Rural Health Research Gateway

Comparison of Assisted Living in Rural and Non-Rural Areas

Funder: Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Research center: Southwest Rural Health Research Center
Phone: 979.458.0653
Lead researcher: Catherine Hawes, PhD , 979.458.0081, hawes@srph.tamushsc.edu
Project completed:April 2003
Topics: Long term care
Rural statistics and demographics

The project involves secondary analysis of an existing database on a national probability sample of all assisted living facilities (ALFs). It also includes a secondary analysis of residents, staff, and facility policies and practices in a nationally representative sample of ALFs that offer either high services, high privacy or both. The analysis compares types of facilities and residents in rural and non-rural areas. It examines the effect of location (rural/non-rural) on price as well as the affordability of assisted living, services, staffing, admission and retention policies, and the potential for residents to age in place. It also examines differences in some quality indicators, such as privacy and environmental autonomy for residents, resident satisfaction, staff knowledge, retention/turnover, and satisfaction, and the availability and provision of services to meet scheduled and unscheduled needs.

Publications

  • Assisted Living In Rural America: Results from a National Survey
    Author(s): Catherine Hawes, Charles D. Phillips, Scott Holan, Michael Sherman
    Date: 08 / 2003
    Provides descriptive information on the assisted living industry in metropolitan and rural areas. Results indicate that assisted living was largely a private-pay form of long-term care and was more common in metropolitan than rural areas. Findings suggest that assisted living, as currently structured, will make only a marginal contribution to meeting the needs of frail elders living in rural areas.
  • Assisted Living: Is It An Option For Rural Areas?
    Report Number: Policy Brief
    Date: 05 / 2004
    Highlights the key findings of the national survey of assisted living regarding supply, services, and affordability of assisted living facilities in rural areas.
  • Expanding Residential Care And Assisted Living In Rural America
    Report Number: Policy Brief
    Date: 05 / 2004
    There is an undersupply of assisted living facilities (ALFs) in rural areas. This policy brief provides options for state policymakers and advocates to consider in expanding the availability and nature of assisted living and other types of housing with supportive services in rural areas.