Those who have lived in a rural area know there’s something special about these communities. People in rural areas can often count on each other, and they value hard work and collaboration. Nate Schema, president and CEO of the Good Samaritan Society, said of rural settings, “We’re serving retired teachers, farmers, pastors, business owners, and veterans. These are proud communities, where people wake up every day and think about how they can better not only their families but their communities.”
He added, “We are at a crossroads right now, but we have an opportunity to look at unique ways to continue to serve rural communities and ensure their sustainability.”
In many ways, residents in rural long term care facilities are like their counterparts in urban and suburban communities. However, according to Nursing Homes in Rural America: A Chartbook, released by the Rural Policy Research Institute (RUPRI), rural residents are more likely to have their costs reimbursed by Medicaid, a diagnosis of dementia, psychiatric illness, mental or behavioral health needs, and/or depression. Interestingly, while most of these residents are over age 85, they are less likely to need assistance with activities of daily living than their urban counterparts. They also tend to require less complex care, although they have higher rates of cognitive impairment and behavioral issues.
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