Community-Based Long-Term Care in Rural Areas
Author Information
Author(s): Pendergrast Claire
Primary Institution: Syracuse University
Hypothesis
The study examines the association between the availability of community-based long-term care services and county sociodemographic and sociocultural characteristics in rural U.S. counties.
Conclusion
The availability of aging and disability services is lower in rural counties with higher crime rates, while home health agency availability is greater in counties with higher crime rates and poverty.
Supporting Evidence
- Lower availability of aging and disability services per capita was found in rural counties with higher crime rates.
- Greater availability of these services was observed in more Republican counties.
- Counties with higher voter turnout had more aging and disability services.
- Higher poverty rates were associated with greater availability of aging and disability services.
- Counties with more residents aged 65 and older had greater availability of aging and disability services.
- Home health agency availability was greater in counties with higher crime rates.
- Home health agency availability was also greater in counties with higher poverty rates.
- State-level factors explained a portion of the variation in service availability.
Takeaway
This study looks at how many services for older people are available in rural areas and finds that crime and poverty affect this availability.
Methodology
Multi-level mixed-effects negative binomial models were used to analyze data from the American Community Survey and the National Neighborhood Data Archive.
Limitations
Further investigation is needed to understand place-based factors driving inequalities in community-based long-term care access.
Participant Demographics
Rural counties in the U.S.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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