Outlines the high incidence of poverty among the rural elderly, their sources of income, and their helping networks. Calls attention to rural-urban differences, farm/nonfarm resident distinctions, regional differences, and characteristics of recent immigrants versus long-term residents. Urges social work interventions that address the distinctive…

Investigated argument that place of residence influences economic and social services needs. Results demonstrated that rural residency increases both the likelihood of poor health and the need for services, after controlling for age, income, and race. Four predictor values accounted for a small proportion of the variance in need. (RJM)