ADVANCING EQUITY FOR FAMILY CAREGIVERS - RURAL-URBAN DIFFERENCES IN DEMANDS, RESOURCES, AND OUTCOMES

Sep 29, 2026

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Rural and urban family caregivers face different demands, yet equitable support depends on understanding how caregiving intensity, resources, and health outcomes vary by residence. Using assessment survey data from the California Caregiver Resource Centers CareNav platform (n=5,782), logistic regression evaluated links between residence and caregiving intensity, resources, and health outcomes, while negative binomial models assessed count outcomes. Rural caregivers comprised 4.4% and were mostly primary caregivers, reporting relatively more memory and behavioral problems, while urban caregivers more often struggled with medical-surgical nursing tasks. Overall differences were not statistically significant for intensity, resources, or health outcomes.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages1

Reading Time3 min

AccessFree to download

Study purpose and context

Data source and methods

Key findings

Implications for program delivery

Innovation in Aging, 2025, Vol. 9, No. S2 297 rural communities with a higher proportion of older adults. An examination of rural versus urban caregiver needs, and resource availability is a crucial initial step toward providing effective and equitable support services for caregivers. This study examined caregiver experiences, caregiving intensity, caregiver resources (availability of paid or unpaid help, satisfaction with social support) and caregiver health outcomes (self-rated health, depressive symptoms) for rural-dwelling caregivers in comparison with suburban/urban-dwelling caregivers. We used assessment survey data of caregivers from the California Caregiver Resource Centers (CCRC) online platform, CareNav (n = 5,782). We used logistic regression models to assess association between place of residence and caregiving intensity, caregiver resources and health outcomes and negative binomial models to explore the association of place of residence and count outcomes (caregiving tasks, memory, and behavioral problems) . The proportion of rural dwelling caregivers was 4.4% and 95% of caregivers identified as the primary caregiver. Rural dwelling caregivers reported managing 9% more memory and behavior problems whereas urban dwelling caregivers were 25% more likely to report experiencing difficulties in managing medical-surgical nursing tasks. There were no statistically significant differences between rural and suburban/urban-dwelling caregivers in caregiving intensity, caregiver resources or health outcomes. This study highlights differences in caregiving demands with implications for program delivery. Abstract citation ID: igaf122.1000 ADVANCING EQUITY FOR FAMILY CAREGIVERS: RURAL-URBAN DIFFERENCES IN DEMANDS, RESOURCES, AND OUTCOMES Everlyne Ogugu1, Orly Tonkikh2, Jessica Famula3, Heather Young1, Janice Bell1, and Bronwyn Fields4, 1. Betty Irene Moore School Of Nursing at UC Davis, Sacramento, California, United States, 2. University of Haifa, Haifa, HaZafon, Israel, 3. University of California, Davis, Davis, California, United States, 4. Sacramento State University, Sacramento, California, United States In 2020, 55.8 million US adults were ≥65 years old, making up 16.8% of the US population, and this number is expected to rise to 80.8 million by 2040. With increases in the proportion of older adults, the demand for caregiving increases, particularly in

FAQs

What was the study’s main goal?

To examine how rural versus urban residence relates to caregiver experiences, caregiving intensity, available resources, and health outcomes.

What dataset and sample size were used?

CareNav assessment survey data from the California Caregiver Resource Centers, including 5,782 caregivers.

Which caregiving outcomes differed most between rural and urban caregivers?

Rural caregivers reported managing more memory and behavior problems, while urban caregivers were more likely to report difficulties with medical-surgical nursing tasks.

Did the study find significant overall differences in intensity, resources, or health outcomes?

No. There were no statistically significant differences between rural and suburban/urban caregivers in caregiving intensity, caregiver resources, or health outcomes.

Sep 29, 2026

Upload by Hazel