Caregiver Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Family caregivers are too often treated as a homogenous group—white females in their late 40s raising children while caring for aging parents. However, data indicate that nearly 40% of family caregivers in the United States are caregivers of color. In preparing family members to become caregivers, the one-size-fits all approach to communications used by health systems today falls short of addressing cultural communication nuances across diverse populations.

In a newly launched initiative CAN is working with current family caregivers from diverse backgrounds to inform the development of culturally appropriate and relevant educational materials. As part of this effort, CAN is also creating an Outreach Coalition of national and community organizations that work directly with racially and ethnically diverse groups as well as LGBTQ+ communities, and immigrant groups.

This critical information will make caregiver education more accessible and effective while helping family caregivers feel more empowered and less isolated.