Access to healthcare and other supportive services are critical to maintaining good health as we age, yet older adults in rural areas face a variety of access barriers. These challenges are a topic not often covered in health professions education. The goal of this conference is identify and mitigate the challenges of providing health care in rural areas by increasing knowledge of population health data, treatment strategies, and supports and services in order to encourage and build resilience in rural caregivers and health care providers.
This virtual conference for both health care professionals and formal and informal caregivers will provide information specifically regarding health care in rural and upstate New York. This year’s topics include an overview of the NYS Master Plan on Aging, presentations on the services and resources offered by the Area Agencies on Aging and local libraries, an update on how to support older adults diagnosed with depression, tips on how to age in place, and a discussion of challenges faced by older Veterans in rural areas.