''It's Just Really Hard'- Families and Caregivers Struggle to Find Resources Inside Appalachia

Across most of central Appalachia, the population is declining as young people leave to find work. Those who stay, are rapidly aging. In West Virginia, for instance, about 16 percent of the population is 65 or older, according to a Department of Health and Human Resources report. Seniors are expected to be about a quarter of the total population by 2030.

This trend affects a majority of the counties in Appalachia, according to a 2018 report by the Appalachian Regional Commission. The study concluded that while younger people are moving to cities, rural areas throughout our region will continue to see an increase in elderly population.

Today, many seniors in rural communities don’t have the support they need to live independently, safely. Who’s going to care for our elders in the years to come? In this episode of Inside Appalachia, we’ll explore the resources available to caregivers and their loved ones. We’ll also hear what some people are doing to help seniors feel less alone and isolated.

Appalachia Health News Coordinator Kara Lofton spent several months researching and reporting on these issues, and we're hearing her full series about aging in this week's episode.

Read more: https://www.wvpublic.org/post/it-s-just-really-hard-families-and-caregivers-struggle-find-resources-inside-appalachia