Aging in Rural America: Focus on Social Well-Being and Mental Health
Wednesday, April 16, 2025
11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Historic Masonic Hall | 309 South 2nd Street | Mankato, MN 56001
The Chesley Center on Aging Presents the Annual Chesley Lecture:
Aging IN RURAL AMERICA: FOCUS ON SOCIAL WELL-BEING AND MENTAL HEALTH
This lecture will provide background on the current state of aging in rural America, including how rural areas differ from urban areas in terms of demographics, economics, health, and healthcare access in ways that impact older adults. Following that background, this lecture will provide information on the social well-being and mental health of older adults in rural America and promising avenues for supporting rural older adults' social, emotional, and mental health within rural areas. Woven throughout the lecture will be information on heterogeneity within rural places and among older adults.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
- Attendees will be able to describe how rural areas differ from urban areas in ways that are associated with older adults' mental health and social well-being.
- Attendees will be able to describe diversity across rural places and across rural older adults, such that strategies to address mental and social health require tailored and community-informed approaches.
- Attendees will be able to identify promising practices and policy interventions for supporting the mental health and social well-being of rural older adults.
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Cost: $20 per participant
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Lunch and Certificate of Attendance are included in the registration cost.
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Pre-registration required – no walk-ins!
Carrie Henning-Smith, PhD, MPH, MSW
Dr. Henning-Smith is an Associate Professor in the Division of Health Policy and Management, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Co-Director of the University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center, and Co-Director of the University of Minnesota Rural Health Program. Dr. Henning-Smith’s work focuses on health equity and social well-being, with a particular emphasis on rural residents and older adults. Her research been widely cited in federal and state policy documents, as well as in national and international media outlets, including the New York Times, Washington Post, National Public Radio, NBC News, AP, CBS, CNN, ProPublica, and Politico.
For event questions: Contact David Beimers, PhD – Interim Director, Chesley Center on Aging David.Beimers@mnsu.edu or 507-389-6190.
For registration questions: Contact workforce@mnsu.edu or 507-389-1094.
