| About the
NFCSP
National Family Caregiver Support Program Executive Summary
Introduction
The aging of the U.S. population has heightened interest in
designing efficient and effective systems for delivering health
and related services to older people. Developing service networks
to provide older people and their caregivers with a continuum
of home- and community-based long-term care has become especially
important, in order to better meet their support needs and preferences
for independence.
Family caregivers provide the vast majority of the assistance
that enables older people to live independently in their homes
and communities. Caregivers include grandparents raising grandchildren,
as well as those who help older Americans. In many cases, both
the caregivers and care recipients are aging adults. Many are
women. Family caregivers face substantial stresses and burdens
as a consequence of caregiving obligations. Prolonged caregiving
can adversely affect one’s physical and psychological health,
current and future employment status and earning capability,
ability to balance the needs of older parents and younger family
members, and the ability to meet personal needs. Because caregivers
play such an important role, services that sustain a caregiver’s
role and maintain their emotional and physical health are an
important component of any home and community-based care system.
The National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP) was authorized
by the Older Americans Act of 2000, and is based in large part
on successful programs and the needs expressed by family caregivers
in discussions held across the country. This report highlights
the significant progress made in states, tribes and communities
across the country in implementing the NFCSP. The following sections
will highlight how the National Aging Services Network has served
our nation’s family caregivers, under the leadership of
the Department of Health and Human Services and the Administration
on Aging, and points to future program and policy opportunities
to build upon this base of support.
Download entire NFCSP
Executive Summary (3.8 MB - PDF)
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Dept. of Health & Human Services
