Barriers Towards Social Isolation and Neurodegenerative Disease for Geriatric Populations in Rural Mississippi

Rural elderly populations in Mississippi represent one of the most vulnerable demographics in the United States, especially regarding loneliness. This study explores the primary contributing factors towards social isolation among the elderly in rural Mississippi. Loneliness, a subjective feeling of social isolation, is linked to various adverse health conditions, with the most notable for the elderly being neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia. This research employs a review of the literature to explore the geographic challenges that lead to elderly loneliness stemming from the relative poverty of rural Mississippi and the interpersonal barriers caused by the unique cultural demographic of rural Mississippi. Findings indicate that rural elderly populations face compounded challenges due to poverty, transportation difficulties, and reduced access to healthcare professionals, obstacles which are magnified by fear of medical providers, prevention of disease being a low priority, and language barriers. Supportive policies can enhance current initiatives and initiate functional strategies to mitigate loneliness and its health impacts among this vulnerable demographic. The implications of this research underscore the urgent need for targeted interventions to break the cycle of social isolation and health deterioration in rural elderly communities in the U.S., particularly where this is felt the hardest -rural Mississippi.