National Family Caregivers Assoc

THE MISSION OF CAREGIVER ACTION NETWORK (CAN) IS TO PROMOTE RESOURCEFULNESS AND RESPECT FOR THE MORE THAN 90 MILLION FAMILY CAREGIVERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. CAN'S GOALS ARE TO CREATE RESOURCEFUL CAREGIVERS, REDUCE CAREGIVER STRESS AND INCREASE RESPECT FOR CAREGIVERS. CAN WORKS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THOSE WHO CARE FOR LOVED ONES WITH CHRONIC CONDITIONS, DISABILITIES, DISEASE, OR THE FRAILTIES OF OLD AGE. CAN SERVES A BROAD SPECTRUM OF FAMILY CAREGIVERS RANGING FROM THE PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, TO THE FAMILIES AND FRIENDS OF WOUNDED SOLDIERS; FROM A YOUNG COUPLE DEALING WITH A DIAGNOSIS OF MS, TO ADULT CHILDREN CARING FOR PARENTS WITH ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE. CAN IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION PROVIDING EDUCATION, PEER SUPPORT, AND RESOURCES TO FAMILY CAREGIVERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY FREE OF CHARGE.

FAMILY CAREGIVER EDUCATION AND RESOURCE PROGRAMS: CAN RELIEVES FAMILY CAREGIVERS' SENSE OF ISOLATION AND STRESS, BY TEACHING THEM THE FUNDAMENTAL SKILLS NEEDED TO NAVIGATE AN INCREASINGLY COMPLEX AND EXPANSIVE HEALTHCARE ENVIRONMENT. THIS PROGRAM DEVELOPS THE CONFIDENCE AND CAPABILITIES FAMILY CAREGIVERS NEED TO FUNCTION AS ADVOCATES FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR LOVED ONES, ULTIMATELY BECOMING EFFECTIVE MEMBERS OF THEIR LOVED ONE'S HEALTHCARE TEAMS. CAN'S CORE PROGRAM OF FAMILY CAREGIVER EDUCATION PROVIDES FAMILY CAREGIVERS WITH MULTIPLE FREE RESOURCES INCLUDING EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS; ACCESS TO ON-DEMAND EDUCATIONAL WEBINARS; E-COMMUNICATIONS OF RESOURCES, NEWS, HOW-TO ARTICLES, AND ANSWERS TO PRESSING QUESTIONS. THE PROGRAM IS DELIVERED AS A FREE MEMBERSHIP AVAILABLE TO FAMILY CAREGIVERS. THIS PROGRAM HAS TOUCHED THE LIVES OF HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF FAMILY CAREGIVERS WITH RICH EDUCATION CONTENT AND UNWAVERING COMMUNITY SUPPORT. ITS MESSAGING INSPIRES CONFIDENCE WHILE EASING THE SENSE OF ISOLATION FELT SO DEEPLY BY THIS COMMUNITY OF AMERICANS.

PUBLIC OUTREACH: CAN REPRESENTS THE INTERESTS OF FAMILY CAREGIVERS ON MANY NATIONAL COALITIONS, COMMITTEES AND BOARDS. CAN SENIOR STAFF SERVE ON PANELS, ADVISE MARKETING CAMPAIGNS AND MAKE PRESENTATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO ENSURE THAT FAMILY CAREGIVERS RECEIVE THE SUPPORT AND SERVICES THEY NEED. CAN COORDINATES NATIONAL FAMILY CAREGIVERS MONTH EACH NOVEMBER AS A TIME TO THANK, SUPPORT, EDUCATE AND EMPOWER FAMILY CAREGIVERS. EACH YEAR, CAN SELECTS AND PUBLICIZES THE THEME FOR NFC MONTH, REQUESTS THE PRESIDENTIAL PROCLAMATION, COMMUNICATES WITH THE MEDIA, BRINGING AWARENESS TO FAMILY CAREGIVERS' ISSUES, AND STARTING IN NOVEMBER 2021, RUNS A NATIONAL DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS CAMPAIGN TO RAISE AWARENESS OF FAMILY CAREGIVING AND SUPPORT CAREGIVERS. NFC MONTH RAISES AWARENESS OF FAMILY CAREGIVER ISSUES, CELEBRATES THE EFFORTS OF FAMILY CAREGIVERS, EDUCATES FAMILY CAREGIVERS ABOUT SELF-IDENTIFICATION AND INCREASES SUPPORT FOR FAMILY CAREGIVERS. CAN (PREVIOUSLY KNOWN AS THE NATIONAL FAMILY CAREGIVERS ASSOCIATION) BEGAN PROMOTING A WEEKLONG CELEBRATION OF FAMILY CAREGIVERS IN 1994.

FAMILY CAREGIVER WEBSITES: CAN OPERATES SEVERAL WEBSITES SO THAT FAMILY CAREGIVERS CAN ACCESS THE INFORMATION THEY NEED. FAMILY CAREGIVERS ACCESS CAN'S MAIN WEB SITE WWW.CAREGIVERACTION.ORG TO FIND RESOURCES, RELIEVE ISOLATION, SHARE THEIR STORY AND READ OTHERS, JOIN A FORUM FOR PEER SUPPORT AND STAY INFORMED ABOUT PUBLIC POLICY AFFECTING FAMILY CAREGIVERS. CAN WORKS WITH EMPLOYERS TO CREATE CO-BRANDED WEBSITES TO SUPPORT EMPLOYEES WHO ARE FAMILY CAREGIVERS. THESE WEBSITES, AND ACCOMPANYING WEBINARS AND E-NEWSLETTERS, HELP EMPLOYERS PROVIDE THE RESOURCES EMPLOYEES NEED TO HELP WITH THEIR CAREGIVING RESPONSIBILITIES SO THAT THEY CAN REMAIN PRODUCTIVE AND HEALTHY. WWW.RARECAREGIVERS.ORG IS A COMPREHENSIVE ONLINE GUIDE THAT ADDRESSES THE DISTINCT NEEDS OF FAMILY CAREGIVERS OF LOVED ONES WITH RARE DISEASES. THIS WWW.HELPFORCANCERCAREGIVERS.ORG PROVIDES INFORMATION, EDUCATION, AND SUPPORT TO HELP CANCER CAREGIVERS CARE FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS. BORN OF A UNIQUE COLLABORATION OF ORGANIZATIONS WITH THE SHARED GOAL OF IMPROVING HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF THE PEOPLE WHO CARE FOR PEOPLE WITH CANCER, THIS IS AS A STAND-ALONE RESOURCE TAILORED TO THE ONCOLOGY COMMUNITY.