Introduction

Rural aging issues are gaining increased attention by a variety of notable organizations. Rural America covers approximately 75% of land area in the US and accounts for some 15% of the population. There is a trend toward increased attention by elected officials and federal departments aiming to address the challenges of aging in rural America. Much of it focuses on strategies for increasing services that enable older adults to remain in their homes and immediate communities, growing and training the caregiver workforce, expanding transportation access and services, and implementing Medicaid delivery system reforms. There is a trend toward increased attention by elected officials and federal departments aiming to address the challenges of aging in rural America. Dudley is driven by the fact that rural Americans have traditionally been underserved and overlooked and have not benefited from the same array of services and programming as urban dwellers.