Supporting Rural Older Adults in Home and Community-Based Settings: Perspectives From Area Agencies on Aging
Link
Date
06/2026
Description
Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) are state-designated public or private non-profit agencies that cover a specified region to provide and coordinate support services for older adults, people with disabilities, and caregivers. Services provided by AAAs include transportation, needs assessment and care planning, homemaking, case management, nutrition, personal care assistance, chore services, home modification and repair, older adult education and programming, and many other essential programs for older adults. This policy brief examines the needs of older adults living in rural communities who are homebound by sharing findings from a listening session of rural-serving AAAs.
Key Findings:
- Representatives from AAAs serving rural areas across five states identified challenges and opportunities related to supporting older adults, especially those who are homebound.
- Three primary themes around challenges serving rural older adults in home- and community-based settings emerged: transportation, workforce, and technology.
- The AAA representatives also offered examples of innovation and creativity to address these challenges.
Center
University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Authors
Katie Rydberg, Jessica Machler, Megan Lahr, Carrie Henning-Smith