Graduate Student in the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, Human Development and Family Science at the University of Wyoming
Recently, I had the opportunity to conduct a study on aging in place in extremely rural settings in Wyoming, also known as frontier areas. Aging in place refers to the ability of people to safely remain in their homes and/or communities as they get older and is often the preference of older adults. Living in your own home provides a sense of security, familiarity, and continuity in your daily routines. However, this is often difficult due to a number of factors, including declining physical health, reduced cognition, shrinking (or a lack of) social networks, and other environmental barriers.
There is a decent amount of research for aging in place in urban and rural areas, but frontier areas haven’t been as saturated with studies to date, so I really wanted to gain a better understanding of what was happening to those who choose to age in extremely rural areas. Urban counties are often characterized as counties with 50,000 or more residents and rural counties are generally defined as any population less than 50,000 residents; however, frontier counties are characterized by having substantially smaller population densities than rural counties, consisting of seven people or less per square mile.
Existing research on frontier settings has shown them to frequently lack the proper infrastructure to support resources that are often relatively easily found in more urban settings, such as adequate housing, social services, public transportation, and access to healthcare. This presents distinct challenges for older adults in accessing the appropriate level of support they need to optimally age in place. These shortages are seemingly inherent in communities characterized by lower populations, geographic isolation, and economic limitations that contribute to an overall limited infrastructure, which themselves result in worker shortages and reduced access to care.
For example, transportation is crucial in order to access basic services within a community. In urban areas, there are buses, trains, trams, and taxis, because they can efficiently move large numbers of people at a single time. In addition, there are often a variety of ride-share services to choose from. In frontier areas, many of these options are non-existent or have substantially longer wait times. People who might otherwise choose to access transportation in frontier areas often have fewer options and have to travel longer distances—which causes delays and results in travelers having to leave much earlier to account for potential obstacles. I mean, who wants to spend an entire day just for one doctor’s appointment, when the appointment alone is likely exhausting enough on its own. Not to mention, many areas do not even offer such transportation services to begin with.
Urban and rural areas often have delivery services such as Uber Eats or Door Dash, where people can order food or groceries and have it delivered directly to their doorstep. Frontier areas usually do not have this same luxury, as there are often very long distances between services and amenities, and it wouldn’t prove financially worthwhile for a person or a business to deliver goods at these distances. This often restricts residents in frontier areas in their ability to secure the adequate necessities they need to comfortably age in place.
Many older adults living in rural areas also report having more medical conditions, functional limitations, and difficulty performing everyday tasks. Population density typically influences what kinds of access people have to health care providers, medical resources, and specialized care, especially since they have to travel greater distances to access the services they need with little to no transportation options—especially if they are unable to drive themselves and do not have family nearby.
Another potential factor of aging in frontier environments is the social isolation that may be experienced by many residents. This may be especially true when they do not have family nearby or adequate transportation options available. Social isolation can significantly affect a person’s physical, mental, and cognitive well-being, as feelings of loneliness can have a distinctively negative impact on the way a person ages.
Finally, older adults often struggle with adequately maintaining their homes, especially those who are residing in areas with more extreme climates or rougher terrain. Home modifications are often necessary to assist with home maintenance as people age. However, having the financial means to fund such modifications or finding local and licensed contractors to do the work may be difficult in more remote areas.
Although there are numerous challenges and complexities to aging in place in frontier environments, frontier areas may still offer benefits that enhance the well-being and quality of life for older adults. A home is not only a physical place to live, but also a place of being as older adults may feel a sentimental or historical connection to their place of residence which may foster a deeper sense of identity and belonging. Additionally, the relaxed pace and perceived tranquility of living in a frontier setting may enhance a person’s mental or physical health by encouraging participation in more outdoor activities that might contribute to a reduction in stress or an improvement in mobility and overall health.
Additionally, frontier communities may foster interdependence within and among the members of the community as friends and neighbors may watch out for each other. In frontier environments, aging in place relies heavily on the reciprocity or mutual exchange of help and support among neighbors and residents. Having this level of support may be just as valuable as formal or paid caregiving services, especially in later years.
Because much of the existing research on aging in place is framed around the barriers that currently exist in frontier settings, there is a need to understand the subjective experiences of people who are actually aging in frontier environments and uncover why they make this choice while fully—or at least mostly—knowing the obstacles. As a result, I had the pleasure of speaking with 19 people who are currently aging in place in frontier areas in Wyoming. Although I am not finished analyzing the results, a common theme that I have noticed is that people who are connected to their local senior center seem to be aging well with little to no complaints. Local senior centers offer a variety of engagement activities, from eating a daily meal together, to playing cards, to hiking together. Many participants referred to their friends as ‘family’ (although there was no blood relation) and it appeared that not having family nearby wasn’t quite the barrier that one would assume it would be, because people will essentially create their own mutual reciprocity system from among friends and acquaintances who have similar interests and views and whom they can trust.
In recent years, gratitude has gained attention not just as a feel-good practice but as a powerful tool for improving mental health, especially among older adults. Research supports that gratitude has the power to heal.
Anyone who has ever unexpectedly experienced a fall (which should be about all of us) knows the terror that occurs between the moments of our trip, slip, or stumble, the fall itself, and the jarring moment of impact!
The University of Wyoming is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution.
© March 2025
