Family caregivers across the country provide care for individuals with complex health needs, including frail older adults, people living with dementia, and people with disabilities. Caregivers are often involved with transitional care or discharge planning after hospitalization of their family member. In the home, family caregivers typically take on medical tasks otherwise performed by nurses or other clinical staff, such as complex medication management, wound care, and assisting safely with mobility.

Family caregivers often do not receive adequate training or support in performing these complex medical tasks, which can lead to poor outcomes for both care recipients and caregivers. However, with the passage of the Caregiver Advise, Record, Enable Act in many states, and increased national attention on the important role of caregiving, more health systems are thinking about strategies to support family caregivers.

Health care stakeholders can use this Playbook Collection to understand recent evidence behind programs that support family caregivers and explore practical tools and case studies to learn considerations for better supporting caregivers providing complex care.