Caregiver Action Network¶
The Caregiver Action Network (CAN), formerly the National Family Caregivers Association, is a nonprofit organization that provides education, peer support, and advocacy for America's family caregivers. Unlike condition-specific organizations, CAN serves all family caregivers regardless of the diagnosis or situation of the person they care for.
CAN's core offering is peer connection. Their online community, caregiver story-sharing programs, and resource library help caregivers feel less isolated — a critical need given that social isolation is one of the strongest predictors of caregiver signal degradation1. The organization also maintains educational resources on topics ranging from managing medications to communicating with healthcare providers, and they produce toolkits for employers seeking to support working caregivers.
On the advocacy side, CAN works to shape federal and state policy affecting family caregivers. They coordinate National Family Caregivers Month (November), maintain a legislative tracking dashboard, and mobilize caregivers to engage with elected officials on issues like paid family leave, respite care funding, and caregiver tax credits.
CAN does not operate a dedicated phone helpline. Caregivers access resources through caregiveraction.org, where they can find educational materials, connect with peer forums, and locate local support. The website also features a caregiver self-assessment and a resource library organized by caregiving topic.
The Caregiver Action Network addresses zone P1 (Social Support) through its peer community and educational programs, and zone P4 (Financial Resources) through its advocacy work on caregiver economic issues and employer toolkits for working caregivers. It is most relevant during the discovery and daily stages of the caregiving journey.