Rural Caregiving

Family caregiving in the United States today is emerging as a major policy issue. A staggering $306 billion per year is the estimated value of care provided by family members and friends of children and adults with chronic health conditions and disabilities.

More than one in five adults in the U.S. -- 44.4 million people -- provide unpaid care to an adult aged 18 years or older. And another 6 million people provide care to a child with a disability. These family caregivers live in urban, suburban, and rural areas of the country. Although many of their needs are similar, caregivers living in rural areas face unique challenges -- whether they are providing assistance for a parent, spouse, family member, friend or neighbor.

The following resources bring to light the unique challenges of rural caregivers, and programs that are striving to address them.

Caregiving in Rural America Report
Together, the National Alliance for Caregiving and Easter Seals have produced a report, “Caregiving in Rural America,” to bring to light and support the demand to address the ever-increasing numbers and unmet needs of rural caregivers. Download Caregiving in Rural America (pdf) or Caregiving in Rural America (text-only pdf).

"Supporting Rural Family Caregivers"
A video produced by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and DHHS New Freedom Initiative Subcommittee on Caregiving, that focuses on the difficulties rural family caregivers face and how to support them in areas with manpower shortages, transportation challenges and limited provider agencies. View the video here: http://videocast.nih.gov/Summary.asp?File=14371 . (You will need Real Player to view this video. Download a version at http://www.realplayer.com/ )

Supporting Rural Family Caregivers: Resource List
Contains links to electronic resources for both caregivers and professionals developed by a variety of organizations including federal, national, state, and local agencies.