Divergent Experiences Reported by Rural and Frontier Older Adults Aging in Place

ABSTRACT

Aging research tends to define rural as any area that is not urban without considering the diversity that exists within rural environments. Using government guidelines defining frontier and rural counties, the purpose was to identify similarities and differences in the aging experience reported by community-dwelling rural and frontier older adults. Individual interviews were completed in Wyoming with 142 older adults from frontier (n = 72) and rural counties (n=70). Summative content analysis was used to evaluate responses within the framework of social influences and nested environmental interactions of a socio-ecological model. Rural older adults reported needing more medical services and care, while frontier adults indicated an absence for many of these services. Similar response patterns were indicated with regard to grocery stores and general shopping. Current interview statements provide foundational information for future policies that recognize frontier aging in place that does not equate to aging in rural specific areas.

KEYWORDS:

• Frontier
• older adults
• rural
• service assets
• service needs

Key Points

• The aging experiences of rural and frontier older adults are similar and yet divergent in a number of important areas.

• Service providers must recognize the diversity of the aging experience in sparsely populated areas and provide support to environmental specific needs, both now and for the future.

• Service provider advocacy is indispensable when considering effective legislative policy in both rural and frontier regions.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Data availability statement

Data is currently not available due to further analyses being completed.

Additional information

Funding

The study was partially supported by the School of Psychological Science Professional Development funds, University of Northern Colorado.