ORH Products
ORH-funded Enterprise-Wide Initiatives (EWIs) and Veterans Rural Health Resource Center (VRHRC) projects develop practical tools and products. These products are designed to improve care delivery for rural Veterans receiving health care from the VA and from community providers. Products include toolkits, websites, guidance documents, training materials, decision aids, and more.
EWIs and VRHRC projects also generate peer-reviewed and other publications. Visit the ORH Publications page. »
Serving Older Veterans: Dementia Caregiver Videos
Rural caregivers of Veterans with dementia face particular barriers to getting help. They are less likely to use formal support services such as home health or caregiver support groups. Rural communities also tend to lack medical providers to offer advice and counseling to those seeking care. Without these resources, the family caregiver often becomes the sole provider of informal care for their Veteran. The Dementia Caregiver Video Series was developed to help bridge this gap, offering practical guidance for caregivers wherever they live. These videos were developed by the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Office of Rural Health (ORH) Veterans Rural Health Resource Center - Salt Lake City (VRHRC-SLC), New England Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center (GRECC) at the Bedford VA Medical Center and VA Caregiver Support Program. [VRHRC-SLC]
Growing Rural Outreach through Veteran Engagement (GROVE) Center
ORH has supported the Growing Rural Outreach through Veteran Engagement (GROVE) Center since 2020. GROVE works to promote the collaboration of Veterans and Caregivers through authentic engagement in research and quality improvement projects. The GROVE team of experts offer a number of services and resources to VA researchers, including engagement consultation services, Communities of Practice, Rural Veteran Engagement Boards, and online resources.
Are you a researcher looking for Veteran Partners? Visit the GROVE HUB. This website has information on projects that are currently seeking Veterans or Caregivers to engage (or partner) with. Participation roles can be very different, as each project has unique goals. Some studies will compensate Veteran and Caregiver partners, while others are strictly for volunteers. Some may include specific duties, and some may require regular or periodic group meetings. Listed points of contact can answer any questions. [VRHRC-PDX]
State of Rural Veterans Report, Fiscal Year 2024
Almost a quarter of all Veterans in the United States choose to reside in rural areas, approximately 60% are enrolled in and rely on the VA for healthcare. Although rural-residing Veterans enjoy the many benefits of living in these areas, they also experience many challenges, which are exacerbated by combat related injuries and illness. To address the challenges they face, it is important to understand the rural Veteran population. The State of the Rural Veterans Report details the state of the enrolled rural Veteran by highlighting the multifaceted nature of this unique population and providing a high-level understanding of rural Veteran, including, demographics, socioeconomic characteristics, telehealth engagement, health care access, and barriers and challenges to accessing care in rural areas.
[VRHRC-GNV]
Home Assessments and Modifications Guide: A Resource for Healthcare Providers Caring for Veterans: Comprehensive Guide
Home Assessments and Modifications require a collaborative process with patients to address challenges related to the built environment, social and familial preferences, as well as technological and geographical barriers. ORH Veterans Rural Health Resource Center - Gainesville investigators worked with a team of health care providers to develop the Home Assessments and Modifications: Comprehensive Guide. The Guide was designed for VA clinicians and contains practical and technological strategies and effective communications guidance. [VRHRC-GNV]
Homelessness and Housing Needs of Native American Veterans Toolkit (v2.0)
This Toolkit is intended for Veterans and their family members, VA personnel, community members and organizations, policy makers and program professionals, and anyone else who wants to assist unhoused Native American Veterans. In this Toolkit, you will find facts about Native American Veterans - the most rural of Veterans - and their military service, culture, history, and Tribal context of housing for Native American Veterans. You will also find links to resources and contact information for assisting unhoused Native American Veterans
[VRHRC-SLC]
VHA Rural Recruitment and Retention Hiring Plan (Fiscal Year 2023)
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Workforce Management and Consulting office developed this plan in collaboration with VHA Office of Rural Health program partners to fulfill the requirement of the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act of 2022. The goal of this plan is to provide a comprehensive framework of tools and strategies for rural and highly rural VA medical Centers and community-based outpatient clinics to suppport workforce planning, recruirtment, hiring, and retention needs in VHA rural facilities to continue to provide the best access to care and services to our Nationa's rural Veterans where they live. [VRHRC-WRJ]
Explore ORH
- ORH Home page:
https://www.ruralhealth.va.gov/index.asp - Enterprise-Wide Initiatives (EWI) page:
https://www.ruralhealth.va.gov/Enterprise-Wide-Initiatives-EWI.asp - Veterans Rural Health Resource Centers (VRHRC) page:
https://www.ruralhealth.va.gov/Veterans-Rural-Health-Resource-Center-VRHRC.asp
*Links will take you outside of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) website. VA does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of linked websites. Links will open in a new window.
