ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to provide researchers to the potential impact of divergent needs and views of research within rural communities. It outlines a process for building effective partnerships with communities, drawing upon the experience of the Geriatric Team Consultation Project, a collaborative effort among several health programs in North Carolina. Community-based research has particular merit for addressing questions pertaining to the health and well-being of older persons living in rural areas. Rural health professionals work long hours, have limited peer support, and deliver care that is often compromised by the familiar problems of distance, economics, and understaffed service settings. Research pertaining to the health and well-being of older rural people is often conducted in rural health and human service settings. The rural practice sites participating in the project are located in Northampton County, economically one of the poorest rural counties in North Carolina.
