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Rural
Aging
- Archive 2010 -
United States
USDA Rural Development recognizes 35th Anniversary of Milford Housing (August 27, 2010)
USDA Rural Development was in Milford today to recognize the board and management at Milford Housing for providing quality housing services to residents in Milford since 1975, especially for rural elderly. USDA Rural Development currently provides financing for 500 multi-family housing projects in rural Iowa.
Report: Access to Care and Services (August 2010):
Lack of access to quality health care has been a long-standing risk for rural Americans. Multiple factors are emerging that may increase this risk in the future. The National Association for Home Care continuously keeps rural access on the radar and supports legislation that will preserve home care access to vulnerable rural areas. Of special interest are the rural elderly. Rural residents older than the age of 65 years represent a large portion of the nation’s home care recipients. Although people older than 65 years are living longer, healthier lives, they frequently require quality health care to make that possible. This population is also more likely to have complex medical issues requiring health care interventions. A review of current literature shows that there are many emerging trends posing a significant risk to the future of home care in rural America. This article discusses resources as well as initiatives undertaken to identify successful rural care delivery models.
Elder Transportation for Rural Minnesotans a Top Priority, (August 2, 2010)
Access to transportation, particularly for old people in rural Minnesota, will be a top priority when the Older Americans Act (OAA) comes up for reauthorization next year. OAA programs are designed to help seniors stay in their homes, get proper nutrition, and have access to transportation services to get them to medical appointments and other destinations.
Postal Cutback Could Deliver Rural Problem (July 26, 2010)
The plan to end Saturday mail delivery is hardly welcome news. It could be particularly painful for older rural elders who live far from post offices and depend on letter carriers for government checks, prescription medicines and parts for farming equipment. Although post offices will remain open on Saturdays, older persons who live in remote areas with little access to the Internet or transport will suffer the most.
Mobile Vans to Bring Screenings to Rural Clinics (July 23, 2010)
In Wisconsin, Franciscan Skemp Healthcare will soon bring digital mammography and bone density testing to patients at its regional clinics, breaking down earlier barriers to break down access barriers. Older persons living in rural areas often have trouble traveling to health centers due to the weather or difficulty finding a ride. Many rural patients will not drive an hour to get a bone density scan because they often do not consider it a priority like mammography. Nevertheless, bone density testing is extremely important, especially in determining if a patient has osteoporosis or other diseases.
Grocery Closings Leave Rural Residents Few Options (June 25, 2010)
Local grocery stores in rural areas throughout the US are closing after struggling to survive competition from distant super centers and succumbing to relatively high operating costs. Such closures rob towns of their vitality, with the loss of community areas and sales tax revenue to fund local governments. These departures leave many older persons without a proper food source. Many resort to shuffling across highways to reach the convenience store at a gas station.
Report: The Consequences of Personal Networks for Internet Use in Rural Areas (2010)
Why are there fewer internet users in rural areas than in urban areas? In rural areas, older people and those without a post-secondary education lack affordable internet connectivity. Also, high numbers of older people and those without post-secondary education live in rural areas. The author says that equalizing internet accessibility in rural and urban areas will be difficult. Why not give rural people the chance to learn how to use the internet and have access?
Report: Treating the Aged in Rural Communities: The Application of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Depression (2010)
Many rural communities are experiencing an increase in their older adult population.
These older persons typically have fewer resources and poorer mental and physical health than their urban counterparts. Depression is the most prevalent mental health problem among older adults, yet 80% of the cases are treatable. Unfortunately, for many rural elders, depressive disorders are widely under-recognized and often untreated or under-treated.
The report illustrates that respect for rural older persons, coupled with an
understanding of their limited resources, can be combined with therapeutic
interventions to offer a treatment for depression.
On Lok Hosts Conference to Explore Feasibility of PACE for Rural Seniors (June 22, 2010)
California State Assembly Member Wesley Chesbro joined On Lok, Inc., and other California and national senior care leaders June 23 and 24 at Making PACE a Reality in Rural California, a policy conference. Those attending looked into the feasibility of bringing the Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) to rural California. Rural elders tend to be in poorer health and face greater difficulty accessing essential care services. Low-income and disabled seniors are among those who suffer most. To date, no large-scale policy efforts have succeeded in ensuring their access to health care.
Paramedics Could Play Larger Part in Rural Medicine (June 21, 2010)
For older rural Nebraskans suffering severe pain in the middle of the night, there are few options other than calling an ambulance to take them to the emergency room. In the future, instead of sending an ambulance, a paramedic may be able to visit the person, make an assessment and possibly save the cost of an ambulance. This program prepares paramedics to provide health services in areas short on health-care practitioners, particularly rural areas
Power Wheelchair From Medicare Helps Save Live of Alabama Woman From Raging Fire (June 4, 2010)
When Roena Hall, a 75-year-old woman who lives in a small rural community, received a power wheelchair through Medicare a year ago, which improved her mobility and relieved pain. However, she didn't realize that the medical device would also help save her life. This article advocates for Medicare's adoption of aging-at-home as its core philosophy since many small rural communities could soon be without durable medical equipment providers to service those areas.
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