Responses from 27 State offices on aging revealed 8 recurring problems of rural and small-town elderly: a need for a uniform legislative definition of rural; the need for a complete rural strategy to reverse discrimination against rural and small-city elderly; a need to streamline Federal regulations; the need for changes in the Older Americans Act; and the need to address specific concerns with regard to transportation, nutrition, health, and housing. Many policies and programs affecting the elderly seem to be designed for urban areas and then applied to rural areas almost as an afterthought. A population density factor and a factor of distance from larger population centers must be included in a rural definition. Because the Federal Government has no rural strategy, the rural elderly do not receive their just share of the support and assistance available. Transportation and the quality of available health care continue to be major problems of rural senior citizens. Federal housing programs do not adequately address needs of the rural elderly. Many States indicated that there is no clearer illustration of rural-urban inequities than across-the-board regulations for the nutrition services program. The Older Americans Act lacks adequate funding levels for rural planning and implementation. (BRR)