Older people in rural parts of the New York face unique challenges, according to a new report by AARP.
The group says older New Yorkers living in rural communities, especially those across Upstate, are struggling to access basic health care services and dealing with issues related to isolation.
“All these things are really critical to a person’s well being and the quality of their life,” said Beth Finkel, the state director for the AARP in New York. “If you can’t see a physician on a regular basis who is monitoring your health, you don’t know when you’re in that most critical position.”
AARP says that rural communities are trending older as young people move away. The report calls for policies that address this in communities. It also looks to address the lack of caregivers in communities like these.
“They support the local businesses, they pay their local property taxes, so it’s in the best interest of counties, the state, everyone to keep people at home as long as possible,” Finkel added.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected].