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Rural Health Information Hub
Rural Health Information Hub

Supporting Caregivers for Rural Healthy Aging Programs

Caregivers dedicate time, energy, focus, and financial resources toward caring for family and friends, which can take a toll on their well-being and lead to social isolation and loneliness. More than 80% of long-term care for older adults is provided within their homes. Most of in-home care is provided by an unpaid family member, followed by an unpaid friend. Caregivers may step in to support older adults in the event of a terminal diagnosis, sudden accident, or challenging life event. Caregivers dedicate a large amount of time, energy, focus, and financial resources toward the care of their loved one. Caregiving can be extremely difficult, taking a toll on the caregiver's overall well-being. A variety of factors in rural communities create more challenges for rural caregivers. Some of these challenges include:

Rural caregivers can access formal support services, such as support groups, aid or nursing agencies, and other paid help to assist in their caregiving responsibilities. However, many rural communities offer fewer services compared to non-rural communities. Programs to support healthy aging for rural older adults must also consider the needs of caregivers by giving them support, such as respite care and connections to support services, counseling and stress management resources, and information, education, and other resources to help them in providing care. Examples of caregiver support for people living in rural communities include:

  • Iowa State University's Powerful Tools for Caregivers program offers classes across the country to promote self-care, confidence, and managing the complex emotions associated with caring for a loved one.
  • From AgeWell Middle Tennessee, the Eldercare Coach program provides educational materials, tools, and resources for family caregivers, including personalized phone consultations with experts.
  • For caregivers who provide support for older adults living at home, the Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging's BRI Care Consultation program is an evidence-based approach designed to support caregivers' and older adults' mental health and well-being. The program is delivered remotely through email and phone, making it well suited for rural areas.

Resources to Learn More

Caregiving and Direct Care Workforce
Website
Provides information on programs, strategies, policies, and research and training centers to support formal and informal caregivers.
Organization(s): Administration for Community Living

Resources for Caregiving in Rural Communities
Document
Shares results of a research study analyzing journal articles; national, state, and local government and organization websites; and qualitative interviews with 41 subject-matter experts from various sectors working with issues related to caregiving and caregiver services to describe the types of resources being used to support caregivers in rural communities
Author(s): Lahr, M. & Henning-Smith, C.
Organization(s): University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Date: 8/2018