What Makes a Rural Community Age-Friendly? Insights into Aging in Place in Small Iowa Towns.

Abstract

Rural populations in the U.S. and many other countries are aging rapidly, which creates challenges for policymakers and local leadership. Therefore, this study explored what makes rural communities a good place for older adults to live in and why. Data were primarily derived from in-depth interviews with 25 older adults living in four small rural towns in Iowa, and information provided by local stakeholders. All these communities are aging but differ in perceptions about the quality of age-based services. The findings show that such services are important but not a necessary condition for a rural community to be perceived as age-friendly. A strong and supportive social environment appears to offer some compensation when local services are lacking and local infrastructure is underdeveloped. Both older adults and local stakeholders' perceptions of an age-friendly community are mostly related to social networks, informal support, and a local "culture of caring." Recognizing and strengthening these aspects of community life is within reach of rural communities and their leaders, without the need for large-scale interventions or infrastructure investments.