Is There a “Rural Penalty” for Caregiving?

• In Event: 2353 - Rural Sociology

Abstract

While we know that rurality is associated with a variety of health disparities, and that most rural residents turn first to informal caregivers as they age and/or become ill, very few studies empirically examine informal caregiving within geographic context. To better understand the unique challenges faced by rural caregivers, we used secondary data from existing national datasets. Here we discuss our experience and challenges with three data sources: the National Family Alliance Caregiver Survey; Health and Retirement Survey; and National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS). These datasets illustrate common issues faced when studying rural caregiving, including how to define “rural” residence, data access, and adequate sample size. After presenting the challenges faced using big data to study rural caregiving, we share preliminary findings from two datasets we found useful: the National Long-Term Care Survey/Informal Caregiver Survey, and the American Time Use Survey (ATUS). Our primary question was whether, compared to urban caregivers, rural caregivers have poorer overall health and well-being. Furthermore, in light of rural challenges, is any discrepancy in health and well-being attributable to caregiving, or is it shared among all rural residents – both those providing and not providing informal care? Findings indicate that rural caregivers provide more frequent eldercare and have poorer self-rated health than urban caregivers, and while rural residents in general have poorer health than those living in urban areas, those who provide informal caregiving within the rural context are even more disadvantaged than those who do not provide such care.

Authors

• Daphne Pedersen, University of North Dakota

• Krista Lynn Minnotte, University of North Dakota

• Joelle Ruthig, University of North Dakota