Rural versus urban differences in health dependence among the elderly population

Abstract

© 1995 by Taylor & Francis. All rights reserved. The level and determinants of health status among elderly people have received considerable attention in the gerontological literature. Research has also focused on variations in health status for the elderly population based on factors such as sex, income, race, and marital status. Another factor that has been given substantially less attention in health research has been that of community type or, more specifically, rural versus urban differences. A number of studies of elderly rural residents indicate that they experience the same kind of chronic health problems as the general elderly population including difficulties with: Arthritis, blood pressure, respiratory system, heart, digestive track, sight, and hearing [1, 2]