Demographic data show that the rural Midwest is becoming less populous and older. As a population gets older, its need for health care services increases, a fact that makes access to health care a growing concern. One of the many dimensions of access to health care is the ability to physically travel to a doctor's office, hospital, or other health care facility. While this study addresses general issues surrounding rural elders' access to transportation, we pay special attention to their travel to obtain health care.

Rural elders use a variety of means to travel to obtain health care. Some are able to drive their own vehicles, others ride with family members, friends, or neighbors, and others require the services of public transportation. Our report focuses on public transportation. We examine how rural Iowans age 75 and over use public transit and discuss the nature and magnitude of their transit needs. We also assess the capacity of Iowa's public transit system to meet the needs of rural elders.

Research for this project was carried out at the University of Iowa Public Policy Center. Funding was provided by the U.S. Department of Transportation, University Transportation Centers Program. This program was created by Congress in 1987 to "contribute to the solution of important regional and national transportation problems." Following a national competition, the program established university-based centers in each of the ten federal regions. This project was funded by Region VII's Midwest Transportation Center, a consortium of Iowa State University and the University of Iowa. Matching funds were provided by the Iowa Department of Transportation, which also provided data for this project.

The research team has benefited greatly from its collaboration with an 11-member project advisory committee. This committee helped to focus the issues to be addressed, and its members shared their insights throughout the research process.

$14.95, 90 pp., 7 figures, perfect bound