Special Programs for Rural Elderly May Be Needed

February 7, 2000

A new study from USDA says most of the rural elderly may need special programs to alleviate financial hardships. The status and location of the "oldest old" population needs to be "critically" examined, says the study.

"The changing size, distribution and socioeconomic status of the older population has wide-ranging implications for services, resources and programs for the elderly in rural areas," says the report. "Issues such as ease of access to services in areas of low population density are critical when considering the rural or nonmetro elderly. The need to provide services to the increasing number of older persons will become even more acute in the 21^st century."

Elderly persons require "a disproportionate level of services and account for a disproportionate share of the public budget," according to the report. "Residential differences in physical limitations as well as access to and availability of services need to be considered in planning for services in particular communities."

The report continues, "The concentration of persons in the older ages where chronic health problems are most common, in combination with the increase in older dependents relative to the working-age population, has problematic consequences for the funding and provision of health and social services to the elderly and the supply of health and social service workers."

With government programs playing a large role in the lives of the elderly, constrained federal spending makes them especially vulnerable. "The continued growth of the populate age 60 and older will affect the costs of Social Security, private pension programs, Medicare, Medicaid and a host of other services and programs for the elderly."

The report continues, "Changing family patterns such as smaller family size, childlessness and divorce mean that many baby boomers will have far fewer family resources to turn to in their old age."

The entire report is available on the Internet at http://www.econ.ag.gov/epubs/pdf/rdrr90/.