Caregiving in Rural Communities Podcast Episode
Family Support Research and Training Center posts a new episode of their podcast, Family Support Stories
The Family Support Stories Podcast, hosted by the Family Support Research and Training Center, just released a new podcast episode on the unique challenges of family caregivers living in rural communities.
In this episode, we explore the realities of family caregiving in rural communities, where distance, limited services, workforce shortages, and gaps in data create unique challenges for families. Lillie Greiman of the Rural Institute at the University of Montana shares research insights on rural disability prevalence, unpaid caregiving, and the policy implications of incomplete data. The conversation highlights why rural caregivers are often overlooked in program planning and how state policies (such as paid family caregiving) can shape outcomes for families and communities. The episode also features Erin Rolando, a disabled and multiply neurodivergent parent living in a rural area, who offers a firsthand account of navigating education, healthcare, transportation, and caregiving with limited local supports. Together, these perspectives underscore the need for person-centered data, cross-system collaboration, and policies that truly reflect the lived experiences of rural caregiving families.
To listen now, visit go.uic.edu/FamilySupportStories