A Call to Action: What Experts Say Needs to Be Done to Meet the Challenges of Family Caregiving

This Spotlight presents insights from an AARP Solutions Forum, The Challenges of Family Caregiving: What Needs to Be Done?, featuring 10 authors of caregiving books and articles who collectively call for a reexamination of policies and strategies to strengthen caregiving families. The paper summarizes 10 common themes from the written work of these 10 authors, and identifies four areas highlighted at the Forum in which public policies and communities can respond to the needs of family caregivers: greater public education and awareness; more financial relief; better communication, coordination, and collaboration with health care professionals; and heightened recognition of and support for family caregivers in policy initiatives.