Originating Article: https://health.ucdavis.edu/news/headlines/-new-toolkit-helps-rural-communities-plan-for-aging-together/2025/01
Briefing Document: Rural Community Aging Toolkit

Date: October 26, 2023

Subject: Review of the "New toolkit helps rural communities plan for aging together" article from UC Davis Health.

Introduction:

This briefing document summarizes the key themes and information presented in the UC Davis Health article detailing a new toolkit designed to help rural communities develop Multisector Plans for Aging (MPAs). The toolkit is a collaborative effort led and funded by The SCAN Foundation, with support from the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis. The primary goal is to improve the quality of life, health outcomes, and overall well-being of older adults, adults with disabilities, and their caregivers in rural areas. The toolkit addresses unique challenges faced by these populations in rural settings.

Key Themes and Ideas:

1. Unique Challenges of Aging in Rural Areas: The article highlights that older adults in rural communities face distinct obstacles compared to their urban counterparts. These challenges include:

• Inequitable Access to Care: Difficulty accessing timely and equitable home and community care and support. As Narda Ipakchi from The SCAN Foundation notes, "Older adults in rural communities face unique challenges when it comes to ensuring equitable, timely and accessible home and community care and supports.”
• Financial Insecurity: Rural residents often experience greater financial hardship, and these issues are further exacerbated by racial, ethnic, and geographic disparities.
• Reliance on Informal Caregivers: Rural communities heavily rely on unpaid family and friends for caregiving, which can create additional strain on these individuals.
• Infrastructure Deficiencies: Inadequate transportation and a pervasive digital divide pose significant barriers. According to researcher Pauline DeLange Martinez, “Rural communities also rely more heavily on informal caregivers and face critical challenges such as inadequate transportation infrastructure and a persistent digital divide.”

1. Multisector Plans for Aging (MPAs): The core concept of the toolkit is to facilitate the development of local MPAs. These are comprehensive strategies that:

• Encourage Collaboration: MPAs promote partnerships between different sectors, including healthcare, transportation, housing, and care coordination, to address service and infrastructure gaps.
• Promote Age-Friendly Communities: MPAs seek to create inclusive environments that support the dignity, independence, and overall well-being (physical, emotional, and financial) of older adults and caregivers.
• Address Local Needs: These plans are tailored to the specific needs of a community, taking local data and conditions into consideration.

1. The Toolkit's Purpose and Structure: The toolkit provides a structured, yet flexible, framework to guide communities through the MPA development process. Its key features include:

• Adaptability: It is designed to be flexible and adaptable for various rural settings, recognizing that communities start from different points. As Pauline DeLange Martinez stated, “Each community is unique and starting from a different place. We encourage leaders to follow the steps that suit their community’s process.”
• Practicality: The toolkit aims to facilitate partnerships among local governments, health systems, community-based organizations, and other stakeholders.
• Comprehensive Guidance: The toolkit outlines t