Aging in Rural America: What Happens When Nursing Homes Disappear?

As America's population ages, access to long-term care is becoming an increasingly urgent issue, especially in rural communities. In this episode, Lauren sits down with Dr. Hari Sharma to discuss the growing challenge of nursing home closures in rural America and what those closures mean for patients, families, and communities. While nursing homes have always opened and closed over time, recent years have seen an overall decline in the total number of facilities nationwide, creating new concerns about access to both post-acute and long-term care services. Dr. Sharma explains how researchers measure access to care, why rural communities are particularly vulnerable when facilities close, and what happens when older adults are forced to seek care farther from home. The conversation explores the financial pressures facing nursing homes, workforce shortages, Medicaid reimbursement challenges, and the growing gap between the care rural residents need and the services available to them. The episode also examines potential solutions, including expanding home-based care, investing in assisted living and adult day programs, and reimagining how rural nursing home facilities can serve multiple community needs. Whether you're caring for aging parents, working in healthcare, or simply interested in the future of rural health, this episode offers valuable insight into a challenge that will affect more and more families in the years ahead. A transcript of this episode is available at https://www.public-health.uiowa.edu/news-items/plugged-in-to-public-health-aging-in-rural-america-what-happens-when-nursing-homes-disappear/ Have a question for our podcast crew or an idea for an episode? You can email them at [email protected] You can also support Plugged in to Public Health by sharing this episode and others with your friends, colleagues, and social networks. #publichealth #healthcare #nursinghomes #medicaid #ruralhealth #nursing #assistedliving #agingparents #research #iowacity