Family Caregiver Support Must Be a Public Health Priority

Family caregivers provide 75–80% of care for community-dwelling older adults, often unpaid and balancing full-time work. This role offers purpose but also brings stress, depression, and financial strain—leading CDC to declare caregiving a public health issue in 2019.

 

The Department of Veterans Affairs’ Caregiver Support Program (CSP) offers a model, delivering skills training, respite, emotional support, navigation assistance, and, for eligible caregivers, stipends and health benefits. Evidence shows CSP improves caregiver well-being, increases use of high-value care, and integrates caregivers into care planning through linked health records. Lessons from CSP highlight the value of systematic identification, clinician training, and evidence-based caregiver support. Read more in Health Affairs here.