Resources for Caregivers of Veterans in Rural Areas

Caregivers of individuals with dementia can experience isolation. This sense of isolation can be especially challenging for those Caregivers living in rural and highly rural locations. In recognition of this challenge, the VA Office of Rural Health and the VA Office of Geriatrics and Extended Care have both provided funding for a project carried out at the Salt Lake VA Medical Center that focuses on providing remote support to Caregivers. The SCORE project (Supporting Caregivers of Rural Elderly) involved the development of resources that could be delivered via telephone or internet.

One such resource is a set of video modules that exemplify the experiences that a Caregiver may encounter over the course of their loved one's progression with dementia. The twenty video modules follow the lives of a fictional couple, Harold and Margaret, from Harold's diagnosis of dementia through several medical, behavioral, emotional, and logistical challenges. Each module provides approximately five minutes of content focusing on a variety of different topics. The most frequently viewed topics include: Communicating with Your Doctor, Overview of Dementia, Caring for the Caregiver, Facing Legal Issues, and Problem Behaviors. All of the modules can currently be viewed or downloaded for free on the Office of Rural Health public website at:

www.ruralhealth.va.gov/education/dementia-caregivers/index.asp

Thank you to Dr. Rand Rupper, VA's Office of Rural Health, for this article.