Nearly 1 in 4 American adults cares for family members, friends, and neighbors. From helping with daily activities and health care needs to raising grandchildren and supporting loved ones from a distance, family caregivers help older adults and people with disabilities live independently. Their contributions strengthen families and communities, but caregiving can also bring emotional, physical, and financial challenges.
November is National Family Caregivers Month. Led by the Caregiver Action Network (CAN), this year’s observance has the theme Care Connects Us, highlighting the stories, relationships, and experiences that bring us together through care. Explore CAN’s campaign toolkit.
Supporting caregivers is a top priority for ACL. Through programs, partnerships, and national initiatives, ACL helps caregivers access services and resources to support both the people they care for and their own well-being.
National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers
ACL will soon release the 2026 update to the National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers, highlighting new priorities and opportunities to strengthen support for caregivers nationwide. The Strategy was developed by two ACL-led councils: the RAISE Family Caregiving Advisory Council and the Advisory Council to Support Grandparents Raising Grandchildren, with input from caregivers, care recipients, federal agencies, and community partners.
Other ACL Initiatives
ACL’s National Family Caregiver Support Program and Native American Caregiver Support Services Program fund services such as caregiver training, counseling, and respite care. The National Caregiver Support Collaborative helps strengthen caregiver programs and services and advances the National Strategy.
The Lifespan Respite Care Program works to expand access to respite services, while the Direct Care Workforce Strategies Center helps states recruit, train, and retain skilled direct care workers whose support complements that of families.
The ACL-funded Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network provides resources and assistance to organizations serving grandparents and other relatives raising children.
Through the Caregiver AI Prize Challenge, ACL encourages the development of AI tools to support caregivers and improve care for older adults and people with disabilities.
For more on ACL’s work, visit Caregiving and the Direct Care Workforce.
Explore More
- The Power of Caregivers for a Healthy America: Get the facts on family caregiving, the direct care workforce, and ACL initiatives
- Eldercare Locator: Find local services and resources for older adults and caregivers
- Caregiver Resources (CAN):Browse information, tools, and caregiver stories
- VA Caregiver Support Program:Explore services for caregivers of eligible veterans