of rural areas are changing, as immigration and socioeconomic forces influence who lives in rural areas. These trends demand that policymakers, researchers, service providers, and health care workers regularly update their understanding of the characteristics of older adults in rural communities in order to improve how they serve these populations and to allocate resources more effectively and efficiently. Toward that end, this chartbook presents the characteristics of older adults in rural counties, as well as rural-urban differences among older adults, across four domains: Demographics, Socioeconomic Characteristics, Health Care Access and Use, and Health Characteristics.