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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Social connectedness

New Frontiers for Funding: An Introduction to Grantmaking in Rural Aging
Offers guidance on offering grant funds for rural aging work, discussing scale of funding, rural assets, sustainability, and partnership building. Highlights rural aging issues including health, cultural sensitivities, transportation, broadband, housing and institutional care, and social isolation.
Date: 06/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Grantmakers In Aging
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Loneliness and Social Isolation Are Common in Rural America. Is "Social Infrastructure" the Solution?
Discusses structural factors that contribute to social isolation in rural areas. Features programs in Minnesota, Nebraska, and Alaska that are finding ways to build connection into rural communities.
Author(s): Brendan Stermer
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 06/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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A Comparison Between Farm-Related Stress, Mental Health, and Social Support Between Men and Women Farmers
Highlights a study on the differences in farm-related stress, mental health, and social support by gender. Discusses the survey-based screening of farmers in Illinois for mental health conditions of men and women farmers and compares rates to each other and to the general population.
Author(s): Josie M. Rudolphi, Courtney Cuthbertson, Amandeep Kaur, Jesus Sarol
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21(6), 684
Date: 05/2024
Type: Document
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Enduring Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Food Access, Nutrition, and Well-Being in Rural Appalachia
Examines the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on a rural, Appalachian community in Kentucky. Utilizes focus group data from 39 participants to analyze ongoing issues such as social isolation, cost of living, and food access. Discusses how these issues affect mental health, access to needed medications, and ability to purchase nutritious food.
Author(s): Kathryn M. Cardarelli, Emily DeWitt, Rachel Gillespie, Nathan Bandy, Heather Norman-Burgdolf
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21(5), 594
Date: 05/2024
Type: Document
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Providing Behavioral Health Support for Older Adults
Podcast episode featuring a discussion with leaders of Broaddus Hospital, a Critical Access Hospital in West Virginia, describing how they work to identify and fill the unique mental health needs of older adults in the community, including the development of an intensive outpatient group therapy program for older adults.
Date: 05/2024
Type: Audio
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Ensuring Equitable Application of Interventions to Vulnerable Subpopulations in the Kentucky Consortium for Accountable Health Communities (KC-AHC)
Results of a study to assess the equity of the Kentucky Consortium for Accountable Health Communities model activities among dual enrollees, disabled people, and women. Uses data gathered from August 2018 to April 2021 in a largely-rural 29-county area in Appalachian Kentucky. Features statistics with breakdowns by year and by subpopulation.
Author(s): Jing Li, Jessica M. Clouser, Akosua Adu, et al.
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 6(1/2), 38–56
Date: 04/2024
Type: Document
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Social Infrastructure Availability and Suicide Rates Among Working-Age Adults in the United States
Examines the relationship between county-level social infrastructure (SI) and suicide rates among working-age adults. Analyzes 2016-2019 National Vital Statistics System mortality data and 2013-2015 National Neighborhood Data Archive information on community SI, providing statistical correlations as well as county-level maps. Discusses the relationship among county demographic, socioeconomic, healthcare, and SI factors in relation to mental health and well-being.
Author(s): Xue Zhang, Danielle C. Rhubart, Shannon M. Monnat
Citation: Socius: Sociological Research for a Dynamic World
Date: 04/2024
Type: Document
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Visiting with Elders - Aging, Caregiving, and Planning for Future Generations of American Indians and Alaska Natives
Reports on a listening session to identify themes in the perspectives of American Indian and Alaska Native elders on aging, age-related diseases, and caregiving. Discusses intergenerational trauma, culture, elder abuse, social connection, barriers to healthcare and other services, and dementia education.
Author(s): Cole Allick, Marija Bogic
Citation: Genealogy, 8(2), 36
Date: 03/2024
Type: Document
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Greener Pastures
A documentary that follows 4 Midwestern farm families over a number of years and examines issues such as mental health, social isolation, climate change, and economic uncertainty. Provides commentary on farming life in rural America.
Date: 03/2024
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: Public Broadcasting Service
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The Health and Social Impacts of the Maui Wildfires: Post-Disaster Care from a Sociocultural Lens
Highlights the impact of a wildfire event on existing health and social service disparities in Maui, Hawaii. Discusses housing, employment, finances, mental health, suicide risk, culture, social isolation, rurality, and service limitations. Notes opportunities and challenges for addressing these impacts using telehealth and outside assistance.
Author(s): Ryan Holliday, Lauren S. Krishnamurti, Shiloh E. Jordan, et al.
Citation: Hawai'i Journal of Health & Social Welfare, 83(3), 85-87
Date: 03/2024
Type: Document
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