Nurses Leading the Way to Better Support Family Caregivers

Abstract

Today, family caregivers help manage multiple complex health conditions. They perform increasingly complex medical/nursing tasks, including complicated procedures that would make nursing students tremble. It is imperative that nurses lead the way to support these often-overlooked members of the care team. This article examines the challenges that family caregivers face. We summarize current evidence from the AARP Survey Findings and Update to inform nurses and other providers about how to educate family caregivers through resources such as the Home Alone AllianceSM Videos and the AJN Family Caregiving Series. We discuss proactive outreach to help family caregivers manage complex care via the CARE Act and how implementation of the act offers considerations for nurses and families. The conclusion summarizes several implications for nurse leaders to support family caregivers.