The perceived health of rural caregivers.

Caregiving can be stressful in any setting; however, some challenges and differences are unique to the rural population of caregivers. Gene and Lena Tanner The rural elderly report more chronic illness and physical impairment than their urban counterparts. This study examines the differences between self-reported health status in rural caregivers and the general population. The participants were 63 caregivers from rural southwest Alabama and southeast Mississippi. A statistically significant greater number of caregivers considered themselves to be in poor and fair health than in the general population.