Improving Support for Diverse Family and Friend Caregivers

Does your organization serve caregivers of diverse backgrounds? The Best Programs for Caregiving (BPC) database identifies programs adapted to the needs of diverse family and friend caregivers. These programs—comprising most in our database—offer support in multiple languages, have staff trained on cultural delivery methods, or have consulted professionals from diverse groups to improve programming.

As experts in aging, caregiving, and dementia, we continuously improve BPC to serve all dementia caregivers, including those of diverse races, cultures, and sexual orientations. Here are some common issues faced by diverse caregivers and the BPC program characteristics that address those needs:

Language Barriers – Difficulty communicating with healthcare professionals and finding in-language educational resources.

BPC highlights programs translated into 21 different languages.

Accessing Services – Challenges coordinating care from healthcare providers, social workers, and community organizations.

Care Navigation programs work individually with caregivers to identify culturally appropriate healthcare and social services.

Healthcare Tasks – Difficulty with medication management or Activities of Daily Living (ADLs).

BPC offers various caregiver education programs, including care management techniques and hands-on skills training.

Health Insurance – Limited access to care due to lack of insurance.

Most programs (85%) are offered free of charge by local or national organizations.

Isolation and Depression – Feelings of loneliness, anxiety, and depression from ongoing caregiving duties.

Many programs provide emotional, mental, and physical well-being support.

Burden – Being the sole caregiver without assistance.

Care navigation programs offer tools to encourage family and friends to become involved in care.

>>> Explore the BPC site now to learn more and explore programs.

Webinar: Using BPC as a Resource for GUIDE Model Implementation

Join BPC partner organization Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging for this not-to-miss virtual webinar on March 12. You'll see a demo of the Best Programs for Caregiving site and learn how the database can be used as a valuable resource for GUIDE Participating Sites and Care Navigators to learn about and incorporate evidence-based programs to support GUIDE Model implementations. Includes a Q&A session. 



• When: March 12, 3:30-4:30pm ET
• Where: Virtual event
• How: See full event info and register here

BPC in the News

We're pleased to share recent mentions, features, and spotlights of Best Programs for Caregiving in journals and other media:

• "Healthcare and Community Organizations Implementing Evidence-Based Dementia Caregiving Programs: Findings from Best Programs for Caregiving," Gerontologist, February 13, 2025. Research article sharing findings about the number, characteristics, and experiences of organizations delivering BPC programs.
• “Evidence Roundup: Comprehensive Dementia Care Programs for Patients and Caregivers," Better Care Playbook, December 2024. BPC is highlighted as a model of an evidence-based support tool for dementia patients and their caregivers.
• “GUIDE Model Offers Hope, Support for Dementia Caregivers,” Next Avenue, November 2024. BPC mentioned as part of larger article covering CMS's Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience (GUIDE) model and how it is working to make medical and non-medical dementia care accessible to more families.