Recent USAging conference session offers ideas on expanding caregiver services

September 9, 2026

When it comes to helping family and friend caregivers find the support and resources they need, there is no one-size-fits-all approach.

At the USAging conference in San Diego last July, presenters offered compelling examples of how organizations can move beyond traditional education and support formats to reach caregivers in new ways, particularly when limited is funding available.

Presenters at the July conference session highlighted USAging’s Caregiver Services and Supports Innovations Hub, a robust resource designed to help organizations in the Aging Network discover and exchange innovative approaches to supporting family caregivers.

The Hub brings together examples of programs and practices that strengthen caregiver services and supports, making it easier for Area Agencies on Aging and other organizations to learn from approaches being used elsewhere. It is part of USAging’s broader caregiver-support resources, which address the practical needs of the millions of people who provide unpaid care to older adults and people with disabilities.

San Francisco-based nonprofit Family Caregiver Alliance shared examples included in the Innovations Hub, including how it has succeeded in using one-time funding, grants, and partnerships to expand caregiver services. One such offering is a virtual travel-themed program called “Let’s Get Away, Together!” As the name suggests, the popular series, which has been going strong since 2020, helps caregivers and those in their care explore the world through a variety of immerse presentations covering such topics as national parks, vintage toys and the history of candy.

Another example was focused on the annual Caregivers Count! Conference!, a free four-part Saturday series each fall in the San Francisco Bay Area. The topics covered by a variety of speakers include home safety, end-of-life support, trauma and caregiving, and self-care/resiliency.

Over the last few years, FCA once again began offering its well-attended in-person caregiver retreats, which bring together workshop leaders and caregivers in a variety of settings around the SF Bay Area. Topics cover a wide range of topics including self-care, strategies for providing daily care, and legal issues.

Organizations that run caregiver-focused resources know that building and sustaining innovative programs can feel intimidating. But through collaborative learning and partnership, taking the first step becomes a little less daunting.

Related links:

Check out an article about the “Let’s Get Away! Together” series.

Explore FCA’s site for caregiver-focused resources, classes and support groups.

To learn more about the Innovations Hub, check out its website.