Connect

In 2025, UVA Health allocated more than $297,000 in grant funding to 38 local nonprofit organizations. These funds support our communities' most vulnerable populations. Grant awardees are partners who provide resources that address identified needs within the communities we serve. Now, Connect takes a closer look at Rapp at Home — and how seniors in the area benefit from the UVA Health Community Strong Grant.

Meeting the Needs of Rural Communities  

For residents of Warren, Rappahannock, and Culpeper counties, accessing healthcare can be a challenge. Many communities are underserved, and some residents must travel an hour or more to reach the nearest healthcare facility. These barriers can delay care, worsen chronic conditions, and place added strain on individuals and families.  

Rapp at Home's Rappahannock Rural Health Network was created to help bridge those gaps by bringing healthcare access closer to where people live. Providing additional neighbor-to-neighbor assistance helps sustain seniors' independent lifestyles in the community.

With a small team of three employees and the support of committed volunteers — the organization focuses on innovative, community-based solutions that support patients outside traditional clinical settings.  

Turning Grant Support Into Practical Tools  

The UVA Health $25,000 Community Strong Grant is helping Rapp at Home expand that work in meaningful ways.  

“We look for ways for people to access healthcare when the system isn’t easily reachable,” says Bob Richey, Director, Rappahannock Rural Health Network — its only grant-funded position. “That means working with our partners and a mobile integrated health unit and giving people tools they can use directly with their doctor, such as blood pressure cuffs and pulse oximeters.”  

Grant funding is being used to provide such devices for essential at-home health monitoring. The project tries to target recipients who might otherwise face financial hardship purchasing them, but the items are provided free of charge to any individual who requests them .  

Community outreach efforts focus on distributing newly acquired blood pressure cuffs and pulse oximeters to individuals who need to measure and track health data they can share with their physicians. These meters measure the amount of oxygen in the blood and can provide an early warning sign when breathing or circulation may be compromised, while the blood pressure cuffs provide the recipients with the means to track their blood pressure daily.

Such monitoring is especially important for people with chronic lung disease or heart conditions, or those recovering from illness. Monitoring oxygen levels at home helps patients recognize changes sooner, seek timely care, and often prevent emergencies.  

Empowering Patients Through Information  

These devices allow patients to be proactive in tracking key health metrics and to share accurate data with their healthcare providers, rather than only seeing their physicians in cases of illness or need. The goal is to create better-informed, more engaged patients who are involved proactively in their own care.  

By understanding their numbers and monitoring changes over time, individuals can better manage chronic conditions, identify concerns earlier, and reduce unnecessary emergency visits.  

Over the course of the year, Rapp at Home plans to distribute approximately 400 devices, with about 250 already in use, strengthening the connection between patients and providers.   

Expanding Access Beyond the Clinic  

In addition to device distribution, Rapp at Home is piloting an expansion of care by opening a school-based clinic to the broader community, allowing residents beyond students and families to receive services closer to home.  

The organization also has secured an additional grant focused on disease education, further supporting prevention efforts and helping community members better understand and manage their health.  

Shaping Care Delivery  

While public outreach events traditionally have been one avenue for engagement, Rapp at Home has learned that many residents are more comfortable receiving services in private, one-on-one settings — an insight that continues to shape how care is delivered.

Volunteers travel to residents' homes to meet in person, demonstrate how the oximeters work, answer questions, and ensure they are comfortable with the equipment. Anyone who needs a free blood pressure cuff, pulse oximeter and a health monitoring journal can call Rapp at Home at 540.937.4663. 

A Shared Commitment to Healthier Communities  

Through partnerships such as this, UVA Health continues to move care beyond hospital walls and into the neighborhoods where it’s needed most. Together with organizations such as Rapp at Home, these investments help make healthcare more accessible, personal, and responsive to the needs of rural communities.