There are approximately 35% fewer home health aides in rural areas of the United States than in urban areas to support the aging population.
That’s according to research from the University of Minnesota Population Reference Bureau (PRB), a private nonprofit research organization that accepts contributions from U.S. Census Bureau. The researchers found that rural areas had an average of 32.8 home health aides per 1,000 seniors, while urban areas had an average of 50.4 home health aides per 1,000 seniors.
According to a July PRB report, rural areas of the country not only have a high concentration of seniors but also lack the professionals needed to help these seniors age comfortably at home.
“In addition, there are only 20.9 nursing assistants per 1,000 older people in rural areas, compared with 25.3 in urban areas, a gap of 17%,” the report states. “These differences highlight geographical inequalities in health service delivery, which may Limit who can age in place.”
Researchers have several possible explanations for the gap, including lower wages, job quality issues and a lack of “investments in the direct care workforce, such as job training programs and financial incentives for workers.”
The aging of the population also has an impact on the accessibility of health services, as some areas have higher numbers of older residents than others.
“Regionally, New England, home to some of the country’s oldest states, has the lowest rates of home health aides and nursing aides in both rural and urban areas,” explains the report, a co-author of the original study. Attributing this to “demographics” which are driving its direct labor supply.
The report explains that some states have begun efforts to increase the size of the direct care workforce to address such shortages, including “increasing wages, providing health insurance options, and free and accessible training.”
In the absence of a direct labor supply, friends and family members of older residents in these parts of the country hope to fill the gap.
“The United States has experienced profound demographic changes—in marriage, partnerships, fertility, family size, stepfamilies, and unrelated relationships,” the report states. “These trends affect the number and types of family members available to care for Americans as they age. “
