Family Caregiver Alliance¶
The Family Caregiver Alliance (FCA) is a national nonprofit that provides information, education, and services to family caregivers of adults with chronic or disabling conditions. Founded in 1977, FCA was the first community-based nonprofit in the country to address the needs of families and friends providing long-term care at home. Their phone line (800-445-8106) and website at caregiver.org are staffed by family care consultants who can help navigate the caregiving landscape.
FCA's most distinctive resource is the Family Care Navigator, an online tool that maps state-by-state caregiver support services including government programs, legal resources, disease-specific organizations, and local agencies. This addresses a core problem in caregiving: the fragmented, state-dependent patchwork of available support1. The Navigator helps caregivers identify programs they may be eligible for but would not discover on their own.
The organization also offers fact sheets on dozens of caregiving topics (available in multiple languages), online support groups, educational webinars, and a quarterly newsletter. Their content tends to be practical and action-oriented — how to hire in-home help, what questions to ask a doctor, how to manage caregiver stress, and how to handle family disagreements about care.
When you call 800-445-8106, expect to speak with a family care consultant who will listen to your situation and help identify relevant resources. They can connect you to local services, suggest educational materials, and point you toward the Family Care Navigator for a deeper dive into your state's programs. The service is free and available during Pacific Time business hours.
FCA addresses zone P1 (Social Support) through its support groups and community programs, zone P4 (Financial Resources) through its benefits navigation tools, and zone P5 (Legal & Navigation) through the Family Care Navigator's legal resource directory and its educational content on advance directives, power of attorney, and healthcare system navigation.