GSA Momentum Discussions webinar, Family Caregiving at a Tipping Point, explores the evolving role of family caregivers and the support needed through healthcare systems, policies, and technology. Panelists discuss the diversity of caregiving experiences, the importance of recognizing caregivers in healthcare, access to mental health and educational resources, and the role of digital tools in easing caregiving burdens. Topics include data-driven advocacy, evidence-based interventions, reimbursement strategies, and integrating caregivers into care teams. Panelists emphasize personalized solutions, system-level support, and the 4Ms Framework (Medication, Mobility, Mind, and What Matters Most) to enhance caregiver and patient well-being.

According to the Alzheimer's Association, over 11 million Americans provide an estimated 18 billion hours of unpaid care for people with Alzheimer's or other dementias. In 2022, this care was valued at $339 billion. Most of these caregivers are women, and many caregivers are from diverse and underserved communities. In this Momentum Discussion podcast episode, leaders from the Alzheimer’s Association of Northeastern New York discuss the unique needs of diverse caregivers and how they are meeting these needs. They offer insights into how healthcare providers and others can best meet the needs of all caregivers while promoting brain health for all individuals.

This podcast episode is supported by Eisai, Genentech, Lilly, and Otsuka. 

"Congressional Stories of Family Caregiving: Challenges, Rewards, and a Call to Action" is a proceedings paper from a GSA-hosted briefing on Capitol Hill. GSA invited these legislators to share their personal stories of family caregiving to illustrate that the caregiving experience and the challenges that accompany it are shared by Americans of all levels of income, employment, and education. The briefing was supported by The John A. Hartford Foundation and partners were AARP, the Alzheimer’s Association, and the National Alliance for Caregiving. This paper includes recommendations from the "Families Caring for an Aging America" report below, as well as caregiving-relevant legislation.

Click here to view a scrollable version of this publication.

With support from 15 sponsors, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine convened an expert committee to examine what is known about the nation’s family caregivers of older adults and to recommend policies to address their needs and help to minimize the barriers they encounter in acting on behalf of an older adult.

The resulting report, "Families Caring for an Aging America," provides an overview of the prevalence and nature of family caregiving of older adults as well as its personal impact on caregivers’ health, economic security, and overall well-being. It also examines the available evidence on the effectiveness of programs and interventions designed to support family caregivers. The report concludes with recommendations for developing a national strategy to effectively engage and support them.