Pursuing Well-Being Among Rural-Dwelling Adults With Disabilities

Abstract

Through this constructivist grounded theory study, it was our purpose to create a substantive theory to explain how rural-dwelling, working-age adults with disabilities define and pursue well-being. Twelve rural-dwelling participants were interviewed up to 3 times to understand the processes involved in defining and pursuing well-being. From this exploration, we suggest that well-being is not a set state to be achieved and then enjoyed, rather well-being results from establishing and maintaining membership in the rural community. Membership facilitated access to the array of material and psychological supports needed for a sense of well-being. Findings support the assumption that urban models of care are insufficient for rural areas. This study also provides an understanding of how individuals in this population mobilize resources to overcome functional limitations and environmental barriers to establish group membership and create a sense of well-being. Implications for health care practice and policy are discussed.

Reaching the “Hard-to-Reach”: Recruitment of Rural-Dwelling Adults With Disabilities

“…When recruiting participants from hard-to-reach populations, researchers face challenges ranging from simple logistical considerations to more complex issues of cultural sensitivity (Bushy, 2008). Below, we discuss three areas of concern that can be problematic for adequate sampling and recruitment of hard-to-reach populations and to which we paid particular attention in this study investigating well-being among rural-dwelling adults with disabilities (Thurman, Harrison, Walker, & Garcia, 2019).…”

“…Next, we discuss individual barriers and sampling issues that make rural-dwelling adults with disabilities hard-to-reach for researchers. Finally, we share lessons learned from the recruitment strategy of a recently completed grounded theory study investigating the well-being of rural dwelling, working age adults with disabilities (Thurman, Harrison, Walker, & Garcia, 2019).…”

Being Uncertain: Rural-Living Cardiac Patients’ Experience of Seeking Health Care

“…Trust in the physician as someone who communicated clearly, listened to concerns, and made time for them is important to patients (Petricek et al, 2015;Wathen & Harris, 2007). More positive relationships are found among those who have consistent providers and more frequent visits to them, giving them time to establish a trusting relationship (Spooner et al, 2016;Thurman et al, 2019). Indeed, there can be a lack of access to consistent health care providers in rural areas, and pharmacists are often a more accessible source of support and information (King et al, 2006;Wathen & Harris, 2007).…”

Taxonomy of Seniors’ Needs for Food and Food Assistance in the United States

“…In addition, research is needed on the role of food and nutrition assistance in easing the transition into retirement among working-age adults, especially in light of increasing awareness of food insecurity as a challenge among pre-seniors (Ziliak & Gundersen, 2019a). Of particular concern are pre-seniors who face an increased risk food insecurity because of disability status or multiple morbidities (Schoenberg et al, 2011; Thurman et al, 2019). Future research should also investigate the ways in which diverse forms of food and nutrition assistance can help to alleviate stressors placed on both seniors and their informal caregivers in the context of seniors’ formal and informal care situations, especially in the absence of strong informal social networks (Burris et al, 2019; Lambotte et al, 2019).…”