Helping States Support Family Caregiving

While families want to provide care for their loved ones, especially those who are elderly or disabled, they often need some kind of medical, social, and/or economic support. The need for assistance, however, can surpass resources—and most states are not yet prepared, either fiscally or programmatically, to provide policies that support families.

The Milbank Memorial Fund has teamed up with the John A. Hartford Foundation and the Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS) to support a multi-state learning collaborative that will develop new policies and programs to help family caregivers who are providing care to those who are ill or disabled and living at home.

As part of this project, which grew out of informational sessions for the Fund’s Reforming States Group, at least five states will be selected to work closely with CHCS to create concrete action plans to improve the environment for family caregiving. The states will also have the opportunity to exchange lessons and best practices, coming together virtually and in-person during an 18-month period.

The learning collaborative will identify state policies and programs that support family caregivers and assist in the design of state-specific plans, all of which can be used as models by other states.

“We know that a huge proportion of care is provided by family caregivers—and this project will help states learn how they can best support these hardworking and caring individuals,” said Elizabeth Roberts, consultant at the Fund, who is working on the project.