https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0273-0387
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ABSTRACT
Older adults in rural areas of the U.S. face unique risks related to COVID-19. Rural areas are older, on average, than urban areas, and have more underlying health conditions and fewer economic resources. Rural health care is more limited, as is access to technology and online connectivity. Altogether, this puts rural older adults at risk of not only the virus, but of not being able to meet their health care, social, and basic needs. Rural/urban inequities, combined with within-rural inequities in health, health care, and financial resources cause particular challenges to health and well-being from COVID-19 for some older adults.
Key Points
Older adults living in rural areas face unique risks from COVID-19.
Rural areas are older, and have fewer economic and health care resources.
Rural older adults have challenges to connecting online, increasing loneliness risk.
Risk is not equally distributed among rural older adults.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.