Exploring access to critical health services for older adults in rural America from 1990 to 2020

IF 3.1 3区医学 Q2 HEALTH CARE SCIENCES & SERVICES

Journal of Rural Health Pub Date : 2025-02-28 DOI:10.1111/jrh.70004

Elizabeth A. Bambury BS, Alexis A. Merdjanoff PhD, Joshua T. Fergen PhD, J. Tom Mueller PhD

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Abstract

Purpose

Rural America has experienced a rapid loss of hospitals since the turn of the century, making access to high-quality health care the top rural health priority. Coinciding with this hospital decline is the growth of a rural population age 65 years or older. The health needs of older adults can require specialty care to support healthy aging. To date, minimal research has been conducted on trends in aging-related health care services in rural areas beyond hospital closures.

Methods

This study uses a 30-year lookback of data from the Area Health Resource Files to describe the trends in local access to hospitals and critical health services important for conditions experienced by older adults in rural America. Results are presented across measures of rurality and population age.

Findings

Local aging-related access to services such as chemotherapy, oncology, emergency department, geriatric, and home health agencies have been stagnant or declining over time in rural areas. Concerningly, the most remote communities with the highest percent of older adults have the lowest service access.

Conclusion

These findings shed light on the growing need for policies to support healthy aging among the increasingly older rural population.

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来源期刊

Journal of Rural Health 医学-公共卫生、环境卫生与职业卫生

CiteScore

7.60

自引率

6.10%

发文量

审稿时长

>12 weeks

期刊介绍： The Journal of Rural Health, a quarterly journal published by the NRHA, offers a variety of original research relevant and important to rural health. Some examples include evaluations, case studies, and analyses related to health status and behavior, as well as to health work force, policy and access issues. Quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods studies are welcome. Highest priority is given to manuscripts that reflect scholarly quality, demonstrate methodological rigor, and emphasize practical implications. The journal also publishes articles with an international rural health perspective, commentaries, book reviews and letters.