Geographic Disparities for Functional Disability Among Rural Versus Frontier Older Adults.

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Rural Health
• Sociology

Background:

• Frontier older adults experience unique challenges, including limited access to healthcare and social services.
• These challenges may lead to different patterns of functional disability compared to rural older adults.
• Understanding aging in place within sparsely populated frontier and limited rural areas is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare functional disabilities (ADL and IADL) between older adults living in frontier and rural areas.
• To identify similarities and differences in respondent characteristics between these two cohorts.
• To gain a greater understanding of the aging experience in diverse geographic settings.

Main Methods:

• A comparative study involving 142 community-dwelling older adults (72 frontier, 70 rural) in Wyoming.
• Data collected via surveys including demographic questions, the Katz Activities of Daily Living (ADL) Index, and the Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) Scale.
• Statistical analysis using chi-square tests of independence to compare ADL and IADL disabilities and respondent characteristics.

Main Results:

• No significant association was found between frontier and rural respondents regarding the number of ADL or IADL functional disabilities.
• Frontier residents were more likely to live alone and report being widowed.
• Rural older adults reported higher education levels, correlating with fewer functional disabilities.

Conclusions:

• Despite unique challenges, frontier and rural older adults exhibit similar levels of ADL and IADL functional disabilities.
• Living arrangements and marital status (widowed) are more prevalent among frontier older adults.
• Educational attainment may play a role in functional independence for rural older adults.