New NRHA initiative focuses on age-friendly care

By: Angela Lutz | 8/23/23

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No matter where a person lives, getting older requires support – but rural adults face unique concerns not shared by their urban peers. In addition to economic factors, cultural and social differences, policies that don’t adequately acknowledge or serve rural, and geographic distance, older small-town residents must also grapple with traveling farther for care, fewer community spaces and activities, social isolation, hospital closures, and health care provider shortages. These issues put rural older adults at higher risk for worsening health outcomes.

“Aging in rural America can be a wonderful experience, characterized by strong social connections and a deep sense of place,” says Carrie Henning-Smith, PhD, University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center deputy director. “However, it also comes with unique challenges for older adults aging in place.”

Carrie Henning-Smith

To help providers offer the comprehensive and compassionate health care older adults deserve, NRHA has received grant funding from The John A. Hartford Foundation to create the National Rural Age-Friendly Initiative. This collaboration combines research, partnerships, educational sessions, and community outreach at the state, regional, and federal levels to advance age friendly care for the one in five older adults living in rural areas.
 

"Aging in rural America can be a wonderful experience, characterized by strong social connections and a deep sense of place." – Carrie Henning-Smith

“This initiative recognizes the importance of addressing the unique challenges faced by our aging population in rural areas,” says NRHA CEO Alan Morgan. “While there is a great sense of community among rural Americans, we also face significant transportation, housing, and health care challenges. We must recognize that our rural communities are experiencing significant demographic shifts, with an increasing number of older adults calling rural America home.”
 

Alan Morgan

Because more people over the age of 65 live in rural America than in urban and suburban areas, NRHA’s partnership with The John A. Hartford Foundation will help to fill the growing need for aging rural populations and their health care providers. Founded in 1929, The John A. Hartford Foundation is a national philanthropic organization dedicated to improving the care of older adults. The Foundation has three areas of emphasis: creating age-friendly health systems, supporting family caregivers, and improving serious illness and end-of-life care. Through its work with NRHA, the organization aims to grow its efforts in rural America and improve health care quality and accessibility for rural older adults.
 

"While there is a great sense of community among rural Americans, we also face significant transportation, housing, and health care challenges." – Alan Morgan

With The John A. Hartford Foundation’s guidance, NRHA’s initiative will work to complete the following objectives:
 

• Create and convene a national rural age-friendly interest group to determine priorities and best practices for aging rural communities.

 

• Disseminate rural age-friendly information, including resources and best practices.

 

• Integrate dedicated rural age-friendly health tracks within educational events and provide technical assistance to state rural health associations to create statewide strategies addressing aging issues.

 

• Develop an age-friendly community health worker training curriculum that builds upon NRHA’s established rural community health worker trainings, facilitates evidence-based modules for rural communities, and develops an implementation plan for an intervention pilot project.

 
“This initiative will be our first ever large-scale grant centered on rural older adults,” says Rani Snyder, The John A. Hartford Foundation vice president of programs. “Our work with NRHA will create a much-needed strategy for embedding age-friendly care in all rural communities, which will strengthen our entire country.”
 

Rani Snyder

“The NRHA age-friendly initiative is an important step forward to ensure that rural America is a safe, supportive environment for all older adults who want to live there,” Henning-Smith adds.

Going forward, NRHA and The John A. Hartford Foundation will continue to develop and expand their work to help rural health care providers shift toward providing age-friendly care for older adults in rural communities. Specifically, age-friendly care focuses on addressing an individual’s unique needs and wants, including the “4Ms”: what matters, medication, mentation, and mobility. With these guiding principles, NRHA’s forward-thinking initiative promotes a better quality of life for older adults in rural America.
 

"This initiative will be our first ever large-scale grant centered on rural older adults." – Rani Snyder

“Launching an age-friendly initiative for rural America is an imperative step forward, as it addresses the specific needs and aspirations of our aging population in these communities,” Morgan says. “By doing so, we not only ensure their access to quality health care and social services, but we also honor the invaluable contributions they have made and are continuing to make to their communities throughout their lives.”


Visit The John A. Hartford Foundation’s age-friendly care guide to learn the essential elements of age-friendly care including the “4Ms.”