Handbook of Rural Aging

The Handbook of Rural Aging goes beyond the perspective of a narrow range of health professions, disciplines, and community services that serve older adults in rural America to encompass the full range of perspectives and issues impacting the communities in which rural older adults live. Touching on such topics as work and voluntarism, technology, transportation, housing, the environment, social participation, and the delivery of health and community services, this reference work addresses the full breadth and scope of factors impacting the lives of rural elders with contributions from recognized scholars, administrators, and researchers. This Handbook buttresses a widespread movement to garner more attention for rural America in policy matters and decisions, while also elevating awareness of the critical circumstances facing rural elders and those who serve them.
Merging demographic, economic, social, cultural, health, environmental, and political perspectives, it will be an essential reference source for library professionals, researchers, educators, students, program and community administrators, and practitioners with a combined interest in rural issues and aging.

Dr. Lenard W. Kaye is Professor of Social Work at the University of Maine School of Social Work and Director of the University of Maine Center on Aging. A prolific writer in the field of health care and aging, he has published more than 175 journal articles and book chapters, and 15 books on specialized topics in aging, including social isolation, home health care, men’s health, productive aging, rural practice, family caregiving, support groups for older women, and congregate housing. His recent books include A Man’s Guide to Healthy Aging: Stay Smart, Strong, and Active (with Edward Thompson, Jr., 2013) and Social Isolation of Older Adults: Strategies to Bolster Health and Well-Being (with Clifford M. Singer, 2019).

Dr. Kaye is lead evaluator for AgingME, Maine’s Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program and co-director of evaluation of an ACL/DHHS-funded, technology-driven, nutrition enhanced self-management program for older adults with multiple chronic diseases. He is also a co-principal investigator of The Mayer-Rothschild Foundation-supported Designation of Excellence in Person-Centered Long-Term Care initiative. He was the lead organizer of the International Symposium on Safe Medicine and a founding board member of the International Institute for Pharmaceutical Safety; and has managed a series of John Hartford Foundation funded gerontological social work education programs at the University of Maine.

Dr. Kaye was the 2010 recipient of the Career Achievement Award of the Association for Gerontology Education in Social Work (AGESW) and has served on the National Advisory Committee for Rural Health and Human Services of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. He is a research scientist at Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center and past president of both the Maine and New York State Gerontological Societies. He is the past chair of the National Association of Social Worker’s Section on Aging, sits on the editorial boards of the Journal of Gerontological Social Work and Journal of Aging Life Care, and is a fellow of the Gerontological Society of America.