November 2023Vol. 24, No. 9Four Considerations for Improving Support to Family Caregivers
Family caregiving situations vary greatly depending on a number of factors, such as living situation, length of caregiving, relationship, age, socioeconomic status, and more. Because of these factors, no two family caregivers have the same needs. To help organizations better understand and meet the unique needs of family caregivers, First Principles: Cross-Cutting Considerations for Family Caregiver Support outlines four cross-cutting issues that influence the caregiving experience.
The document is part of the 2022 National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers, which was developed by the RAISE Act Family Caregiving Advisory Council and the Advisory Council to Support Grandparents Raising Grandchildren (collectively, the Advisory Councils). The strategy is designed to help agencies, communities, and others meet family caregiver needs by implementing various actions.
The document details four cross-cutting issues that the Advisory Councils indicate should be reflected in all efforts to improve support to family caregivers:
- Person- and family-centered approaches: Caregivers should remain the focal point of interactions, not systems or providers.
- Trauma and its impact: Responses should proactively address the impact of trauma on the caregiving journey.
- Diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility: Caregivers who come from unserved, underserved, and marginalized communities may face additional caregiving challenges.
- The direct care workforce: A well-trained and well-paid direct care workforce of professional caregivers is necessary to ensure family caregivers have the services and support they need.
The document includes strategies and essential practices to support each of the four considerations. More information about the 2022 National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers, including actions that federal, state, and community organizations can take to support the strategy, is available on the Administration for Community Living website.
