Aging
Current Projects
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"Older, Sicker, Poorer": A Scoping Review of the Literature That Contributes to This Narrative on Rural Americans
The investigators will conduct a scoping review of peer-reviewed literature to explore the contributive evidence that rural Americans are older, sicker, and poorer. The project will provide historical and context-setting perspectives on the factors that have led to this description and the extent to which it still holds true. The project will also identify literature gaps to inform future research.
Research center: Southwest Rural Health Research Center
Topics: Aging, Poverty, Rural statistics and demographics
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Addressing Elder Abuse in Rural Areas
Elder abuse, including financial, physical, and emotional abuse, as well as self-neglect, is widespread and impacts individual and population health outcomes. However, despite the fact that rural residents are older, in poorer health, and more financially vulnerable, little is known about rural/urban differences in the prevalence of and resources to address elder abuse; this project will address those gaps.
Research center: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Topics: Aging, Disabilities, Health disparities and health equity, Social determinants of health, Violence and abuse
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Availability, Care Practices, and Quality of Hospice Providers Serving Rural versus Urban Communities
This project will examine differences in availability of hospice care in rural versus urban communities as well as provider-level quality and care practices by rural-urban status of hospices. Findings will highlight potential rural-urban disparities in hospice care that can be used to inform future Medicare policy.
Research center: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
Topics: Aging, Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), Health disparities and health equity, Health services, Healthcare access, Hospice and palliative care, Medicare, Quality
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Comparing Utilization and Quality of Home Health Care Between Medicare Fee-for-Service and Medicare Advantage Beneficiaries by Rural-Urban Status
This project examines differences in home health use and quality by enrollment in Medicare Fee-for-Service (FFS) versus Medicare Advantage (MA) plans. Findings will include information on rural-urban and intra-rural variation in home health care to inform policies on access, payment, and quality for Medicare FFS and MA plans.
Research center: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
Topics: Aging, Allied health professionals, Health disparities and health equity, Health services, Healthcare access, Healthcare financing, Home health, Medicare, Medicare Advantage (MA), Post-acute care, Quality
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Extent and Coverage of Rural PACE Services
Supporting independent living and aging in place for rural residents is more important than ever. This project will provide information on the extent and coverage of rural Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) programs, along with insights into the unique challenges and opportunities faced by PACE programs operating in rural areas.
Research center: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Topics: Aging, Disabilities, Health disparities and health equity, Healthcare access, Home health, Social determinants of health
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Health Care Use and Access Among Rural and Urban Elderly Medicare Beneficiaries
This project will examine rural-urban differences in healthcare use and access to healthcare services among elderly Medicare enrollees using the 2011-2013 Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey. We also will identify the socioeconomic and health factors that may place rural seniors at risk for poor healthcare access.
Research center: Maine Rural Health Research Center
Topics: Aging, Medicare
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Improving Health for "Homebound" Older Adults in Rural and Urban Areas
This project will describe rural-urban differences in the risk of and characteristics associated with being classified as "homebound." We will also identify policy and programmatic interventions to reduce the risk of becoming homebound as well as to improve outcomes for those who are homebound.
Research center: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Topics: Aging, Disabilities, Health disparities and health equity, Home health, Rural statistics and demographics, Social determinants of health
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Rural Nursing Home Staffing, and Resident Health, Closure, and Financial Performance
There are concerns about availability and quality of care provided in nursing homes in rural areas. This project aims to evaluate staffing levels and shortages, the health status of residents, closures, and financial performance of rural nursing homes both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Research center: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
Topics: Aging, Long-term care, Post-acute care
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Rural-Urban Differences in Access to and Quality of Care for People With Disabilities
The purpose of this project is to identify rural-urban differences in access to and quality of health care services for people with disabilities. Results from this project will help inform policy to improve access to and quality of care for this growing population in rural areas.
Research center: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Topics: Aging, Disabilities, Health disparities and health equity, Healthcare access, Quality, Social determinants of health
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Rural/Urban Differences in Forgoing Health Care during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Several surveys conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic showed that adults delayed or skipped healthcare services during the initial months of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study examines changes in healthcare utilization for primary and preventative care among rural and urban Medicare fee-for-service enrollees since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Research center: Rural Health Equity Research Center
Topics: Aging, Care management, Chronic diseases and conditions, Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), Diabetes, Health disparities and health equity, Health promotion and disease prevention, Health services, Medicare, Mental and behavioral health, Minority health, Telehealth
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Use of Home and Community Based Services by Medicare Beneficiaries
Using the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey, we will examine rural-urban differences in the need for long term services and supports, rates of home and community-based services (HCBS) use, the use of different types of HCBS, and the impact of HCBS on subsequent use of emergent services such as hospitalizations and emergency department visits.
Research center: Maine Rural Health Research Center
Topics: Aging, Health services, Home health, Long-term care, Medicare