Socio-Spatial Disparities in County-Level Availability of Aging and Disability Services Organizations

Area of Science:

• Community Gerontology
• Spatial Inequality
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Aging and disability services are crucial for independent living among older adults.
• Understanding geographic and demographic disparities in service access is vital for equitable support.
• Existing research often overlooks the rural-urban continuum and county-level characteristics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the availability of aging and disability services across the rural-urban spectrum.
• To examine how county-level demographic factors influence service access.
• To identify areas lacking adequate aging and disability services, termed 'deserts'.

Main Methods:

• Utilized county-level data from the National Neighborhood Data Archive (NaNDA) and American Community Survey (N=3142).
• Applied theoretical frameworks of community gerontology and spatial inequality.
• Employed statistical models to analyze service availability across rural-urban classifications and county demographics.

Main Results:

• Rural counties exhibit a significantly higher likelihood of being aging and disability services deserts.
• Higher poverty rates and larger proportions of non-Hispanic Black residents are associated with increased odds of service deserts.
• Disparities in service access are evident across diverse county compositions, with varied impacts for Hispanic populations.

Conclusions:

• Significant geographic disparities exist in access to essential aging and disability services.
• Policy and practice interventions are needed to address service deserts, particularly in rural areas and underserved communities.
• Equitable access to aging and disability services requires targeted strategies considering socioeconomic and racial/ethnic factors.