Rural Caregiving in the United States

Covering a range of issues unique to rural care provision, from training to policy and advocacy, this work identifies specific needs for development and examines both the positive effects of close-knit families and the issue of access to professional support.

Caregivers living in rural areas face daunting obstacles. In addition to the isolation and anxiety that many caregivers across the country experience, rural caregivers must also cope with limited access to uncoordinated resources and severe shortages of trained professionals. Although many research, policy, and practice upgrades have been made in response to caregivers’ general concerns, the specific problems facing the rural caregiver have been less frequently addressed.

Focusing on what is known as well as what is needed – and zeroing in on major subgroups within this diverse population – Rural Caregiving in the United States replaces misconceptions of the nonurban experience with real-life issues, findings, and solutions. For example, this pioneering volume:

• Covers a broad range of issues unique to rural caregiving, including research, education/training, policy, and practice.
• Identifies specific needs related to education, training, and support for rural caregivers.
• Examines both the positive and negative effects of rural living on caregivers as well as patients.
• Discusses the importance of in-home care in lieu of scarcer forms of for-profit care (e.g., hospitals).
• Addresses not only discrepancies between rural and urban health care systems but racial and ethnic disparities within rural health care.
• Explores the advantages of using information technology to address rural health care limitations.  

Rural Caregiving in the United States offers uniquely knowledgeable perspectives to researchers, practitioners, and graduate students in the caregiving fields, including psychology, social work, nursing, gerontology and geriatrics, medicine, public health, public policy, and educational policy.

Foreword by Rosslyn Carter.- Introduction.- Chapter 1. Caregiving in Rural America: A Matter of Culture; K. Chwalisz, K.C. Buckwalter, R.C. Talley.- Section I: Caregiving Populations.- Chapter 2. Family Caregiving: Implications for Rural Practice, Policy, Education, and Research; C.L. Gilliss, L.L. Davis, M.S. Harper.- Chapter 3. Elder Caregiving in Rural Communities; K.C. Buckwalter, L.L. Davis.- Chapter 4. Care for Children and Youth in Rural Areas; S.K. Walker, K.L. Reschke.- Section II: Practice and Research Issues.- Chapter 5. Addressing Disparities in Rural Health; T.M. Greer.- Chapter 6. Mental Health Concerns for Caregivers in Rural Communities; M. Morthland, F. Scogin.- Chapter 7. Research in Rural Caregiving; R.T. Goins, S.M. Spencer, J.C. Byrd.- Section III: Healthcare System Issues.- Chapter 8. Workforce Issues in Rural Caregiving; P.A. Calico.- Chapter 9. Telemedicine: The Use of Information Technology to Support Rural Caregiving; P. Yellowlees, T. Nesbitt, S. Cole.- Section IV: Assistance Strategies.- Chapter 10. Education, Training, and Support for Rural Caregivers; K. Chwalisz, S.M.C. Dollinger, E.O. Zerth, V.L. Tamkin.- Chapter 11. Strategies to Support Rural Caregivers; C.S. Wilkin, B.M. Stanback.- Chapter 12. State Responsibilities to Support Rural Caregivers; M. Greene, M.M. Perkins, K. Scott, C. Burt.- Chapter 13. Rural Caregiving: A Quilt of Many Different Colors; R.C. Talley, K.Chwalisz, K.C. Buckwalter.