Millions of Americans live in rural areas, and a growing number of them are older adults who may want to age in place.
More than 20 percent of the U.S. nonmetro population consisted of adults age 65 and older in 2021, a first in the country’s census history, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s annual Rural America at a Glance report, and an increase from 16 percent in 2010.
However, these older adults are more likely to have health complications impacted by social determinants of health, due to a lack of insurance coverage, care access and access to healthy foods.
Despite these challenges, Lutheran Services in America’s Rural Aging Action Network (RAAN) is working to connect older adults in rural Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota to community-based services.
Click the banner below to learn how senior care technology supports caregivers and older adults.