The Journal of Rural Health (JRH) Editorial Board has selected its 2025 Article of the Year, “Nursing home closures and access to post-acute care and long-term care services in rural areas” by University of Iowa College of Public Health researchers Hari Sharma, Redwan Bin Abdul Baten (now at University of North Carolina at Charlotte), Fred Ullrich, A. Clint MacKinney, and Keith J. Mueller.

Nursing home closures have raised concerns about access to post-acute care (PAC) and long- term care (LTC) services. This study estimates the additional distance rural residents had to travel to access PAC and LTC services because of nursing home closures, finding that nursing home closures increased distances to nursing homes, home health agencies, and hospitals with swing beds for rural residents. Access to PAC and LTC services is also a concern, especially for rural areas with no nursing homes.

Selection criteria for the Article of the Year include average downloads per month and evaluation by the JRH Editorial Board regarding methodology and importance. The journal will recognize the Article of the Year during the National Rural Health Association’s (NRHA) 48th Annual Rural Health Conference May 20-23 in Atlanta.