RURAL AREA AGENCIES ON AGING - AN OVERVIEW OF ACTIVITIES AND POLICY ISSUES

This article presents an overview of the nature and service activities of ruraL Area Agencies (AAAS) with data from a recently completed nationaL survey. Compared to their urban counterparts rural AAAs serve much larger, more sparsely populated areas with poorer and older elderly populations; have much smaller budgets and staffs; and support fewer services. This leads to a clear rural disadvantage in resources and services for the elderly. Policy makers need to examine and address factors identified as associated with this rural-urban inequity including SUA intrastate funding formulas, "rural" service models and training needs, and regulations regarding direct service provision. Important research and policy questions in need of further study are also identified.