Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Finding A Good Fit: Tips On Hiring Rural Personal Assistants, Rayna A. Sage, Krys Standley

Health and Wellness

Living in rural areas means being part of close communities. For people with disabilities in these areas, Personal Assistance Services (PAS) help them live on their own. But finding good PAS workers in rural places can be hard. To help you pick the right PAS worker, we explored what traits make them a good fit.

Project Dig Summary Report, Tracy Boehm Barrett, University Of Montana Rural Institute

Health and Wellness

People with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are commonly overlooked in society because of a combination of social, economic, political, and cultural barriers. Due to such constraints, they also experience a wide range of health and community disparities that result in negative impact on their quality of life and well-being (Mpofu et al., 2020; Akyurek & Bumin, 2017). While many community-based organizations provide a variety of supports for people with disabilities, far less common are those providing therapeutic horticulture (TH) programs within the scope of their services. This report provides information about and recommendations for TH as an increased practice …

Creating Rural Community Outreach Materials Related To Covid-19 And Disability, University Of Montana Rural Institute

Health and Wellness

RTC:Rural researchers led by Andrew Myers present best practices in rural COVID-19 outreach based on feedback from regional rural disability leaders.

Research Report: Social Isolation And Loneliness Experiences Among People With Disabilities Before And During Covid-19, University Of Montana Rural Institute

Health and Wellness

Increased risk and fear of exposure to COVID-19 may impact social isolation and loneliness among vulnerable populations who are disproportionately at risk of COVID-19 complications, like people with disabilities. In a previous report, research findings showed people with disabilities experienced more than double the rates of social isolation and loneliness compared to those without disabilities before the COVID-19 pandemic. While recent data indicates rates of social isolation and loneliness have increased for the general population with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, less is known how rates of social isolation and loneliness have shifted for people with disabilities. Data in …

Social Isolation And Loneliness Among Rural And Urban People With Disabilities, University Of Montana Rural Institute

Health and Wellness

Social connection is the experience of interacting with and feeling connected to other people. A lack of social connections can lead to social isolation and loneliness. Social isolation is an objective measure based on a limited number of social connections. Loneliness is the perception of being isolated or feeling alone. Both social isolation and loneliness are associated with adverse physical and mental health outcomes. Researchers used data from two national surveys to understand the experiences of social isolation and loneliness among people with disabilities. Findings indicate people with disabilities report higher rates of social isolation and loneliness than people without …

People With Disabilities Still At Risk In Congregate Care Settings, University Of Montana Rural Institute

Health and Wellness

This report provides an analysis of data to better understand where cases and deaths are rising in nursing homes as of August 8 2021. We hope this analysis can help support local community planning and networking among rural partners to improve outcomes.

• COVID-19 cases among residents and staff are on the rise in nursing homes with the steepest increases in urban areas and in the South and Midwest.
• Disabled people are disproportionately overrepresented in the resident populations of unsafe congregate settings, such as nursing homes.
• Vaccination rates across both residents and staff in nursing homes have stagnated.
• Policy priorities should …

America At A Glance: Covid-19 Vaccination Among People With Disabilities, University Of Montana Rural Institute

Health and Wellness

There is a lack of foucs on how people with disabilities are experiencing COVID-19 vaccination efforts. Addressing this knowledge gap is critical to ensuring that people with disabilities are considered as vaccination efforts progress during the ongoing pandemic and future health crises. Overall, 19% of our sample of people with disabilities reported already being vaccinated, 56% wanted to get vaccinated, 10% were unsure, and 15% did not want to be vaccinated. Rural residents with disabilities reported higher rates of current vaccination, but higher rates of overall hesitancy, and more barriers to vaccination than urban residents with disabilities. Political party affiliation …

Healthy Community Living: An Update On Outcomes, Craig Ravesloot Ph.D., Tracy Boehm Barrett, Tannis Mardece Hargrove, Justice Ender, Mary Willard, University Of Montana Rural Institute

Health and Wellness

The Healthy Community Living (HCL) program combines independent living skills training with health promotion to support self-determination and health status of adults with disabilities. It includes two workshop curricula, Community Living Skills and Living Well in the Community. Each of these provides a framework for workshop participants to increase peer support while building their individual capacity to live independently and maintain their health. The HCL Program weaves consumer choice and control throughout all of the workshop sessions by guiding consumers to identify their own goals, intentions, and process for reaching them. These workshops can be conducted in face-to-face groups or …

America At A Glance: Social Isolation And Loneliness During The First Wave Of Covid-19, University Of Montana Rural Institute

Health and Wellness

Social isolation and loneliness are a public health concern because they are associated with poor mental and physical health outcomes and mortality. To learn more about how COVID-19 and related responses (i.e. stay-at-home orders) may contribute to feelings of social isolation and loneliness among people with disabilities, we compared data from two cross-sectional samples collected before and after the first wave of “stay-at-home” orders. Post-COVID rural and urban samples reported significantly more interactions with family and close friends. Post-COVID urban respondents reported significantly lower rates of feeling left out, while the post-COVID rural respondents reported similar rates.

Planning Your Transition From Pediatric To Adult Health Care: A Workbook To Help You Take Charge Of Your Health, Kim Brown, University Of Montana Rural Institute

Health and Wellness

Are you a child, teen or young adult with special health care needs and/or a disability? If so, this workbook is for you! The workbook is designed to help you take the lead in planning for your transition from pediatric (children’s) health care to adult care. It offers information about preparing for the transition, choosing medical providers, paying for services, taking responsibility for your own health, and much more.

Secondary Mental Health Conditions Of Rural Adults With Disabilities, Craig Ravesloot Ph.D., Bob Liston, Kevin Thorsen, Charles Asp, University Of Montana Rural Institute

Health and Wellness

No abstract provided.

Psychiatric Symptoms Reported By A Population-Based Sample Of Rural Adults With Physical And Sensory Impairments, Craig Ravesloot Ph.D., Charles Asp, Bob Liston, Kevin Thorsen, University Of Montana Rural Institute

Health and Wellness

No abstract provided.

Cost Containment Through Disability Prevention: Preliminary Results Of A Health Promotion Workshop For People With Physical Disabilities, Tom Seekins Ph.D., Craig Ravesloot Ph.D., Kay Norris Ph.D., Ann Szalda-Petree Ph.D., Quincy-Robyn Young, Glen White Ph.D., Ken Golden M.A., Juan Carlos Lopez M.A., Julie Steward, University Of Montana Rural Institute

Health and Wellness

The Disability Prevention Project at the University of Montana and the University of Kansas has developed and evaluated an eight week workshop and self-help manual that targets the prevention and management of secondary conditions among adults with spinal cord injuries. The preliminary results of this intervention are very encouraging.

Secondary Mental Health Conditions Reported By Rural Adults With Mobility And Sensory Impairments, Craig Ravesloot Ph. D., University Of Montana Rural Institute

Health and Wellness

People with disabilities who live in rural areas experience higher rates of disability than their urban counterparts. At the same time, they have less access to services and supports to address both medical and disability related needs. Based on their circumstances, they may be at greater risk for mental health conditions; however, little is known about their mental health status. The purpose of this study was threefold: 1) to examine the incidence of mental health symptoms reported by a population-based sample of adults with disabilities, 2) to develop a brief screening instrument to identify adults with disabilities who are experiencing …

Pain And Participation, Catherine Ipsen, Tannis Hargrove, Naomi Kimbell, University Of Montana Rural Institute

Health and Wellness

The objective of the Pain Interference Patterns research project is to understand how pain and environmental conditions, like access barriers, affect community participation of people who report physical, sensory and cognitive impairment. The information will be used to develop strategies for increasing participation in rural communities.

Peer Support In Managing Psychiatric Symptoms Of Rural Adults With Mobility And Sensory Impairments, Craig Ravesloot Ph.D., University Of Montana Rural Institute

Health and Wellness

Little is known about the mental health of people with disabilities who live in rural America or the potential benefit of providing peer support services for these individuals. Stress diathesis models of psychiatric disorders suggest the challenges of living with a disability in rural areas may predispose individuals to higher rates of psychiatric disorders (Monroe & Simons, 1991). In addition, rural mental health service providers struggle to meet the needs of rural individuals with primary psychiatric diagnoses, and they may not be trained to assist people with disabilities who have secondary mental health conditions (New Freedom Commission on Mental Health, …

A Guide For Creating A Community Resource Map, Lillie Greiman, Tracy Boehm, University Of Montana Rural Institute

Health and Wellness

Using individualized community resource maps is an engaging way to introduce a consumer to the importance of place and the role the environment plays in health. Below you will find some suggestions for working with a consumer to create a personal community resource map.

Self-Advocacy For Rural American Health (Sarah) Program Overview And Implementation, Tannis Hargrove, Bob Liston, Craig Ravesloot Ph.D., University Of Montana Rural Institute

Health and Wellness

Self-Advocacy for Rural American Health was a program developed for a research project that helped consumers locate community resources to support their health. Those who used community resources to manage health and pursue goals experienced long term positive outcomes.

Rural Self-Management Support, Craig Ravesloot Ph.D., Tracy Boehm, Tannis Hargrove, University Of Montana Rural Institute

Health and Wellness

The Rural Self-Management Support research project used an individually-focused health self-management support intervention to help people with disabilities locate resources for health support in rural America. This intervention led to better long term maintenance of health self-management behaviors compared to the control condition which did not include a focus on locating health resources. Future research will continue to look at how local communities impact long term health.

Personal Community Resource Mapping Road Maps To Better Health, Lillie Greiman, Tracy Boehm, University Of Montana Rural Institute

Health and Wellness

Personal Community Resource Mapping (PCRM) was used in a research project that led to positive health outcomes for people with disabilities living in rural America. Lack of health resources and long distances between them creates a barrier for consumers to manage complex health needs. Personal Community Resource Mapping (PCRM) is a way to identify resources in a community that can support health needs and a variety of independent living goals.

One-On-One Delivery Of Living Well With A Disability, Tracy Boehm, Craig Ravesloot Ph.D., University Of Montana Rural Institute Rural Institute

Health and Wellness

The RTC: Rural conducted a research project on health management support for rural Americans. The approach used individually-focused programs, one of which included selected content from the Living Well with a Disability (LWD) health promotion program. The project noted that transportation and limited access to group-based programs in rural areas may act as barriers for participation in health promotion programs. Findings suggest the traditional 10- week LWD group-based program is the recommended practice, but a shorter LWD program delivered one-on-one with a consumer may be an option in rural areas.

Pain Interference Patterns, Catherine Ipsen, Tannis Hargrove, University Of Montana Rural Institute

Health and Wellness

Advocates for community participation and quality of life issues may benefit from a better understanding of how pain intensity and environmental barriers influence participation outcomes. Unfortunately, little evidence exists on how the interaction between personal factors (e.g., pain) and environmental factors (e.g., physical accessibility) influence participation. To address this gap, we studied Pain Interference Patterns (PIP) by collecting both longitudinal and ecological momentary assessment (EMA or real-time) data to explore these factors and outcomes. Through better understanding of these interactions, we hope to inform interventions, policy, and services that can promote full participation in community life. This fact sheet reports …

Peer Support In Centers For Independent Living: What Do We Know?, Craig Ravesloot Ph.D., Bob Liston, University Of Montana Rural Institute

Health and Wellness

Peer support is ubiquitous.It is defined as a helping relationship between an individual who has experience living under certain conditions assisting another person to cope with and adapt to similar circumstances.It has been gaining in popularity and use since its early adoption in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), and has been used widely, and with good effect, with people experiencing a variety of both physical and mental health conditions.

Nursing Home Emancipation: Barriers Reported By Centers For Independent Living, Tom Seekins Ph.D., Marsha Katz, Craig Ravesloot Ph.D., University Of Montana Rural Institute

Health and Wellness

In 1999, the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed the right of individuals with disabilities to receive services in "…the most integrated setting." Since then, centers for independent living (CILs) and other disability advocacy organizations have worked to transition adults with disabilities from inappropriate nursing home placements to community living.

Nursing Home Emancipation: Accomplishments Of Urban And Rural Centers For Independent Living, Tom Seekins Ph.D., Marsha Katz, Craig Ravesloot Ph.D., University Of Montana Rural Institute

Health and Wellness

In 1999, the U.S. Supreme Court established a legal precedent, based on the Americans with Disabilities Act, to help adults with disabilities leave institutional settings and return to community living (Olmstead v. L.C.). This established the right of individuals to receive services in "…the most integrated setting," which is generally the community. Since then, centers for independent living (CILs) and other disability advocacy organizations have initiated a wide range of efforts to emancipate (i.e. transition) adults with disabilities from inappropriate nursing home placements to community living. Nursing home emancipation is high on the priority lists of several national organizations and …

Tele-Health Promotion For Rural People With Disabilities: Toward A Technology Assisted Peer Support Model, Craig Ravesloot Ph.D., University Of Montana Rural Institute

Health and Wellness

There are relatively few health promotion programs for people with disabilities who live in rural areas. An exception is Living Well with a Disability, a health promotion program for people with disabilities developed by researchers at the RTC: Rural (Ravesloot & Seekins et al.,1994). The Living Well program was originally designed to be delivered in-person by peer-support staff of Centers for Independent Living (CILs) to groups of participants with disabilities. For many rural people with disabilities, however, the distances and travel difficulties inherent in their environment make onsite group programs impractical or inaccessible. Limited funding for programs such as Living …

Rural Women With Disabilities And Depression, Part One: Characteristics And Treatment Patterns, Rosemary Hughes, University Of Montana Rural Institute

Health and Wellness

Depression is a common mental health problem in which a person may experience persistent sadness, be unable to enjoy formerly pleasurable activities, and feel worthless or hopeless. Undetected and untreated depression causes substantial physical and social limitation and may lead to suicidal thoughts or actions. More than 80% of people with depression improve with appropriate treatment (National Institute of Mental Health [NIMH], 2005).

Physical Activity In A Cohort Of Medicaid Beneficiaries With Physical Impairments: Recruitment And Outcomes, Craig Ravesloot Ph.D., James Laskin Ph.D., Melody Huskey M.A., Sara Laney, Nancy Cherot, Huw Griffiths, Barbara Cowan, Lisa Brennan M.L.S., Catherine Ipsen, Sheri Martinez, Ann Szalda-Petree Ph.D., Rod Brod, University Of Montana Rural Institute

Health and Wellness

This document reports on research conducted by the University of Montana for the Office of Disability and Health at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The research project, conducted between September 30, 2000 and September 29, 2004 was accomplished in three separate but related studies. The research was conducted at the New Directions programs, a community-based health promotion and wellness clinic operated through the rural Institute on Disabilities at the University of Montana. We collaborated with the State Department of Medicaid to recruit Medicaid beneficiaries with mobility impairments in Missoula County to participate in the research. We recruited 368 …

Living Well And Medicaid: Better Health For Consumers -- Lower Costs For States, Craig Ravesloot Ph.D., University Of Montana Rural Institute

Health and Wellness

The United States has the world’s most expensive healthcare system. In 2002, health spending rose to nearly 15 percent of U.S. Gross Domestic Product. Healthcare policymakers charged with balancing cost containment with quality healthcare for consumers are desperate for solutions (Levit, Smith, Cowan, Sensenig, and Catlin, 2004).

Pain As A Secondary Condition Experienced Byrural Medicaid Beneficiaries With Disabilities, Craig Ravesloot Ph.D., University Of Montana Rural Institute

Health and Wellness

Secondary conditions are disability-related problems that further limit a person’s ability to engage in daily activities. People who live independently in the community and who have mobility impairments consistently report being limited by 14 secondary conditions annually.