Managing dementia in the rural context

A growing body of research in recent years has highlighted the particular issues around health and health services in rural and regional areas where poorer health status and outcomes, compared with those living in urban environments, are exacerbated by poorer access to health services.  It is therefore likely that the rural/regional experience of dementia, both from the perspective of dementia sufferers and their carers, will be at least different to, if not worse than, the experience of those living in the city.  

This project explores the particularities of the rural experience of dementia across all dimensions: diagnosis, services and supports, carers and outcomes.  The study has commenced with a systematic wider review of the literature with a view to identifying some of the major issues for a future research program.

Group Leader & Contact Person

Dr Peter Orpin, Senior Research Fellow

Research Team

Professor Andrew Robinson, WDREC Co-Director

Dr Christine Stirling, WDREC Senior Research Fellow

Ms Sharon Hetherington, WDREC Research Assistant