A far greater number of Hoosiers sixty and older in southern Indiana rural communities live alone when compared to the national average.
That’s according to research presented today during Indiana University’s Center for Rural Engagement Conference.
Survey results from Monroe and Owen counties revealed more than three-fourths of rural, older adult respondents live alone. Nationally, the number is about one in four.
Alissa Garabrant, an Occupational Therapist at IU Health and the study’s author, told conference participants there is a distinct urban-rural divide.
"Even if it was just an apartment complex—maybe it wasn’t a senior apartment complex—just an apartment complex, but that led to informal interaction all of the time," Garabrant said. "That’s something our rural adults, they don’t get. Do we even need to go to the post office anymore in rural America?"
Other studies reveal seniors living alone tend to have less informal interaction which can have broader consequences.
Garabrant says less social interaction could lead to generally worse health outcomes.
