New Report Offers Steps for Supporting Family Caregivers
March 2022
The situation: Family caregivers are a critical link in the network of people who provide long term services and supports (LTSS). Yet their needs are often overlooked.
A new report from the Leading Age LTSS Center at UMass Boston and Community Catalyst’s Center for Consumer Engagement in Health Innovation presents a strategic roadmap for better support. This research is supported by the RAISE Family Caregiver Resource and Dissemination Center at the National Academy for State Health Policy in collaboration with the U.S. Administration for Community Living, with generous funding from The John A. Hartford Foundation.
Funding information: The research was made possible by the support of the RAISE Family Caregiver Resource and Dissemination Center at the National Academy for State Health Policy in collaboration with the U.S. Administration for Community Living, with generous funding from The John A. Hartford Foundation.
For individuals living with complex, often chronic conditions, and their families, palliative care can provide relief from symptoms, improve satisfaction and outcomes, and help address critical mental and spiritual needs during difficult times. Now more than ever, there is growing recognition of the importance of palliative care services for individuals with serious illness, such as advance care planning, pain and symptom management, care coordination, and team-based, multi-disciplinary support. These services can help patients and families cope with the symptoms and stressors of disease, better anticipate and avoid crises, and reduce unnecessary and/or unwanted care. While this model is grounded in evidence that demonstrates improved quality of life, better outcomes, and reduced cost for patients, only a fraction of individuals who could benefit from palliative care receive it. 
