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Do you have an idea about the future of small towns? Are the ideas you see not quite hitting the mark? Propose your own idea for the future of small towns!
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Rural communities frequently face steeper bills for health care and childcare. The large distances between residents makes services less accessible. An aging and poorer population means demand for human services is rising, as is the cost.
The distance dilemma
Service providers can't afford to have locations close to every rural resident. Patients frequently have to make long trips to obtain health or childcare services. [Source 1]
The trouble with rural ambulance services
Rural ambulance services, for instance, are mostly run by volunteers. The job's high stress and long hours—in part due to long drives—make it hard to recruit new volunteers. [Source 1]
The problem of scale
Larger communities can afford a wider variety of health care. Small towns are at a severe disadvantage. Fewer rural businesses can provide health insurance at all, provide health care choices, or keep up with health care cost inflation. [Source 1]
Question to consider:
Can small towns attract quality human services with low population density?
More from MPR:
 Access to dental care a problem for low income people in rural Minnesota
Long-term care solutions from rural Minnesota
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Do you have an idea about the future of small towns? Are the ideas you see not quite hitting the mark? Propose your own idea for the future of small towns!
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