National Family Caregiver Support Program

GAO recently published a report to examine how other countries provide support to family caregivers, challenges present in these approaches, and the development of HHS’ national family caregiving strategy. GAO researched caregiver policies from Australia, Germany, and the United Kingdom, which focused on employment flexibility, income support, and pension credits for family caregivers.

The Center for Health Care Strategies published a brief highlighting six states – Alabama, Idaho, Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Virginia – who have participated in innovative work to boost the support network for family caregivers. The brief includes lesson learned from each of the states’ programs and policies that support family caregivers. Additionally, the brief describes four elements that are essential to making effective changes to family caregiver support programs.

This data profile compares caregivers who used NFCSP services such as education or respite care to those caregivers who did not use these services, including caregivers who exclusively used AAA services. The profile also examines caregiver characteristics including age, relationship to care recipient, and level of caregiving intensity.

This report highlights innovative approaches in supporting family caregivers. The report features programs in Hawaii, Maine, Minnesota, Tennessee, and Washington.

This data profile uses data from the Caregiver Outcome Evaluation Study of the National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP). It highlights the differences in demographics and the dynamics between short and long term caregivers.

ACL undertook a two-part evaluation of the Older Americans Act Title III-E National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP) between 2013 and 2018. ACL conducted a small, retrospective study of caregivers in the Outcome Evaluation whose care recipient passed away during the course of the outcome evaluation. This supplementary study gathered information on the service components and needs of bereaved caregivers and highlights “advice from caregivers to caregivers.”