The Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development (NERCRD) has published a fourth brief in its caregiving research brief series. The brief describes the caregiving experience for rural, suburban, and urban caregivers in the Northeast region of the U.S., as reported by households as part of the “NER-Stat: Caregiving Survey” — a regional household survey that the North Central Regional Center for Rural Development (NCRCRD) conducted in collaboration with NERCRD, The Ohio State University and the National Farm Medicine Center.
The brief’s authors — Elena Pojman, a doctoral candidate in sociology and demography at Penn State, and Florence Becot, Nationwide Insurance Early Career Professor and program lead for the Agricultural Safety and Health Program at Penn State — found that urban caregivers were generally younger and more likely to take care of children and reported having the most financial struggles and the greatest desire for supports (i.e., financial, educational and other resources). However, rural and suburban caregivers also reported facing significant burdens and wanting more support. In particular, caregivers recommended greater support for childcare, policies to encourage workforce participation, and financial and in-kind assistance.
The full brief provides greater detail and is available here.