Journal highlights NRHA’s advancement of rural age-friendly ecosystems

The spring 2025 issue of the American Society on Aging’s (ASA) Generations Journal titled The Promise of an Age-Friendly Ecosystem explores the growing need for age-friendly systems across sectors and settings. In response to evolving federal and state priorities and ongoing changes to the public sector landscape, the editorial acknowledges that multi-sector collaboration is more critical than ever to advance and sustain services for older adults, people with disabilities, caregivers, and families. The publication not only emphasizes the unique needs of rural communities but also innovations across housing, transportation, public health systems, and community engagement that shape age-friendly ecosystems nationwide.

Among the featured contributions is “The Evolution and Promise of Age-Friendly Ecosystems in Rural Communities” co-authored by Rebecca Yeboah, Laura B. Hudson, and K. Piper Martin of NRHA in collaboration with Trust for America’s Health. The article addresses how rural communities, which are home to more than 20 percent of the nation’s older adult population, face unique challenges in aging infrastructure, social isolation, food insecurity, transportation, workforce shortages, and overall access to comprehensive care. 

Despite these challenges, the article also outlines NRHA’s dedication and resilience in building multi-sector collaboration and community-informed solutions that strengthen rural age-friendly ecosystems and promote aging in place through the National Rural Age-Friendly Initiative (NRAFI), which is supported by The John. A Hartford Foundation.

Access the NRHA NRAFI ASA article here: The Evolution and Promise of Age-Friendly Ecosystems in Rural Communities - ASA Generations

Readers are also encouraged to explore the full spring 2025 issue of ASA’s Generations Journal, which features several articles relevant to the age-friendly ecosystem of care and innovation.

To learn more about NRHA’s NRAFI, visit the National Rural Age-Friendly Initiative Resource Hub.

For more information about the NRAFI, contact Laura Hudson or Rebecca (Becky) Yeboah.

This blog was produced as part of the National Rural Age-Friendly Initiative, a partnership between NRHA and The John A. Hartford Foundation.