Most dependent elders and familial caregivers' desire that their elderly loved one remain in their own homes and communities to delay institutionalization. Without appropriate supports the ability to safely maintain elderly members in the community decreases. Rural elders face additional risks as they may be isolated physically and socially from both informal and formal support systems. An examination of Pennsylvania's rural home and community based (HCB) alternatives to nursing home care identified large numbers of individuals unserved by the existing care system. Crucial policy recommendations include the introduction, and appropriate funding of innovative care models that exist in other rural states to expand the availability of HCB alternatives and target intra-agency barrier.

This is a state-wide study of rural and urban Senior Community Care Centers in PA. The study focused on five key outcomes: To create an inventory of PA’s rural and urban SC locations, To analyze SC attendance and program participation, To analyze the challenges and opportunities that SCC’s face in providing services in rural and urban PA for a growing senior population. To identify innovative and successful models of senior community care centers within the state. To formulate policy recommendations for the state. Particular attention was placed on innovative programs who are attracting and serving the needs of Baby Boomers,