Rural
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What does rural mean? The American Heritage Dictionary defines rural as, "Of or pertaining to the country as opposed to the city." Further research indicates that rural means to be located away from an urban area or dense population. When I think about the elderly in a rural setting, several real and imagined scenarios come to mind.
First, one must assume that the elderly living in rural communities have limited access to specialized health care. My grandparents live on a rural farm in southern Missouri and must drive at least 45 minutes each way for the most basic medical attention. Studies show that seniors living in rural areas have poorer health overall compared to seniors living in urban areas. Lack of public transportation and fewer health care providers contribute to this fact.
Secondly, studies indicate a disparity between poverty rates. According to John A...