Division of Health Policy and Management , Minneapolis, MN, USA.
University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center , Minneapolis, MN, USA.
J Aging Soc Policy. 2020 Jul-Oct;32(4-5):396-402. doi: 10.1080/08959420.2020.1770036. Epub 2020 Jun 1.
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.
美国农村地区的老年人面临与 COVID-19 相关的独特风险。农村地区的人口平均年龄比城市地区大,且有更多的潜在健康问题和更少的经济资源。农村地区的医疗保健更加有限,获取技术和在线连接的机会也更少。所有这些因素使得农村地区的老年人不仅面临病毒的风险,而且还面临无法满足其医疗、社交和基本需求的风险。农村/城市之间的不平等,以及农村内部在健康、医疗保健和财政资源方面的不平等,使得某些老年人在 COVID-19 面前面临着特别的健康和福祉挑战。