Older Adults, Rural Living, and the Escalating Risk of Social Isolation

Abstract

Aging Americans residing in rural communities have the reputation of being a particularly stoic and fiercely independent lot. They number in the millions and represent a sizable and often overlooked cohort of older adults compared to their urban counterparts. Unfortunately, the struggles they have meeting the challenges that can accompany the aging experience may be overlooked or else underestimated due to the limited attention they receive from a policy and planning perspective. One such challenge is protecting themselves against the potentially devastating consequences of living a socially isolated and lonely life. This article argues that while older adults residing in a variety of geographic settings are facing an increasing risk of becoming disengaged from the communities in which they live, the risk faced by non-urban elders in this regard is particularly high.