Caregiver Navigation Services

USAging, in partnership with ADvancing States, the National Resource Center on Native American Aging, and Scripps Gerontology Center, is leading a national effort to strengthen caregiver navigator services within Older Americans Act (OAA)-funded Title III-E and VI-C programs through ACL’s National Caregiver Support Collaborative. This initiative aims to enhance the Aging Network’s capacity to help caregivers access the necessary resources to support their loved ones while maintaining their own well-being.

With over 63 million Americans providing unpaid care to family members, friends, and loved ones, caregivers often face significant emotional, physical, and financial challenges. Many struggle to navigate the complex systems of support available, leaving them overwhelmed. This project addresses these barriers by evaluating and scaling effective caregiver navigation services that connect caregivers to vital resources at the right time and in the right way.

Through a phased approach, the project will assess the landscape of caregiver navigator services in OAA programs to identify gaps, promising practices and opportunities for growth. It will evaluate innovative navigation models in pilot programs. Successful models and best practices will be packaged into ready-to-use toolkits and training resources, encouraging widespread adoption and replication across the Aging Network.

By strengthening the capacity of the Aging Network, this program will empower caregivers to continue providing essential care while improving their quality of life and the well-being of those they care for.

Project Lead
Sara Maloney, Director