Technology cannot fill in all the social services and specialized health care gaps for older adults living in rural America. But there are dynamic advances and innovations in technology here today, as well as on the horizon, that offer support for the estimated one in five of all adults 65+ living in rural communities.¹

Here are some examples of the innovations available now, or that will soon launch, that can help rural Americans stay in their own homes, age well, and live a full life.

Building the broadband network

For older adults living in rural communities, having a high-speed connection to enable technology access and improved communications is essential. Internet service providers continue to expand broadband infrastructure in rural areas to offer reliable, high-speed connections to rural homes. 

A high-speed connection provides the necessary access for an older adult to connect a device at home and have the opportunity for advanced services, such as telehealth, remote health monitoring, video streaming, and much more.

In addition, satellites can also provide a broadband connection for rural areas. For example, Project Kuiper, an offering from Amazon, is starting to roll-out Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites that are able to offer reliable broadband to customers and communities around the world. Its initial application promises to serve as an option in difficult to reach rural areas. 

AI-empowered tech for rural communities

Health care and telehealth

Innovations in Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications are moving opportunities forward in health care and telehealth for older adults, particularly those living in rural areas.

AI has led to significant developments in the advancement of diagnosing and treating illnesses, as well as offering health care providers the opportunity to make better-informed decisions. The economy for the global health care market and AI has skyrocketed. It was valued at $16.61 billion in 2024 for the total value of products and services sold and is now projected to reach $630.92 billion in 2033.²

For aging rural Americans, AI offers innovative opportunities for remote access to health care. For example, ongoing physical therapy often requires frequent appointments for follow-up treatment, which are difficult for those in rural communities. The PhysiApp, created by the international company Physitrack, is an app for iPads and iPhones that tracks patient exercise performance, adherence, and outcomes. It also features anatomical imagery with 3D content provided by Primal Pictures. According to the Physitrack website, the app is used by nearly 1 million patients per year in more than 100 countries around the world.

Weather forecast tools, mapping, and forecasting

It is critical for everyone during these unpredictable weather patterns to receive accurate weather information, particularly for those older adults living in rural areas. On the horizon: innovative AI weather forecasting tools. 

For example, Google is using AI to develop models for faster and more accurate weather predictions. Google DeepMind is advanced weather AI forecasting technology that is using models to help with weather forecasting for better decision-making, improved disaster response, grid reliability, and global food security. 

These AI forecasting technologies will enhance the weather forecasting systems meteorologists use to help inform communities about weather conditions.  In addition, Google is looking into other ways to use AI to help address other climate adaptation challenges.

Expanding deliveries to rural homes

An innovative plan aims to accelerate the timing for the delivery of packages to arrive more quickly at the doorstep (or driveway) of homes in rural areas. Currently, customers in urban and more populated areas are able to receive one- or two-day shipping from a couple of vendors such as Amazon or Walmart. Yet in more rural areas, fast free shipping benefits are more limited, and in some cases aren’t an option. 

This spring, Amazon announced that it’s taking several steps to expand delivery to rural homes. The company is investing $4 billion to expand its rural delivery network, with a focus on small towns across the U.S., to bring faster delivery to millions of customers in less densely populated areas. In addition, the use of drones (Amazon’s Prime Air) for the delivery of some packages in less populated areas that are clear of obstacles (like buildings and tall trees), holds promise for some rural areas.

Autonomous transportation

Research is underway to determine how to bring the benefits of autonomous vehicles to rural and Tribal communities across the country. The U.S. Department of Transportation introduce the Rural Autonomous Vehicle (RAV) Research Program in April.  In addition, a team of researchers at the University of Wisconsin is considering how to accelerate the availability of autonomous vehicles (AV) for rural and tribal communities and has initiated the program TRAVELS (Tribal and Rural Autonomous Vehicles for Efficiency, Livability and Safety).

A rural tech home checklist

For all older adults, and particularly those living in rural areas, it’s beneficial to adopt the following currently available technologies to age well in place. My five suggestions for the “top to adopt:”

1. Wearables:  A health and/or fitness tracker to monitor physical well-being and send updates to a physician (blood pressure and heart rate monitor). A smartwatch can offer all the elements of a health and fitness tracker, as well as fall detection and an emergency service connection. I actually experienced this benefit firsthand, when I tripped and fell on a road several months ago and my smartwatch detected the fall, started buzzing, and then notified emergency services. I received a call within minutes asking if I required an ambulance or any other assistance. Amazing!
   
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2. Voice assistants: Having a voice home assistant (such as the Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant) can providing several services to help with home management, using voice controls to do commands such as turning on and off lights, adjusting the thermostat, making online purchases, and initiating phone calls.
3. Medication reminders: There are innovative devices to assist with the important process of taking medications on a daily basis. These devices work to help store, organize, manage and dispense medications.
4. Home security: Systems to offer security for inside and outside of your home offer tech solutions to provide a complete range of options for worry-free living. Some systems also now offer easier installation options as well, such as the Ring Doorbell Plus (it has an option to install without electrical hard wiring).​​​​​​​
5. Give your home a tech education: Upgrade and make your home a “smart home,” to include some of the innovations in the above recommendations such as home security and thermostats, but add others such as smart locks for your doors, smart kitchen appliances, and automated lawn care.

While aging in rural America may have its additional challenges, technology innovations offer a valuable path to age in place—and age well.

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